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A quick round up of this week's news, jobs and opportunities
News
ACCESS Citizens’ Survey on Nature, Land Management & Environment UK Report
We're delighted to share a new ACCESS survey report on nature, land management and environment.
Almost 3,000 people across the country were surveyed about their feelings, concerns and opinions, and their experiences in nature in December 2025 and January 2026. This resulting report reveals broad public concern about the state of nature, and support for policies to protect and restore nature, in the UK. Some insights include:
🌿 More than 75% of participants were worried about the potential loss of wild animal and plant life in the UK.
🌿 57% thought there would be less variety of wildlife over the next 25 years.
🌿 Over 65% of participants supported the UK’s 2030 target to protect 30% of land.
🌿 Broad support for nature recovery policies, e.g. 68% supported stricter regulations for house building and infrastructure to protect nature.
🌿 Findings varied by demographic group, suggesting a need for targeted messaging and tailored interventions.
The report was written by Milad Sarvestani & Alice Moseley (University of Exeter) and Birgitta Gatersleben (University of Surrey).
The survey was conducted to complement the work of the ACCESS Nature Recovery Task Force of UK academic and government social scientists, led by Michael Winter OBE (University of Exeter). (The task force’s report is due to be published in October 2026)
Read the survey report in full
View associated Slide Decks for UK, England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
New Toolkit for Collaborative Working Across Disciplines & Sectors
ACCESS and the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) have published a new toolkit to support collaborative working across disciplines and sectors.
This practical toolkit will help environmental and social scientists, practitioners and policymakers build stronger relationships and collaborate more effectively on urgent environmental problems.
It was developed as part of the ACCESS FlexFund project Environmental Social Science in Interdisciplinary Working, which aims to strengthen interdisciplinary working between environmental and social scientists. The project was led by Birgitta Gatersleben (ACCESS Co-Director, University of Surrey).
ACCESS paper defining environmental social science
“Environmental social sciences are often perceived to have less impact than other scientific perspectives. To help make a case for its value and importance it is essential that those working in the field develop and hold a shared understanding of the field that captures its breath and depth. Having a definition of ESS that is sensitive of disciplinary tensions and boundaries is vital to help demonstrate if, when and how the field can help understand and tackle people-environment challenges.”
This paper in Environmental Science & Policy provides a description of ESS to support its capacity and impact in policy and practice.
It was led by Birgitta Gatersleben (ACCESS Co-Director, University of Surrey) and coauthored by a team of environmental social scientists from across academia, policy and practice: Valentine Seymour, Ian Christie, Theofanis Exadaktylos, Nigel Gilbert, Amelia Hadfield & Melissa Marselle (University of Surrey); Beth Brockett, Liz O’Brien, & Harry Marshall (Forest Research); Isabelle Cardinal (Natural England); Chris Jones (University of Portsmouth); Clive Mitchell (Nature Scot); Benjamin Sovacool & Gerardo A. Torres Contreras (University of Sussex); Susan Williams (Natural Resources Wales); Caryl Williams (Welsh Government); and Anna Lorentzon (Environment Agency).
Events
Event: ECEHH Environment & Human Health Symposium
Tuesday 6 October, 5-8pm, University of Exeter (Falmouth)
Join the European Centre for Environment and Human Health for a free symposium exploring the future of environment and human health research. The programme includes reflections on 15 years of ECEHH research, expert panel discussions and opportunities to connect with researchers across disciplines.
Free to attend, with travel support available for ECRs.
Talk: Leading Edge Series with Mya-Rose Craig
Tuesday 13 October, 5.45-7.45pm, University of Exeter (Streatham)
Mya-Rose Craig is a birder, environmentalist and race activist campaigning for equal access to nature, to stop biodiversity loss and climate change and to ensure global climate justice. ‘Birdgirl’ tells the story of Mya-Rose Craig, who found solace in nature while growing up with a mother with severe bipolar disorder. She started her Birdgirl blog at age 11, launched Black2Nature at 14, and at 17 became the youngest person to see half the world's bird species and receive an honorary Doctorate of Science. She campaigns for a better world both for nature and for people, and fights for the prioritisation of human rights of indigenous people and people in the Global South.
Webinar: Mobilising social science for nature recovery
Monday 27 October, 12.30-1.15pm, Online
Delivering nature recovery is as much a social, institutional and political challenge as an ecological and technical one. Realising its ambitions therefore requires social science knowledge and expertise to form part of an integrated evidence base, so that policy and practice can understand not only what nature needs, but the people, institutions, relationships and systems through which recovery has to be delivered.
This is the headline finding from a forthcoming report by the ACCESS Task Force on Nature Recovery.
This Institution of Environmental Sciences webinar, led by Task Force member Gary Kass (Imperial College London), will set out the full spectrum of the Task Force’s key messages, highlighting the connected priorities for strengthening the contributions of social science to the essential task of nature recovery.
Jobs
Funding Bid Specialist (Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste)
Want to help shape the future of a sustainable and innovative water sector? Via University of Exeter's Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) and Pennon Group Plc / South West Water an exciting new role has become available for a Funding Bid Specialist.
Terms: Full time
Location: Exeter/Onsite
Salary: £45-50,000 p.a.
Closing date: Monday 5 October
Climate & Sustainability Officer (Devon County Council)
Help drive climate action and sustainability across Devon by developing and delivering initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, support environmental goals and engage communities and partners. An opportunity to make a practical difference through local climate and sustainability work.
Terms: Permanent, full-time
Location: Exeter
Salary: £31,525 - £34,811 p.a.
Closing date: Sunday 11 October
Environmental Education and Engagement Specialist (Bangor University)
Bangor University is seeking an Environmental Education and Engagement Specialist to lead the North Wales strand of a NERC-funded project, developing environmental science education, outreach and teacher professional development in partnership with schools, communities and researchers.
Terms: Part time 0.6 FTE; fixed-term for 19 months, starting January 2027
Salary: £38,784 p.a. pro rata (Grade 7)
Location: Bangor/Hybrid
Closing date: Sunday 11 October
Arts & Culture Programme Manager & Net+ Centre Cultural Producer (University of Exeter)
The University of Exeter is seeking an experienced creative professional to deliver arts and culture programmes in Cornwall and support creative engagement within its UKRI-funded Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions (Net+ Centre).
Terms: Part-time 0.5 FTE, fixed-term to 29 July 2027
Salary: £43,482 pro rata.
Location: Cornwall (hybrid)
Closing date: Sunday 18 October
Fully Funded PhD: Understanding Consumer Attitudes to Lead Pipe Replacement (University of Bath)
The University of Bath is offering a fully funded three-year PhD exploring the barriers and drivers influencing consumer uptake of lead pipe replacement. Using behavioural science and mixed methods, the research will develop evidence-based approaches to encourage replacement and address this significant environmental health challenge. The project is funded by UKWIR and involves collaboration with Wessex Water and other water companies.
Open to UK/Home fee applicants only.
Terms: Full time for 3-years, starting January 2027
Stipend: £21,805 p.a.
Location: University of Bath
Closing date: Thursday 22 October
Funding
British Academy–CIFAR Global Scholars Programme
A two-year opportunity for UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences to develop high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research within the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)’s global research network.
Award: CAD $100,000 in research support, mentoring and leadership training.
Career stage: Early to mid-career
Closing date: Wednesday 4 November
Find out more and apply
British Academy Innovation Fellowships 2026 – Route B: Policy-Led
An opportunity for researchers in the humanities and social sciences to work closely with Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Cabinet Office policymakers for up to 12 months, developing research-policy links and applying academic expertise to policy challenges.
Award: up to £120,000.
Career stage: Early to mid-career
Closing date: Wednesday 18 November
What Works Centre for a Climate Resilient UK
UKRI, Defra and the UK devolved governments are inviting applications to establish an independent What Works Centre for a Climate Resilient UK.
The Centre will generate, synthesise and mobilise evidence to support climate adaptation and resilience across the UK, working with stakeholders to inform and accelerate practical action.
The project lead for this funding opportunity must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding for the duration of the grant.
Applications must include at least one project co-lead from business, the third sector or government bodies based in the UK.
Applicant webinar: Thursday 8 October
Award: Up to £21.1 million
Opening date: Thursday 1 October
Closing date: Tuesday 15 December
Find out more and apply here
Opportunities
The (re)launch of OPENx
OPENx is a speaker programme for young people with an idea or story to share on climate, democracy or justice. Fifteen applicants will be selected for a 4-week online speaker training ft. expert mentors, with a route to the TEDxLondon stage in 2027
OPENx are looking for…
🌸 Young people aged 16-25
🌸 Based in the UK
🌸 Fresh perspectives and bold ideas that deserve a bigger platform
Know someone who fits the bill? Share the link with them
Closing date: Thursday 15 October, 5pm
Info
Replay: Behind the Cloud – The social and environmental impacts of AI data centres
In this Institution of Environmental Sciences webinar, Rory Murphy (University of Exeter, ACCESS) explores the impacts of AI data centres by reviewing academic research, international case studies, and public engagement data from the UK’s largest approved data centre planning application.
This talk sets academic evidence alongside the experiences of communities living near data centres, asks how the UK planning system identifies AI’s socio-environmental impacts, and considers to what extent that system addresses public concerns. It draws on research conducted for an ACCESS Flex Fund project on Environmentally Just AI. A report accompanying the research will be available soon.
Blog: Why public participation must be the bedrock of devolution
"The increased public interest in climate after the summer and the opportunities presented by devolution and rewiring the state create the perfect policy window for meaningful public participation to become embedded in decision-making," writes Peter Bryant (University of Manchester)
In this new blog, for the Centre for Jointed-up Sustainability Transformations (JUST), the author explores how permanent citizens’ assemblies and other forms of participation could help make climate policy more democratic, inclusive and effective.
Report: Can football help drive sustainable travel?
New Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) research into Brentford FC’s Bike to Brentford initiative finds that football can help encourage more sustainable travel.
Authored by CAST's Mark Wilson and Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE (University of Bath), the report shows that the initiative increased uptake of cycling, including wider cycling behaviour beyond match days, and contributed to an estimated 310kg CO₂e reduction in 2025.
Blog: Who’s Looking After the Researchers?
This blog, from Yanyan Li, Shaoyu Yang and Helen Nolan (University of Warwick) for the Higher Institution Policy Institute (HEPI), explores the often-overlooked emotional demands placed on researchers, particularly those undertaking challenging or sensitive research.
Drawing on researchers’ experiences, it highlights the need for greater recognition, support and discussion of researcher wellbeing within research culture.
Native Oysters Make Encouraging Comeback on Restored North Sea Reef
A newly restored oyster reef off the coast of South Tyneside is showing promising early results. Surveys found 99% of adult oysters alive and healthy, with juvenile oysters also surviving their first winter.
The developing reef is already providing habitat for fish and crustaceans, offering encouraging evidence for marine habitat restoration, writes Eva Cahill for Oceanographic Magazine.
Join the ACCESS Expert Database of environmental social scientists
Join our growing Expert Database to connect with other environmental social scientists, share your research and find opportunities for collaboration.
Our database includes social scientists working in academia, the public sector, charities and businesses.
Joining takes only 15 to 20 minutes through our online form.
Send in your news
Thank you to all the contributors who sent items in for this week's newsletter.
Do get in touch if you have any events, job or funding opportunities or new research that you would like to share with the ACCESS Network.
And if you have any feedback on the newsletter, we'd love to hear it.
Email me (Kirstie) at: k.hatcher@surrey.ac.uk
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