Research is one of the five key areas of the Association's work. All aspects of the Association's research share two key aims; building a strong evidence base for permaculture and improving permaculture practice.

Our aim is to fulfil these aims through achieving seven results:

  • Creating permaculture research protocols
  • Engaging more people in permaculture research
  • Enabling more people to get access to permaculture research
  • Engaging more students and research interns
  • Building an international research network
  • Increasing links with universities, other academic institutions and policy makers
  • Conducting high quality research projects

 

In April 2012 the Association appointed its first Research Coordinator, Chris Warburton Brown. Alongside Chris, the research team currently comprises four volunteers; Barney Thompson works on our ten-year Forest Garden Research Project, Tom Kemeny develops the soil, biodiversity and yield tests project, Nicola Graham helps with knowledge management and the library, and Cat Richards is completing the International Research Surveys.

 

The research team is supported by the Research Advisory Board, 18 experts from academia and other fields who advise on the activities being undertaken and set the key direction of the Association's research through the Research Strategy.

A key part of the research the Association does is the involvement of its members. Opportunities for members to get involved are advertised here and through the e-bulletin. Get in touch if you have an idea for a research project, or research findings you think would be of interest to the permaculture community: [email protected]

Suggested actions:

  • Contact the Association about getting involved in the Research Advisory Board
  • Download the research strategy (see link below)
  • Tell us about your research work

 

Permaculture Research - Digest

We have a research digest portal that provides short summaries of newly published permaculture-related research.

Click on this banner below to enter the portal...