News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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Quick round up of this week's news, jobs and events
News
Growing the Social Sciences within Environmental Organisations - ACCESS Webinar
Dr Ruth Lamont from Natural England will be giving an overview of a collaborative* Flex Fund project to support better understanding of the social sciences, and encourage improved use within environmental organisations. Join this talk to hear more about the scoping behind this work, how you can access the resources developed, and wider reflections on the growing use of the social sciences in environmental organisations.
*Recognising a shared need, this project was delivered in partnership with Newcastle University, Forest Research, Nature Scot and the National Centre for Research Methods, and supported by the wider ‘Natural Environment Social Research Network’.
To improve the integrity of social research being done in environmental organisations and support those interested in learning more, Ruth and her team have produced a new suite of freely accessible social science resources.
Register for the webinar here
Systems Mapping for Environmental Domains
Tuesday 12 November, 9 am to 5 pm, University of Surrey, In-person
This one day workshop is hosted by ACCESS, with facilitators from CECAN Ltd, and aims to:
- showcase practical uses of systems mapping across a range of situations, stakeholders and challenges
- provide hands-on experience of constructing a systems map collaboratively
- enable informed decision-making on how systems mapping could be applied in your area
- produce actionable insights on applying systems mapping in your context and with your stakeholders
Events & Training
Land Use for Net Zero Hub Big Tent Event
19 September, 10 am to 4 pm, Edinburgh, Access by application
This event is designed to foster creative discussion and learning about individual and organisational views concerning the value, prospects and challenges of changing land use to achieve Net Zero and meet the needs of people and nature.
They are welcoming policymakers, farmers and other land users, advisory practitioners, businesses, community groups, environmental organisations and researchers with interests in land use change and the economic, social and environmental challenges and opportunities presented by Net Zero transition within the UK. Discussions and activities will be structured into three themes: listening to people’s views on land use and NetZero; implementing change; and knowledge exchange with policymakers.
Putting Energy Poverty Research into Practice
Monday 30 September and Tuesday 1 October, University of Salford
The Fuel Poverty Research Network (FPRN), in collaboration with University of Salford, are inviting all involved in this important field to join them in Salford this autumn. Whether you are researching fuel poverty or housing, developing policy, or working directly with vulnerable householders, it’s an opportunity to meet others, share ideas and stories, and engage with the latest developments.
Scotland’s energy transition: research and policy challenges
Thursday 3 October, Edinburgh
Experts from UKERC, ClimateXChange (CXC) and partners will be presenting their latest research in the context of current and future energy policy in Scotland. This joint UKERC-CXC conference will address and debate a range of topics, with the aim of enhancing/initiating collaborations between researchers and stakeholders from across the energy sector, including representatives from the Scottish Government.
Places are limited; if you are interested in attending, please contact James Curwen (UKERC Engagement Officer): j.curwen@ukerc.ac.uk
Jobs
Research Associate in Human Geography (GENERATE project, focus on qualitative skills)
Research Associate in Human Geography (GENERATE project, focus on quantitative skills)
Knowledge Exchange Fellow - Net Zero at the University of Birmingham
The post holder will be a pivotal player in the Wellcome Trust-funded project, WM-Net Zero, focusing on translating science into real-world impacts.
WM-Net Zero - “A Health-centred Systems Approach towards Net-Zero: Transforming regional climate mitigation policies” is funded by Wellcome Trust and co-lead by Professor Zongbo Shi and Dr. Suzanne Bartington. The overall aim of WM-Net Zero is to transform regional Net-Zero policy solutions by adopting a health-centred systems approach. To this aim, WM-Net Zero brings together scientists from a range of disciplines (including social science, climate, air quality, health and economics) from the Universities of Birmingham, Surrey, and York.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 15 September
Energy/Climate Policy Monitoring & Evaluation – Senior Analyst
The role will be focused on supporting high quality and impactful monitoring and evaluation of policies across the department. The role will be highly varied and likely to include a mix of managing monitoring and evaluation-related work, building capability in monitoring and evaluation across the department, carrying out evidence reviews and ensuring that we have a good understanding of key learning emerging from monitoring and evaluation evidence across the department.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 15 September
PhD scholarship within the field of Behavioural science insights for nature-based solutions
The Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN) and the Department of Biology at SDU are looking for applicants for a PhD scholarship within the field of behavioural sciences. The ideal candidate should have a passion and background (academic knowledge and ideally some experience) in applying behavioural science to understand and promote climate-friendly solutions.
The closing date for applications is Monday 16 September
Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham School of Psychology is advertising an Assistant Professor position. The desired candidate will help expand on their research strengths (which includes Environmental Psychology).
The closing date for applications is Monday 23 September
Funding
UKRI cross research council responsive mode pilot scheme: round two outline stage
Apply for funding (£200,000 - £1,200,000) for breakthrough or disruptive interdisciplinary ideas that transcend, combine or significantly span disciplines that are not routinely funded through existing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) responsive mode schemes.
Awards will be potentially transformative for the participating disciplines or lead to the creation of new disciplines.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 19 November
Opportunities
Open call for evidence: Fourth health and climate adaptation report
UK Health Security Agency is inviting academic engagement on the Fourth Health and Climate Adaptation Report. This report, an update to the previous third health adaptation report published in 2021, will summarise the latest available evidence relating to climate impacts to the health service and population health, and outline actions being taken by various actors to build resilience to these risks. The findings will inform the forthcoming fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 27 September
Call for expertise – understanding links between the remit of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and climate change
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) is undertaking some work to understand relevant research and academic expertise that highlights the links between climate change and the remits of subject committees in the Scottish Parliament. Initially, they plan to produce a series of blogs to illustrate these links, drawing on academic expertise as part of this process.
SPICe would like to hear from academics working on, or with expertise in, areas that relate to links between the remit of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and climate.
If you are involved in work about climate that links to the areas of responsibility within the remit of this committee we would welcome hearing from you. Please get in touch with Dan Barlow Knowledge Exchange Manager – Climate Change Scrutiny on dan.barlow@parliament.scot. Please include the following information:
- Your name, university/institution and email address.
- An indication of whether you have engaged with the Scottish Parliament previously.
- A short paragraph (please limit this to 300 words) or bullet point list detailing:
- Your areas of expertise relevant to this area.
- A maximum of three ways that climate change links with the remit of the committee and any current or previous work you are/have been involved in that relates to this (links to publications or projects helpful).
The closing date for submissions is Monday 30 September
Call for nomination of reviewers for GEO-7 Second-Order Draft and for Summary for Policymakers First-Order Draft
United Nations Environment Program is seeking external reviewers to provide feedback, including identifying any issues, data, or information to be included in the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) Second-Order Draft (SOD) report and for the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) First-Order Draft (FOD) of the Summary for Policy Makers (SPM).
The application can be done through the application portal by Monday 30 September
The Royal Society Pairing Scheme
This scheme gives policymakers and research scientists an opportunity to experience each other’s worlds.
Each year 30 research scientists are paired with UK parliamentarians and civil servants. They learn about each other’s work by spending time together in Westminster and the researcher’s institutions.
Those taking part gain an insight into how research findings can help inform policymaking and come away with a better understanding of how they can get involved.
The closing date for applications is Monday 30 September
UK Research and Innovation Policy Internships
The Policy Internships Scheme allows candidates from the research councils of UK Research and Innovation to get invaluable policy experience, with an organisation of their choice.
To see the full list of hosts which include parliamentary departments, government departments and non-governmental bodies, learned societies and other organisations, visit the UKRI website.
This scheme is open to doctoral students funded by the Research Councils of UK Research and Innovation (AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC and STFC).
The closing date to apply is Wednesday 2 October
The Food Standard Agency's Advisory Committee for Social Science is looking to recruit new members
The FSA’s Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS) is an independent expert committee that helps the FSA use the social sciences to shape, deliver and evaluate its policies for safe, healthy and sustainable food.
The FSA are recruiting new members to complement the skills and knowledge currently in the committee and welcome applications from across the social science disciplines, including behavioural science.
The FSA particularly welcomes applicants with expertise in economics, evaluation and appraisal techniques, statistical analysis, and/or knowledge around organisational/business behaviours. These roles will be well suited to ACCESS Network members who want the opportunity to influence key decisions and policies related to food safety.
The closing date for applications is Monday 7 October
Info
‘Better than medication’: prescribing nature works, project shows
This article from the Guardian showcases two ACCESS Co-Investigators' work, Ruth Garside and Becca Lovell into 'green social prescribing'.
Climate change has deep historical roots – Amitav Ghosh explores how capitalism and colonialism fit in
This article from The Conversation talks about, Ghosh’s recent non-fiction book, The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis, where he uses his storytelling prowess to outline the roots of climate change within two systems of power and oppression: imperialism and capitalism.
Also, for the first time in the institution’s history, the IPCC has included the term “colonialism” in its report’s summary. Colonialism, the report asserts, has exacerbated the effects of climate change. In particular, historic and ongoing forms of colonialism have helped to increase the vulnerability of specific people and places to the effects of climate change.
Climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights research in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review
This study aimed to provide an overview of the research landscape and to identify research gaps linking climate change events and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Climate change events such as extreme temperatures, drought, rainfall shocks, cyclones and floods were found to be associated with negative maternal and newborn health outcomes ranging from reduced or low birth weight, preterm births and low Apgar scores, to lack of pregnancy care, pregnancy complications, stillbirths, and newborn and maternal deaths. Associations were also found between climate-related events and increased gender-based violence and HIV prevalence, as well as fertility decisions and harmful practices such as female genital mutilations and early and forced marriages.
As part of The Met Office's August climate theme of climate anxiety, Emma Lawrance, Neil Jennings and Jessica Newberry Le Vay from Imperial College London have written a guest post on concerns around the psychological impact of working in climate science fields and on others in society alarmed by climate change.
