Coproduction, learning with others
RoundView has been developed over several decades of research in systems thinking and sustainability science led by Dr. Joanne Tippett at The University of Manchester. It has developed from the rigorous scientific dialogue of The Natural Step. Joanne, one of the co-founders of RoundView, was fortunate to learn directly from Karl-Henrik Robert, the founder of Natural Step.
RoundView has benefitted from the ideas, creativity and input of many people, research projects and partnerships.
Find out about the team and contributors here.
RoundView is stewarded by ThinkingWare CIC, a not-for -profit Community Interest Company, set up to steward and curate open-source resources for effective community engagement and sustainability thinking and learning.
Some key steps in our journey
Early development
RoundView emerged as a distinct approach in research with Tesco in 2008-2010 working with over 250 staff provided evidence of improved understanding, genuine skills development, and motivation change from the framing of RoundView.
A significant development for RoundView came with the Carbon Landscape, starting in 2013, where it helped frame the interpretation that helped secure a £3.2 million landscape partnership programme, It was integral to the community and partnership engagement, which ultimately contributed to the declaration of two National Nature Reserves in the 2020s.
Going to Scale
Work with the National Trust allowed us to test the three-dimensional learning tools with over 129,000 visitors to Quarry Bank in 2022.
A recent British Academy Innovation Fellowship and research impact projects funded by the AHRC and ESRC with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, Manchester UNESCO City of Literature and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has allowed the further development of learning tools and resources for schools, libraries, museums and civic spaces.
Gaining recognition
In 2024 we won the University of Manchester Making A Difference Award for public engagement.