News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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A quick round up of the latest news, jobs and opportunities
I hope you had a great Easter break.
I'm writing to you this week from the beautiful Dartington Trust in Devon where we are hosting the final ACCESS Leadership College Retreat.
I'll share more about the retreat's keynotes, workshops and field trips in the next newsletter.
In the meantime, we have lots of ACCESS news to share this week...
News
REGISTER to attend the 2026 ACCESS Assembly online sessions!
We would love you to join us online at this year's ACCESS Assembly on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June
The Assembly is a key event in the ACCESS calendar when we welcome Environmental Social Scientists across academia, policy, civil society and the third sector, to come together and build connections across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries.
‘I felt so welcomed in the online space that it felt absolutely worthwhile attending (which isn't always the case with hybrid/online events). I felt really committed to the event through the careful facilitation from the ACCESS team’ (Assembly 2025 attendee)
To ensure a high-quality online experience, attendance will be limited to 50 online participants. Keeping numbers at this level allows us to provide better interaction, including opportunities for attendees to ask questions and to network, supported by our online facilitators.
Sessions will be recorded and shared after the event for anyone who is
unable to join us live.
Due to limited spaces, please do not share the registration link with anyone else.
Registration closes on Tuesday 5 May at 5pm
ENROLLING: ACCESS Autumn School 2026
Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 October, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor
Join a small group of environmental social scientists from diverse sectors at our final residential training event; the ACCESS Autumn School.
Autumn School 2026 focuses on fostering collaborative research. This retreat-style event will provide a relaxed and friendly environment in which to:
- Build relationships across sectors
- Develop and practice skills for collaboration
- Gain experience of communicating across disciplinary boundaries
We welcome social scientists working on three main themes:
- Sustainable Production & Consumption
- Mitigating & Adapting to Climate Change
- People & Nature
Deadline for applications: Wednesday 8 July
Carbon emissions reduced by 93% – How we made the ACCESS website more sustainable, accessible and inclusive
ACCESS has a new website – one that is more sustainable (with carbon emissions reduced by 93%!), more accessible, and more inclusive.
This blogpost summarises the main changes we made with the expert help of James Vine from the University of Exeter's Multimedia Design Studio.
There's also a full guide to all the decisions and changes we made, covering the website redesign process, testing, website sustainability, accessibility tools, inclusivity considerations, and integrating the ACCESS Guiding Principles into website design.
ACCESS directors contribute to new POST briefing on public engagement with the energy transition
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has recently published a briefing on Public engagement with the energy transition, with contributions from ACCESS's Patrick Devine-Wright, Karen Bickerstaff (University of Exeter) and Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath).
This new POSTnote identifies a set of principles that could support effective public engagement towards the shift to clean energy.
Karen says: "Fantastic to see that this POSTnote on ‘public engagement with the energy transition’ is now out. It is a really important synthesis of research for parliamentarians and it was great opportunity to share – with the POST team - findings of the ACCESS Net Zero Taskforce and other research by members of the ACCESS community."
This month's update from the ACCESS task force on Adaptation & Resilience.
The ACCESS Task Force on Adaptation and Resilience is currently refining its document on people-centred approaches for adaptation and long-term resilience. This includes case studies on the use of social science in adaptation action, and challenges and opportunities in multidisciplinary collaboration, drawing upon two mini workshops (we are very grateful to the participants who shared insights and suggestions). This document is being reviewed following comments and feedback from reviewers and consultees. An executive summary and visuals are being developed.
The Task Force also includes an engagement and communications subgroup; it is identifying opportunities and strategies, in consultation with the whole Task Force membership, to foster the reach and impact of the Task Force’s work.
Tim Harries and Rory Walshe also presented the Task Force’s work at the Civil Service Climate + Environment Network (CSCEN) conference on 25th March.
For further information, queries or suggestions, please see the Task Force website and / or contact the Task Force co-chairs, Rory Walshe and Irene Lorenzoni
Events
Seminar: Behaviour change to achieve net zero
Thursday 30 April, 1-2.30pm, University of Exeter & online
In this seminar organised by the Psychology Climate Adaptation and Environmentally Sustainable Behaviour research group at the University of Exeter, Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath, CAST Director & ACCESS Leadership Team) will present findings from surveys and deliberative methods on support for net zero policies; and from lab and field intervention studies on how to effectively change behaviour to cut emissions.
For joining information, contact Natalia Lawrence: Natalia.Lawrence@exeter.ac.uk
Webinar: Local elections 2026, Implications for just climate action
Thursday 14 May, 2-3pm, online
With the May 2026 local elections offering fresh insight into the shifting dynamics of UK politics, the JUST Centre (Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transitions) is convening a panel of leading climate researchers and activists to unpack what the results mean for climate action in the UK.
This webinar will feature analysis from JUST Centre members on emerging political volatility as it affects climate change, a preliminary interpretation of the election outcomes and a live Q&A with the panel.
Talk: Diverse Voices
Tuesday 19 May, 12-12.45pm, online
These informal conversations from the Royal Meteorological Society are helping to amplify and celebrate the diversity of scientists working in and around the field of weather and climate in the UK.
Next month's event, run in conjunction with Weather Change, features the head of ITV News’ Millbank Studios, Manali Lukha, who will talk about her journey from a degree in Geography and Geology, to software developer at the Met Office, to the now-lead of a team of political correspondents, weather presenters and broadcast engineers at ITV News.
Seminar: Landscape Recovery, Reflections from the Front Line
Wednesday, 20 May, 10.45am, University of Exeter & online
Sam Bridgewater will share candid reflections from the front line of developing a landscape recovery project – the East Devon Heaths to Sea project –highlighting the challenges, unexpected hurdles, and lessons learned along the way.
He will also offer practical insights on how to navigate the process while keeping momentum and optimism intact.
Email CRPR@exeter.ac.uk for the online link.
UPEN Conference 2026: In Evidence We Trust
Monday 29 - Tuesday 30 June, University College London
This conference will explore how we continue to strengthen trust and the research-policy interface while working within a complex external landscape.
It will explore not only why trust is necessary, but also how it is built, maintained, and repaired, and think about the techniques and actions we might take in support of this.
Exeter Climate Conference 2026
Monday 29 June - Friday 3 July, University of Exeter
The Exeter Climate Conference comprises three days of solutions-focused, interdisciplinary sessions designed to spark debate, collaboration, and the cultivation of evidence-led pathways towards a more resilient, positive future.
It will bring together international researchers, businesses, policymakers and young people to explore four cross-cutting themes shaping global climate strategy:
The Carbon Cycle and Carbonomics
Positive Tipping Points for Business
Climate and Health
Modelling and Extreme Weather
Deadline for registration: Friday 29 May
Funding
NERC and ESRC Doctoral Focal Award in Environmental Evidence Synthesis
This investment, to begin in October 2027, will equip the next generation of researchers with a robust foundation in advanced evidence synthesis methodologies, providing them with the skills to critically appraise, synthesise and communicate diverse sources of information to inform effective evidence based environmental policy and practice.
Funding is available to support up to two doctoral focal awards each in receipt of 30 notional studentships across three annual intakes.
Notification of intent deadline: Wednesday 27 May, 4pm
ESRC React Awards
Apply for responsive funding to generate time-critical social science research that supports policymakers and practitioners delivering frontline services in the UK.
ESRC React awards enable time-critical research to support policymakers and practitioners delivering frontline public services in the UK. Researchers must work with public sector partners to respond to emerging and urgent evidence needs and deliver impactful outputs within six months.
Closing date: Thursday 8 October, 4pm
PhD studentships
PhD Studentship, Cardiff University
Flushed pharmaceuticals: understanding behaviours to reduce environmental impact
This PhD opportunity aims to tackle a surprisingly overlooked environmental issue: what happens when unused medicines are flushed or poured down household drains.
This project will investigate how everyday disposal behaviours contribute to pharmaceutical pollution in our waterways, and how we can design interventions that actually change those behaviours.
The PhD student will work across social science, environmental science and ecology, and collaborate directly with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) to help shape real-world solutions as part of an existing Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
Deadline: Tuesday 28 April
Postdoctoral fellowships
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), University of Exeter
This 0.5 FTE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is funded until 30 November 2028 will participate in the METIUS (mobilising evidence through artificial intelligence and user informed synthesis) project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), with co-funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The overall aims of this project are to speed up how researchers gather analyse and summarise evidence; create easy to understand tools that help policymakers to use this evidence; launch pilot projects in key areas like education justice International development and the environment and build global networks to support evidence-based decision-making.
This post will focus on issues related to climate, the environment and society.
Closing date: Monday 18 May
ESRC postdoctoral fellowships
Apply for a postdoctoral fellowship to develop:
- publications
- networks
- research skills
- professional skills
Funding is for up to 9 months full time or 18 months part time.
Closing date: Monday 1 June, 11.59pm
Opportunities
Invitation to participate in a survey exploring collaborative working in environmental research policy and practice
ACCESS is working with the Institution of Environmental Sciences to develop a set of resources promoting interdisciplinary collaborative working in research, policy and practice.
As part of this project we are inviting people from different disciplines and sectors to complete an online survey to gather insights and experiences with collaborative working in the environmental field.
The survey has two key aims: 1) to gather examples of successful and unsuccessful collaborative working and 2) to assess what factors affect (un)successful collaborative working.
As an expert in the field, we would like to learn from your experiences.
By completing this survey you can help us develop a toolkit and case study report to support collaborative working.
We would be grateful if you could complete the survey by Friday 15 May.
It should take 10-15 minutes to complete the survey.
Call for papers – special issue of Environmental Psychology Research
Hydrogen in Society: Understanding the Social Acceptance of Hydrogen Futures
This call for papers is affiliated to the first Portsmouth symposium on the Social Acceptance of Hydrogen (30 April 2026).
Submissions can relate to any aspect of the hydrogen supply chain (incl. production, transportation, storage, and use) as well as wider aspects of the ‘hydrogen economy’ (e.g., policy, governance, regulation, investment, communications).
Submission deadline: Thursday 31 December
Interviews: Help shape the future of Net Zero research careers
EDI+ fellow Katie McKenzie (University of Durham) is inviting researchers to participate in a new study exploring motivations and barriers within energy and net zero career pathways, with a particular focus on equality, diversity and inclusion. The project seeks insights from doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, academic staff working in energy, and individuals who have moved from energy research
into other sectors.
Participants will take part in a 60–80 minute online interview discussing opportunities and challenges across the energy research pipeline. All data will be anonymised, and contributors will receive a £25 Amazon voucher in thanks.
Online writing retreat series for Postdocs and PhD students
Monday 11 May, 13.30 – 15.30, online
Monday 8 June, 13.30 – 15.30, online
Monday 13 July, 13.30 – 15.30, online
These sessions have been organised by C-DICE (Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy) and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA).
You are welcome to work on any form of academic writing, including journal articles, thesis chapters, grant applications, reports, or other research outputs. If you have been meaning to make progress on something but haven’t had the space, this is a chance to step back and write.
You can register for as many of the sessions as you like.
Join the 100 Days 100 Edits Campaign
Counter misinformation and improve climate change information accessible to millions...
Wikipedia is read 15 billion times a month AND is a major data training set for AI search engines and Large Language Models. Improving the platform’s climate change content can significantly increase public and decision-makers' access to up-to-date and factual information.
Researchers and climate change professionals are contributing one edit to Wikipedia's climate change content every day over 100 days, starting on World Earth Day (22 April 2026 - 31 July). You can be one of them.
All you need to do is find one climate change-related improvement to make to a Wikipedia article and email Tatjana Baleta (t.baleta@exeter.ac.uk) of your proposed change using this template:
Article name:
Text to be edited (as it currently exists on Wikipedia):
Text to replace this (your pr oposed change):
Sources:
Reason for change:
Info
For, against, or on the fence? Developing a critical-spatial approach to social acceptance to examine conflict over a power line in Sweden
This new paper in Energy Research & Social Science from Adam Peacock (University of Edinburgh) and ACCESS Director Patrick Devine-Wright (University of Exeter) takes a critical-spatial approach to understanding conflict over power line siting in Sweden.
The article illustrates the valuable contributions that critical-spatial approaches to social acceptance research can make; and the significance of attending to stakeholders with overlooked ‘neutral’ positionalities within such conflicts.
Positive tipping points give us back a sense of agency in the face of a complex and daunting problem
In this interview for Psychologist, Tim Lenton (University of Exeter) speaks to Tony Wainwright (University of Exeter) about the main themes from his book Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis (2025).
He describes the key role psychology plays in climate change tipping points, the kinds of psychological evidence used within social tipping point models, and his 'conditional optimism' that his research gives him for our future.
Depicting 15 years of change on Planet Earth
This beautiful interactive infographic from Nature Climate Change highlights stark examples of how the world has changed in the 15 years since the journal's launch in 2011.
Scientist, illustrator and Art Editor at the Springer Nature Group Vanitha Selvarajan says:
"A lot of iterations went into translating dense climate data into something visually clear and accessible, without losing nuance. Projects like this remind me why I love working at the intersection of art and science."
The personal and financial costs of researcher precarity
This UK‑wide survey of 256 researchers on fixed‑term contracts by researchers from C-DICE (The Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy) finds precarity is rarely a short stage and more often a repeating pattern across roles and institutions.
Authors Sarah Barnard, Swathi Mukundan, Sharon Henson and Kathryn North (Loughborough University) find that 29% of those interviewed feel financially secure; 52% feel insecure; 74% say fixed‑term contracts limit long‑term goals such as home ownership and retirement planning.
Elevating wellbeing in the environmental workplace
This toolkit provides a snapshot of the experiences faced by employees in the UK Environmental NGO sector.
Researchers Ciara Kelly (University of Sheffield) and Paul Tobin (University of Manchester) interviewed 31 ENGO employees located across the UK
in spring 2024.
The toolkit describes common environmental NGO employee experiences, amplifies collective perspectives, and identifies best practice, as a springboard for conversations within organisations. The authors write:
"Employees in every sector – including ENGOs – deserve to maintain boundaries, feel valued, and crucially, prioritise wellbeing. Indeed, the sustainability sector cannot be sustainable without it."
Are you on the ACCESS Network database?
ACCESS aims to make social science expertise more accessible. We have created a publicly available, searchable database (The ACCESS Network) of social scientists and experts working in the fields of climate and environment.
Join the ACCESS Network to share your research and start making connections with other environmental social scientists.
