Olga Stepanova
About Olga Stepanova
Olga has received her PhD degree in Human Ecology from University of Gothenburg, School of Global studies, 2015.
Olga's general research interest is in sustainable natural resource management. In particular, she is interested in natural resource management in the urbanized coastal zones. Her research focuses on natural resource use/environmental conflicts, their analysis and resolution. Themes of power imbalances and practices of knowledge use (integration) for conflict resolution and sustainable resource management are also in focus.
Areas of interest Natural resource management; sustainability; conflict analysis and resolution; role of power in resource management; practices of knowledge use; knowledge integration; joint learning; interdisciplinary methodologies for conflict analysis; municipal planning; coastal zones; urban areas; climate change effects on coastal zones; Sweden; Europe
Current research
Research project: CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN URBAN PLANNING: The role of multilevel knolwedge integration (funded by Formas, 2017-2021) together with prof. Merritt Polk
The purpose of the project is to investigate the relationships between conflict resolution and multilevel knowledge integration in urban planning and to identify possible ways for improved local conflict resolution and more sustainable urban planning. This research task involves a study of what types of knowledge are used in conflict resolution practices in municipal urban planning and what consequences that has for conflict development; and what the relationships are between horizontal and vertical knowledge integration and conflict resolution in urban planning. Horizontal integration happens among stakeholders in formal (e.g. routine public consultation within planning) and informal (e.g. open stakeholder forums) processes of conflict resolution. Vertical integration concerns integration of different knowledge types into actual decision making and public policy on local and regional level. This study is based on three case studies of current and highly contested land use conflicts in Gothenburg (Sweden): densification in a centrally located area, immigrant housing location, and transport infrastructure planning. The analysis is based on participant observation, document analysis, in-depth interviews and transdisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders in conflicts, such as civil servants and other practitioners.
The substantive conflicts addressed in the three case studies are highly typical for urban planning and will be relevant for planning contexts within and beyond Sweden. The findings of this project will be of relevance to the broad academic community and practitioners/planners interested in knowledge use in urban and environmental planning and management, conflict resolution, and interdisciplinary sustainability studies.
The PhD dissertation (2010-2015) focused on non-violent local conflicts over the use of natural resources in coastal urban areas. The main question is how to approach environmental/resource use conflicts through conflict analysis so that it would allow addressing coastal conflicts in their systemic complexity, take into account their multi-dimensional and multi-faceted nature, and how to include conflict analysis and mitigation as a tool for better and more sustainable management of natural resources. Interdisciplinary approach is applied to construct an analytical framework for conflcit analysis. The framework combines theoretical concepts from different fields of conflict research and is rooted in the empirical data from case studies of conflicts in coastal urban areas of Göteborg and Malmö, Sweden. Separate attention is paid to the role of power imbalances, knowledge use practices, knowledge integration and joint learning for conflict resolution within municipal planning. The role of different values, attitudes and worldviews are also discussed. The dissertation was carried out within the EU FP7 financed international project “Solutions for Environmental Contrasts in Coastal Areas” (SECOA) 2009-2013.
Teaching and tutoring Course coordinator and lecturer in "Sustainable cities" HU1221, 15 hp; Bachelor level
Lecturing in "From local resources to global consumption" HU1121, 15 hp; Bachelor level
Lecturing in "Sustainable development: conflicts, communication and collaboration", HE2234, 15 hp, Master level
Profile responsible for Human Ecology and lecturing within an interdisciplinary SMIL program (samhällsvetenskapliga miljövetarprogrammet), based at the School of Business, Economics and Law, Gothenburg university.
Field work Case studies of resource use conflicts in Gothenburg and Malmö metropolitan areas, Sweden.
-
Knowledge use analysis as a way to understand planning conflicts. Two cases from Gothenburg,
Sweden
Olga Stepanova, Hannah Saldert
Cities - 2022 -
Könade normers betydelse för en jämställd och hållbar transportpolitik och
planering.
Christian Dymén, Annica Kronsell, Lena Smidfelt Rosqvist, Olga Stepanova, Lena Winslott Hiselius
På väg mot hållbar omställning? Kunskap, makt och mening i nationell transportplanering. - 2021 -
Constructive solutions for immigrants’ social inclusion – lessons for multilevel governance. Policy Brief. MERGING: Integration for migrants. EU's Horizon 2020, research and innovation
program.
-
SällBo - Collaborative housing for refugees, Swedish elderly and Swedish youth in Helsingborg, Sweden. Country Report D3.2. MERGING Integration for
migrants.
-
Achieving peaceful climate change adaptation through transformative
governance
Hanna Leonardsson, Annica Kronsell, Erik Andersson, Anders Burman, Ruy Blanes, Karen da Costa, Malin Hasselskog, Olga Stepanova, Joakim Öjendal
World Development - 2021 -
Urban Planning as a Strategy to Implement Social Sustainability Policy Goals? The Case of Temporary housing for Immigrants in Gothenburg,
Sweden
Olga Stepanova, Magdalena Romanov
Sustainability - 2021 -
Understanding mechanisms of conflict resolution beyond collaboration: an interdisciplinary typology of knowledge types and their integration in
practice
Olga Stepanova, Merritt Polk, Hannah Saldert
Sustainability Science - 2020 -
Power and knowledge use in coastal conflict
resolution.
Olga Stepanova
Natural Resource Conflicts and Sustainable Development. Olsson, E.G.A. and Gooch, P. (Eds.) - 2019 -
Konflikthantering i stadsplanering: Betydelsen av
flernivåstyrning.
Olga Stepanova
Algehed J., Eneqvist E., Jensen C., Lööf J. (red.). Innovation och Stadsutveckling. En forskningsantologi om Organiseringsutmaningar för Stad och Kommun. - 2019 -
Conflict resolution in coastal management: Interdisciplinary analyses of resource use conflicts from the Swedish
coast
Olga Stepanova
2015 -
Conflict resolution in coastal resource management: Comparative analysis of case studies from four European
countries
Olga Stepanova
Ocean and Coastal Management - 2015 -
Knowledge integration in the management of coastal conflicts in urban areas: Two cases from
Sweden
Olga Stepanova
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management - 2014 -
Scenario development for Västra Hisingen, Gothenburg,
Sweden
Per Knutsson, Gunilla Almered Olsson, Olga Stepanova, Rene Brauer
2013 -
Assessing environmental conflicts in Sweden: Case studies from the Malmö and Gothenburg
areas.
Tom Böhler, Karl Bruckmeier, Andrea Morf, Olga Stepanova
Environmental Conflicts in Coastal Urban Areas: Towards a Strategic Assessment Framework for Sustainable Development. A. Z. Khan, L. X. Quynh, F. Canters, E. Corijn. Sapienza Università Editrice, Vol. IV. - 2013 -
Sustainability in Coastal Urban Environment: Thematic Profiles of Resources and Their Users in Sweden Case Study Areas Gothenburg and
Malmö
Karl Bruckmeier, Andrea Morf, Olga Stepanova
Sustainability in the Coastal Urban Environment. Thematic profiles of resources and their users. A.Z.Khan, L.X.Quynh, F.Canters, E.Corijn (eds.). Sapienza Università Editrice, Vol.III. - 2013 -
Transfer Report: Toolbox for local and urban resource management and conflict
mitigation
Andrea Morf, Serin Alpokay, Karl Bruckmeier, Tom Buurman, Per Knutsson, Riechers Maraja, Olga Stepanova, Jula Wernersson
2013 -
Resource Use Conflicts and Urban–Rural Resource Use Dynamics in Swedish Coastal Landscapes: Comparison and
Synthesis
Olga Stepanova, Karl Bruckmeier
Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning - 2013 -
The relevance of environmental conflict research for coastal management. A review of concepts, approaches and methods with a focus on
Europe
Olga Stepanova, Karl Bruckmeier
Ocean and Coastal Management - 2013 -
Wissenschaft und partizipative Politk in Umweltkontroversen - Die Fischereiwirtschaft in der Ostsee als
Fallstudie
Christian Stöhr, Olga Stepanova, Ilan Chabay
Wissen, Wissenschaft und Global Commons - 2012 -
SECOA project Synoptic report on conflicts of uses at coastal urban areas. Natioanl report
Sweden
Tom Böhler, Karl Bruckmeier, Andrea Morf, Olga Stepanova
2011 -
Mitigation of natural resource use conflicts as a management tool for sustainable coastal systems: Cases from the Swedish
Coast
Olga Stepanova, Karl Bruckmeier
International Conference People and the Sea VI: Bridging Science and Policy for Sustainable Coasts and Seas, July 6-9, 2011, Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 2011 -
The landscape of conflicts - urban-rural resource use dynamics at the Swedish
coast
Olga Stepanova, Karl Bruckmeier
The 10th Nordic Social Science Conference, 14-16 June 2011, Stockholm University - 2011 -
SECOA project Thematic report on the profiles of the coastal resources and their uses/users. Swedish case study areas of Gothenburg and
Malmö
Karl Bruckmeier, Andrea Morf, Olga Stepanova
2010 -
Science in Participatory Governance of the Baltic
Fisheries
Christian Stöhr, Olga Stepanova, Ilan Chabay
IHDP Open Meeting 2009. 7th International Science Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change - 2009 -
Scientists’ Engagement in Public Communication of Science in
Sweden
Olga Stepanova, Christian Stöhr, Ilan Chabay
2009 -
Facilitating Governance of Baltic Seas Fisheries By Improving Communication Among Stakeholders - A project to identify obstacles and improve ways to communicate among stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council and its partner organizations in order to facilitate governance of the Baltic Sea
Fisheries
Christian Stöhr, Olga Stepanova, Ilan Chabay
2009 -
Scientists in the Public Sphere: Motivations and Barriers for Scientists to Engage in Public Outreach in
Sweden
Sebastian Linke, Olga Stepanova, Christian Stöhr, Ilan Chabay
International Conference on Public Communication of Science and Technology PCST-10, Malmö/Copenhagen, Sweden, June 2008 - 2008 -
MoleClues: Engaging Young People in Molecular
Science
Olga Stepanova, Ilan Chabay
International Conference on Public Communication of Science and Technology PCST-10, Malmö/Copenhagen, Sweden, June 2008 - 2008 -
Science Communication among Stakeholders in the Baltic Seas Fisheries Governance
Process
Olga Stepanova, Christian Stöhr, Ilan Chabay
PCST-10 conference (Public Understanding of Science and Technology): Bridges to the Future. Malmö/Copenhagen. 25-27 June - 2008 -
Fisheries Governance as a Tragedy of the Commons? Stakeholder Participation and Conflicting Knowledge Systems between Science, Fisheries and
NGO’s
Christian Stöhr, Olga Stepanova, Ilan Chabay
Wissen, Wissenschaft und die Global Commons (Knowledge, Science and the Global Commons). Dresden, 06.-08. November - 2008