ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the benefits and dangers of conducting community-based research, and focuses on the very positive experience of science shops. In the current era of globalisation and enhanced interdependencies, knowledge-based economies and greater expectations of civic democracy, meeting the challenges of sustainable futures through approaches that are flexible enough to be adaptive to change is arguably one of the most important tasks confronting society. A fundamental concept underpinning many of these approaches has been that 'good science' would lead to the uncovering of ultimate truths, development of technologies, innovations and products, which would then result in appropriate and identifiable change. Drawing on this theoretical base, emerging research approaches for sustainable futures emphasise the importance of the participation of communities and that they are an important step forward for science and research. However, research into complex societal issues is not a matter of sound science alone, with many problems proving resistant to such solutions.
