Pluralizing Science for Inclusive Water Governance: An Engaged Ethnographic Approach to WaSH Data Collection in Delhi, India

Abstract

This case study demonstrates how water scientists can shift standard methods for water sampling to include marginalized communities as partners in ethical research. This case argues that water inequities are magnified when participation in scientific inquiry limits the participation of certain groups of people. It used hydrogen sulfide (H2S) testing as part of a larger project tracking water purity practice patterns, responses, and research recommendations of the hydro-socially marginalized people—the people who face not only physical, but also political barriers to water. The methodological innovation draws from engaged ethnography to enable Delhi’s water-poor to sample their own water. In doing so, community members become active partners who can better direct scientific inquiry. Their participation as active partners further empowers them as water stakeholders. It reveals how everyday small-scale cooperative projects became catalysts to inclusive governance.

Dynamics of cumulative advantage and threats to equity in open science: a scoping review

“…Questions of equality, justice and equity are often centred [ 202 , 206 , 208 , 210 – 212 ] and the knowledge produced reflects the lived experience and situated expertise of the participants and communities upon which the research is focused [ 202 , 203 , 213 , 214 ]. Further, those that participate in Citizen Science and participatory projects develop scientific expertise that would otherwise be unavailable to them, making them more effective democratic actors who are able to challenge policies, civic expertise and corporate power in pursuit of justice and equality [ 202 , 208 , 211 , 215 – 219 ].…”

“…It is the latter, rooted in traditions of participatory research, that most directly and strongly challenges the dynamics of inequality within academia [201,203]. Participatory research is directed by a self-reflexive, critical, ethics-focused approach to research design, conduct, distribution of labour [204] and financial benefits [204][205][206], outputs and impacts [205][206][207][208][209]. Questions of equality, justice and equity are often centred [202,206,208,[210][211][212] and the knowledge produced reflects the lived experience and situated expertise of the participants and communities upon which the research is focused [202,203,213,214].…”

“…Participatory research is directed by a self-reflexive, critical, ethics-focused approach to research design, conduct, distribution of labour [204] and financial benefits [204][205][206], outputs and impacts [205][206][207][208][209]. Questions of equality, justice and equity are often centred [202,206,208,[210][211][212] and the knowledge produced reflects the lived experience and situated expertise of the participants and communities upon which the research is focused [202,203,213,214]. Further, those that participate in Citizen Science and participatory projects develop scientific expertise that would otherwise be unavailable to them, making them more effective democratic actors who are able to challenge policies, civic expertise and corporate power in pursuit of justice and equality [202,208,211,[215][216][217][218][219].…”

Dynamics of Cumulative Advantage and Threats to Equity in Open Science - A Scoping Review

“…It is the latter, rooted in traditions of participatory research, that most directly and strongly challenges the dynamics of inequality within academia [203,205]. Participatory research is directed by a self-reflexive, critical, ethics-focused approach to research design, conduct, distribution of labour [206] and financial benefits [206][207][208], outputs and impacts [207][208][209][210][211]. Questions of equality, justice and equity are often centred [204,208,210,[212][213][214] and the knowledge produced reflects the lived experience and situated expertise of the participants and communities upon which the research is focused [204,205,215,216].…”

“…Participatory research is directed by a self-reflexive, critical, ethics-focused approach to research design, conduct, distribution of labour [206] and financial benefits [206][207][208], outputs and impacts [207][208][209][210][211]. Questions of equality, justice and equity are often centred [204,208,210,[212][213][214] and the knowledge produced reflects the lived experience and situated expertise of the participants and communities upon which the research is focused [204,205,215,216]. Further, those that participate in Citizen Science and participatory projects develop scientific expertise that would otherwise be unavailable to them, making them more effective democratic actors who are able to challenge policies, civic expertise, and corporate power in pursuit of justice and equality [204,210,213,[217][218][219][220][221].…”