News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
No images? Click here
A quick round up of this week's news, jobs and opportunities
News
How do you create the right atmosphere for connection?
Great food, social spaces and time outdoors are just some of the things that can help to facilitate relationship-building at an event, according to the recently published ACCESS Annual Assembly 2024: Event Evaluation Report.
The report – based on data collected from participants before and after last year’s Assembly – shows that creating the right atmosphere and providing diverse opportunities for learning and connection helped to put attendees at ease and feel more comfortable engaging with new people.
ACCESS Director Patrick Devine-Wright says:
“Evaluation is crucial to ACCESS given our commitment to innovation, and to evidence-based policy and practice. In the past few months, we have been working hard on the evaluation of last year’s Annual Assembly. We hope that people learn useful lessons from the report about the work we have done to turn our Guiding Principles into practice, covering our successes and the challenges we faced’.
Buzzing about bees!
An ACCESS Flex Fund research project article has been published in Environmental Education Research.
'Buzzing about bees: exploring action-based storytelling as a tool for children’s environmental engagement and agency', by Rosamund Portus et al., considers innovative research in neuroscience and psychology showing that we need to transform environmental storytelling, moving away from stories focused on awareness raising, to ones which develop people’s capacity for action.
The authors investigate how this knowledge might be applied in an environmental education context, developing a model for action-based storytelling in the classroom. They examine how this supports children’s engagement in and sense of agency over environmental issues and outline a model for action-based storytelling which might be adapted by educators.
Events
Global Thematic Dialogue - Climate and Health
Thursday 27 March, 9-10am, online
Open to all, this hour-long online dialogue will provide a forum to contribute to shaping a global perspective on the role of universities in Climate and Health.
This event is presented by the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA).
Book here
Communicating Net-Zero: The Role of Communication in Transforming Corporations to Carbon Neutrality
Thursday 27 March, 1-2pm, online
Prof. Nadine Strauß, Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication and Media Management at the Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich will present this webinar, hosted by Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science (C3DS)
Email c3ds@exeter.ac.uk to register for online attendance.
Climate Grief and Climate Adaptation
Tuesday 8 April, 10am-12pm, online
The first of two free online sessions in April delivered by the University of Exeter's Green Futures Network.
These workshops explore the role of understanding and working with grief within our adaptation to climate impacts and the changes they will bring. They will consider how grief tending can be used as a vital tool for helping communities adapt to the increasing pressures and the trauma impacts of climate change.
After burning out running a fast-growing climate NGO, Jo Musker-Sherwood (she/ her) was fortunate to receive funding to use her recovery as living research into how climate distress affects environmental work and what might be done about it. She now mentors, writes, consults and teaches on sustainable working practices.
Open to all who are interested.
Jobs
Research Associate in Learning For Transformational Climate Mitigation, University of Manchester
The successful candidate will:
- Conduct policy-relevant social science research on transferability of transformative climate action
- Review research undertaken by the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) through the lens of transferability to understand how insights can be applicable across contexts, communities, scales and sectors
- Design and deliver interviews and focus groups with CAST members, affiliates and partners to identify transferrable findings, and critical reflections on transferability
- Present findings through academic and practitioner focused publications and engagement activities
The post requires a highly motivated and energetic social scientist who is keen to further their research expertise in transformative climate action.
The individual will be responsible for delivering a project which undertakes a review of the CAST Centre’s Phase 1 research, activities and outputs to understand where findings have applicability across contexts, communities, scales and sectors.
Closing date: Wednesday 16 April
PhD Opportunity, the Centre for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures (FLOOD-CDT)
PhD opportunity: Implications of diverse risk perceptions within and across coastal communities for adaptive capacity and community engagement.
Coastal flooding hazards will be increasing over the next century driven by unavoidable sea level rise and other climate change impacts. Understanding the relationships between people and nature is a key component of sustainable management and climate adaptation.
This project will gain new insight into the relationship between coastal communities and coastal adaptation by addressing the questions around risk perceptions within and across communities, comparison to state-of-the-art coastal numerical modelling, and implications for adaptive capacity and community engagement.
Due to funding restrictions, the project is open to UK applicants only.
Closing date: Wednesday 30 April
British Psychological Society Fellowship 2025/26
POST and the British Psychology Society (BPS) are offering a 13-week fellowship to PhD students in a psychology-related subject who are a Member of the British Psychological Society.
The successful applicant will be based in UK
Parliament supporting its use of research evidence.
The fellowship lasts 13 weeks (full-time) or longer if part-time. It may be undertaken remotely, at POST's offices in Westminster, or under hybrid working arrangements.
The successful applicant will start their fellowship by January 2026 or by April 2026.
The opportunity will be funded by the BPS and successful candidates will receive a one-off stipend payment of £7,922.50.
Closing date: Sunday 4 May
Funding
ESRC P2R: increasing UK policymaker engagement with research
Apply for funding to develop and expand UK-wide policy to research (P2R) infrastructure, facilitating direct connections between public and civil servants and research organisations. This infrastructure will enable policymakers to build skills and understanding of research, evidence and data in policy development by engaging in relevant activities in an academic setting.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for ESRC funding.
The maximum full economic cost (FEC) of your project is £3.8 million. ESRC’s maximum contribution will be £3 million. The 42-month project must start by 2 February 2026.
Closing date: 6 May
European Commission: Horizon Europe, Cluster 2 "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society"
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.
Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe is the collaborative part of the programme ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: boosting key technologies and solutions underpinning EU policies & Sustainable Development Goals’ and this pillar offers top down topics to apply to by answering a specific scope that is set by the Commission.
There are 6 clusters within pillar 2. Cluster 2 mobilises multidisciplinary expertise of European social sciences and humanities (SSH) for understanding fundamental contemporary transformations of society, economy, politics and culture.
It aims to provide evidence-based policy options for a socially just and inclusive European green and digital transition and post-COVID 19 recovery. Future projects should deliver on the three intervention areas matching the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan (2025-2027):
- Green transition
- Digital transition
- A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe
There is an information day about this cluster on 15 May and an online brokerage event on 16 May.
Opportunities
DEFRA Call for Experts: Building Support for the Energy Transition
DEFRA is undertaking a brief expert elicitation project to understand interdependencies between the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) Goals and Environment Act Targets. This is to inform the revision of the EIP due to be published later in the year.
A range of experts are needed with expertise spanning the EIP goals (see below) for approximately 3- 4 hours in the form of a mix of individual written input and workshop participation, starting week commencing 24 March. This will be pro bono.
EIP23 Goals:
- Goal 1: Thriving plants and wildlife
- Goal 2: Clean air
- Goal 3: Clean and plentiful water
- Goal 4: Managing exposure to chemicals and pesticides
- Goal 5: Maximise our resources, minimise our waste
- Goal 6: Using resources from nature sustainably
- Goal 7: Mitigating and adapting to climate change
- Goal 8: Reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards
- Goal 9: Enhancing biosecurity
- Goal 10: Enhanced beauty, heritage, and engagement with the natural environment
Contact Dr Frances Ryfield: frances.ryfield@defra.gov.uk
DESNZ Commissioning Alternate Delegates
DESNZ is looking for experts in their field with a strong network of contacts across their industry to act as alternate delegates for ten International Energy Agency (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs).
The TCPs are independent, international groups of experts set up by the IEA that enable governments and industries around the world to lead programmes and projects on a wide range of energy technologies and related issues.
The UK is currently participating in 26 TCPs and DESNZ would like to commission alternate delegates for 10 of these TCPs to represent the UK industry alongside the primary (DESNZ) delegate:
- Hydrogen Solar
- Heating and Cooling
- District Heating and Cooling
- User-Centred Energy Systems
- Bioenergy
- Energy in Buildings and Communities
- International Smart Grid Action Network
- Photovoltaics Power Systems
- Industrial and Energy Related Technologies and Systems
- Geothermal
A supplier engagement session will be held online on Wednesday 26th March, 1pm-3pm.
Mentoring Programme – The Equator Mentoring Network
This mentoring programme is ringfenced for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students in Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (GEES) disciplines. It is funded by sponsorship from the British Geological Survey and led by the University of Birmingham and Sheffield Hallam University.
The overall goal of the Mentoring Network is to increase retention into postgraduate research (PGR) and improve student experience.
Participation in the Equator 2025 mentoring network is fully funded for successful applicants. Mentors will guide mentees through a 5-month program (April - August 2025), with each mentee being matched with two mentors (academic and non-academic).
Deadline: Monday 31 March
DESNZ Call for Evidence: Building Support for the Energy Transition
A vocal opposition to ‘net zero’ - including the energy transition - has grown in strength, political consensus has fractured and with it potentially the will to carry it through.
The committee is launching a new inquiry to assess whether the Government is communicating effectively so the public has the same understanding of the objectives and benefits of the transition.
Now inviting evidence from individuals and organisations on any or all of the following questions:
- Has the Government properly explained the potential benefits of the energy transition to the average citizen?
- Is there a clear understanding of the costs of the energy transition to householders and businesses?
- Is there a need for public campaigns to counter the anti net zero narrative?
- How should the Government be more positively engaging the public with this goal?
Deadline: Tuesday 8 April
IPCC Call for Authors
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has now published a call for the nomination of Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, and Review Editors for its Seventh Assessment Report.
Nominations are requested for the IPCC’s three Working Groups (WG):
- WG I - assessing the scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change
- WG II - assessing the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and social aspects of vulnerability to climate change, the negative and positive consequences of climate change, and options for adapting to it
- WG III - assessing the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and social aspects of the mitigation of climate change
Those interested should contact their local Focal Point.
Deadline: Thursday 17 April
Call for papers – special issue in International Small Business Journal
Call for papers for a special issue in International Small Business Journal entitled 'Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Climate Action: Policy and Governance for Transformative Change'.
There will be an online paper-development workshop on the 15 May for those who are interested.
To attend the workshop authors should submit a 1-page expression of interest to the editorial team via Prof. Will Eadson (w.eadson@shu.ac.uk).
(Attendance at the paper development workshop is not necessary to make a full submission.)
Deadline for papers submission: Monday 1 September
Scottish Parliament Call for Experts: Areas of Research Interest on climate change
The Scottish Parliament has launched its first Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) focused on supporting access to research expertise linked to climate change. They are currently inviting members of the research community to register their expertise and research insights on two ARIs:
- Climate Emissions from Waste Management and Resource Use
- Understanding the Regional and Sectoral Employment Implications of a Just Transition
The Scottish Parliament will use the responses received to identify research, expertise and contacts to:
- inform questions or issues that a Scottish Parliament committee considers as part of its work
- inform research briefings prepared by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) and used to support parliamentary scrutiny
- identify potential expert witnesses
Deadline for registering expertise: end of May
Training
AI for Researchers: A Beginners’ Guide
Wednesday 2 April, 10am-12pm, online
This workshop is for you if you want to use Generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, Claude) in your research but you’re not sure where to start.
It is presented by Dr Naomi Tyrell and hosted by The Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy (C-DICE).
The workshop will explore a range of GenAI tools for general users and researchers, and consider how they work, how you can optimise them for research tasks, effective prompt engineering, and how you can understand AI outputs. It will also discuss the ethics of Generative AI and guidelines for their use in research.
Earning Trust in a Climate of Distrust
Tuesday 22 April, 2-4.30pm, online
To transition to a low-carbon society, we need to be able to trust the wide range of people and organisations that can help get us there. But trust is at an all-time low. Despite everyone's best efforts, climate messages aren’t always landing as we want.
Climate Outreach and The Connectives are delivering a new workshop to help inspire hope, credibility, and connection through powerful communication.
This interactive virtual workshop includes evidence-based, practical tools to foster genuine connections and communicate with urgency and empathy on climate change and sustainability.
Info
Why do cars get a free ride? The social-ecological roots of motonormativity
This article by ACCESS Co-Investigator Ian Walker (Swansea University) and Marco te Brömmelstroet (University of Amsterdam) in Global Environmental Change, tests a social-ecological explanation for motonormativity, in which the phenomenon is shaped by people’s environments.
Their research shows, "for the first time, at least two environmental pathways linked to judgement biases: one related to people’s social surroundings and linked with their explicit views on transport, and a separate, more implicit pathway related to higher-level structural influences such as nationality, and living in rural areas."
Missed out on Communicate 2024?
Communicate is the UK’s annual conference for environmental communicators.
If you missed out on Communicate 2024, you can now catch the recorded sessions on the Communicate YouTube channel.
Explore the use of immersive technologies to engage people with nature, improve your digital fundraising skills, get the bigger picture of what the UK public really think about climate change at the moment.
Early opportunity signals of a tipping point in the UK's second-hand electric vehicle market
In this Earth System Dynamics article, Chris A. Boulton, Joshua E. Buxton and Timothy M. Lenton (Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter) explore whether views of online electric vehicle (EV) adverts from a UK car-selling website can provide early opportunity signals (EOSs) of a tipping point in the EV market.
"Trends in EOSs from EV advert views in low to mid-price ranges provide evidence that these sectors of the market may have passed a tipping point, consistent with other evidence that second-hand EVs recently reached price parity with equivalent second-hand ICEV models of the same age."
Engaged Scholarship and Its Discontents
"Engaged scholarship plays a crucial role in shaping collective narratives and fostering inclusive societies," writes Tebeje Molla (Deakin University, Australia) in her article for Social Inclusion exploring the concept of engaged scholarship.
The article highlights both engaged scholarship's potential and its problems – including restrictive professional guidelines, the potential for backlash, and the risk of burnout.
It also advocates for "the creation of supportive ecosystems to help scholars navigate the challenges of public engagement."
Watching nature scenes can reduce pain
A new neuroimaging study has revealed that viewing nature can help ease how people experience pain, by reducing the brain activity linked to pain perception.
The article by Max Steininger et al., published in Nature Communications, offers the promising prospect of new types of non-pharmacological pain treatments.
Using an fMRI scanner, researchers monitored the brain activity of 49 participants in Austria who received pain delivered through a series of small electric shocks. When participants were watching videos of a nature scene (rather than a city or an indoor-office scene), they not only reported feeling less pain, but the specific brain responses associated with processing pain changed too.
Daybreak: a cooperative board game about stopping climate change
And something a little different...
This cooperative board game from CMYK Games presents a hopeful vision of the near future, where you get to build the technologies and resilient societies we need to save the planet.
Play cards including: Degrowth, Resource Redistribution and Universal Public Transport to decarbonise and stop climate change.
Are you on the ACCESS Environmental Social Science expert database?
Join our searchable database of social scientists and experts working in the fields of climate and environment. The database includes both academics in universities as well as those working in the public sector, charities and businesses. It's quickly becoming one of our most visited web pages. A useful resource for people looking to collaborate and connect with environmental social scientists.
It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete the online form.
