Professor Harder is focusing on Shanghai’s 25,000 gated communities, each with their own waste station: this sets the stage for of multiple experimental interventions in behaviour change. Over the last three years Professor Harder has worked to explore determinants of behaviour change as food waste separation systems are rolled out, and to draw lessons from case studies in waste management and investigations of narrow sets of parameters in social psychology, with the aim of producing clear advice and handbooks for non-governmental organisations and local groups to facilitate behaviour change.
The project so far has shown that typical governmental implementation of policy by informing residents is ineffective for food waste recycling, and much more complex and subtle behavioural change concepts need to be invoked.
The Magnolia Award was set up by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government in 1989. Once a year, it is awarded to 50 foreign individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Shanghai's economic development, social progress and international exchange and cooperation. They are working with, or affiliated with, businesses or organisations in Shanghai.
At a presentation ceremony the award winners were given a certificate and a medal by Zhang Xiaosong, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. The recipients were from 17 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Americas, and represented various professions, including business leaders, technicians, managers, teachers and scholars.
Zhang said: "Shanghai’s achievements over the years would never have been possible without the participation of expatriates, particularly the Magnolia Award winners."
Professor Harder said, “I am very honoured to receive this award, and I hope there will be more benefits to Shanghai for my work in the near future.”