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private sewage treatment facilities. Is it possible to create a participatory modelling process
around these issues? Which are the risks of researchers being co-opted by local stakeholder
interests, and should/could this be avoided? Or may we as researchers be tempted to only
engage in processes that are likely to work avoiding inviting stakeholder groups that are
unlikely to co-operate?
Another important issue to raise is how participatory is participatory modelling? Does
participation give local stakeholders direct influence over political decision-making, and if no,
are they (made) aware of this? Through designing and facilitating a participatory modelling
process, researchers are able to manipulate the norms and values of participants. Should we
do that? Which critical considerations must be raised?
The models and modellers also have a stake in participatory modelling process. Modellers
can partly have an interest in that their models earn a good reputation. Several models are
commercial products on a competitive market. How could a critical approach on the used
model be upheld, without for example risking the inter-disciplinary co-operation between the
social scientist and natural scientists involved in this type of projects? Is it possible or
necessary within this type of research, and if so, in which way?
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