Rapid global change threatens to outstrip global efforts to establish sustainable stewardship of social-ecological systems (SES). Place-based research can enhance effectiveness of global... Show moreRapid global change threatens to outstrip global efforts to establish sustainable stewardship of social-ecological systems (SES). Place-based research can enhance effectiveness of global sustainability policies and actions by providing contextualized knowledge underpinning bottom-up solutions. However, the use and transfer of place-based knowledge remains a major challenge. In this study, we analyze place-based knowledge transfer in a local-to-global and knowledge-to-action context. We aim to provide insights on when, how, and why place-based research can inform decision-making at the global scale, and lead to action towards more sustainable and just futures. Our iterative and exploratory methodology involved alternating rounds of literature reviews and interviews with interdisciplinary researchers. We identify four key steps (place-based knowledge production, knowledge synthesis, knowledge use at the global scale, and knowledge revision and lessons learned) and five facilitative factors (bridging organizations, knowledge brokers, boundary organizations, institutionalized knowledge governance and polycentric governance systems), which provide a comprehensive understanding of place-based knowledge transfer. Our conceptual framework provides suggestions on how to set up place-based knowledge transfer to be more effective, complete, and inclusive. Furthermore, our study discusses two major structural challenges that currently inhibit place-based knowledge transfer, and shows ways forward for science and policy to overcome these. We argue that place-based knowledge transfer can be an effective means to undo dominant power relations and the epistemic status quo, and enable a shift from short-termism in science and policy towards more long-term SES goals. Therefore, it is seminal to open up the predominant value system to more diverse knowledge systems, signifying a shift away from global decision-making that is guided by neoliberal capitalist principles and over-emphasizes short-term and individual gains. Finally, it is crucial to prioritize learning over knowing to exploit the long-term value of place-based knowledge transfer. Show less
To alleviate the pressure on the rare earth supply chain, new technologies are under development for recovering, recycling and remanufacturing NdFeB magnets. In this study, the anticipated... Show moreTo alleviate the pressure on the rare earth supply chain, new technologies are under development for recovering, recycling and remanufacturing NdFeB magnets. In this study, the anticipated environmental performance of large-scale recycling is investigated and compared to the production of primary magnets. To do so, this ex-ante life cycle assessment combines input from measurements of pilot processes, expert technology forecasts, thermodynamic modeling, and equipment data from manufacturers. We examined the effect of four technology developments: process changes, size scaling, internal recycling, and optimization. The results show that at pilot scale, recovered NdFeB powders have lower impacts than primary powders for almost all impact categories. This demonstrates that the recovery of NdFeB alloys is environmentally beneficial. Magnets from anticipated large-scale recycling have over 80% lower impacts than primary magnets in most of the impact categories analyzed. All four investigated types of technology development contributed to this improved performance. The final configuration was validated by comparison with an industrial reference and theoretical optimum configuration. Four magnet manufacturing routes (sintering, extrusion, metal injection molding, bonding) have distinct environmental profiles, but all can progress to similarly low levels of impact. The choice among routes should be primarily based on the functional requirements. Show less
