News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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Quick round up of this week's news, jobs and events
News
The ACCESS Data Exchange is now live
The ACCESS Data Exchange provides a search tool, quick start guides and further information about a selection of UK environmental and climate-related datasets which have been produced by a range of different organisations. This includes datasets from official government statistics to climate-focused opinion surveys.
This Data Exchange aims to aid environmental social scientists in accessing and using datasets to support research and decision-making in solving climate and environmental problems.
A big thank you to the Data Working Group for their work on this.
Please share our Making a Net Zero Society Report: Follow the Social Science
Last week we launched our ACCESS Task Force Report - Making a Net Zero Society. Since then, we have had very positive feedback. We are looking forward to a series of events where we will get to discuss the recommendations in the report with government departments.
Please share with colleagues and contacts - we hope the report will be used to inform real change. If you would like to share your thoughts or comments about the report or would like further information please get in touch s.e.baker@exeter.ac.uk
Exploring potential barriers to effective knowledge exchange. Blog by Sarah Golding
This week's blog is by Sarah Golding, ACCESS Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the University of Surrey.
In July, ACCESS hosted an interactive panel session at the International Association for People-Environment Studies (IAPS) conference which explored potential barriers to effective knowledge exchange.
Sarah facilitated a lively discussion between the panellists (Birgitta Gatersleben, George Warren, and Clare Twigger-Ross) and the international audience. Afterwards, Sarah caught up with some of the panellists and audience members, to hear their reflections on the issues that were discussed.
Welcome to our new ACCESS Knowledge Exchange Fellow
A big welcome to Dr Jenny Hatchard who joins the ACCESS Network team from the University of Bristol where she led on Net Zero Impact. Jenny is a social scientist with a wide-ranging interdisciplinary background that spans environmental and public health policy and politics.
Examples of her collaborative research include investigations of socio-economic implications of marine fisheries policy and corporate influences on health policy. Jenny also has particular expertise in qualitative social science research methods, knowledge exchange and impact.
Jenny joins the ACCESS Exeter team to work on the Citizens Panel Survey, ACCESS Guiding Principles and Flex Fund. Jenny likes to write and get out and about in nature in her spare time.
Events & Training
Online Policy Impact courses
For researchers in Scottish institutions, the Scottish Policy & Research Exchange has three upcoming free, virtual courses on policy impact.
- Thursday 26 September, 10 to 12 pm Relational approaches to policy engagement
- Tuesday 22 October, 2 to 4 pm Knowledge mobilisation in practice
- Friday 22 November, 10 to 12 pm Identifying your own pathways to impact
The ethics of engagement and impact webinar
Tuesday 8 October, 10 am to 11 am
Discover the essentials of ethical research impact in this online workshop. Drawing on the latest scholarship on the ethics of engagement and impact, this workshop provides a comprehensive framework to guide ethical engagement practices and foster meaningful, long-term impacts.
This taster session gives you essential insights and tools from the full training course offered by Fast Track Impact with Methods for Change.
Preparing for change: engaging and influencing a Labour government
Wednesday 9 October, 6 to 7.30 pm online
What does the new Labour Government mean for us and our work? Project Boost (a new programme brought to you by Green Alliance) invites you to join this live streamed event, to explore how campaigners, policy experts, public affairs professionals and beyond can best engage with a new Labour government to achieve transformative change on the environmental agenda.
Business Green - Net Zero Festival
Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 October
The festival will bring together over 50 exhibitors, more than 100 speakers, and up to 3,000 delegates to explore how to accelerate the net zero transition and deliver on its huge potential.
The event will feature four streams of content designed to inspire action, connect peers, showcase solutions, and provide advice on how best to execute net zero strategies.
The closing date to register is Friday 27 September
Tuesday 12 November, 9 am to 5 pm, University of Surrey
The workshop is led by Dr Pete Barbrook-Johnson (University of Oxford) and Dr Alexandra Penn (University of Surrey / Defra)
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
Putting health at the centre of our response to climate change
Tuesday 19 November, 1 to 2 pm
This talk will cover the latest findings of the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, a University College London led project bringing together over 300 researchers from around the globe.
It will present the emerging opportunities to reduce health inequities and deliver a thriving future through health-centred response to climate change.
Connected Places Summit 2025
Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March
Jobs
Northern Ireland Environment Link – Climate Resilience Researcher
This is a critical post, leading delivery of the Transboundary Adaptation Learning Exchange (TALX2) programme. The work will be varied and engaging, and aims to translate research and evidence into practical action by communities and partners across the island of Ireland, and the wider UK.
The closing date for applications is Monday 30 September
Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to work on the ESRC-funded Nature Recovery and Regional Development (NaRReD) project. University of Exeter
NaRReD is designed to measure and track the socio-economic impacts of nature recovery, exploring the implications for regional development policy and practice. The project has been developed in partnership with Britain's Leading Edge (BLE), an alliance of 12 local authorities in the rural-periphery where the impact of nature recovery will be particularly important.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 8 October
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography at the University of Durham
The University of Durham are seeking to appoint a 3 year Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography to work within the Leverhulme Trust funded project “Unfeeling climate change: Disaffection and the climate crisis”.
The project aims: to gather new empirical material on how ‘disaffected feelings’ are represented, encountered and experienced, and governed in relation to the climate crisis; to understand the relations between ‘disaffected feelings’ and forms of climate (in/non) action; and to develop a new conceptual framework for understanding the relation between feelings and the climate crisis.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 9 October
Research Assistant (Resilient Food Systems) at the University of Gloucestershire
The postdoctoral researcher to support the delivery of a major new UKRI / BBSRC-funded project ‘Towards Resilient Industrial Socio-Metabolic relations (TRI-SoMe CHICKEN)’. The project examines the benefits and harms of an industrialised food system to communities of humans, animals, microbes, and the environment. The project goal is to develop resilient socio-metabolics through co-produced knowledge, intervention and engagement, by researchers, industry stakeholders and consumers.
The closing date for applications is Monday 14 October
Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Behaviour in the Agrifood System
This 3-year position, at the University of Hannover in Germany, is within the HORIZON Project VALERECO and focuses on investigating decision-making processes of farmers and other relevant stakeholders within the agrifood system. The researcher will identify key determinants that promote the adoption of legume crops to foster sustainable and resilient farming systems. This position offers the possibility to work part-time and remotely.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1 October
Postdoctoral Researcher Decision-making for Resilient Forests
This 4-year position is part of the innovative Future Lab FoResLab at the University of Hannover. The postdoctoral researcher will perform behavioural analysis within this newly established lab, which uses interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research to investigate how forests can be designed to be climate-resilient. German language competency is an advantage. For more details, please visit:
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1 October
Funding
Networking Grants from The Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is working with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society to offer Networking Grants funded through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).
The awards provide up to £25,000 over one year to support collaborations between researchers in other countries and the UK and to hold networking events aimed at strengthening global research capacity.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 23 October
Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership Funding webinar
Thursday 3 October, 10.30 to 11.30 am
UKRI have a funding opportunity with the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership. The call seeks innovative transnational projects that accelerate the transition to climate-neutral and sustainable cities, focusing on three thematic areas (transition pathways): Circular Urban Economies, 15-minute City, and Positive Energy Districts.
Register for the webinar here
British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants
The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants are available to support primary research in the humanities and social sciences. These awards, up to £10,000 in value and tenable for up to 24 months, are provided to cover the cost of the expenses arising from a defined research project.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 6 November
Imperial Community Impact Fund
The Imperial Community Impact Fund is a new initiative designed to support local community groups and charities that are committed to making a positive difference.
There is a total annual fund of £10,000, offering grants up to £1,000 to encourage and empower local organisations working in the fields of environment, sustainability, creativity, and addressing local problems.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 26 September 2024 (Round 1), Thursday 20 March 2025 (Round 2)
The Stobart Sustainability Fund
The Stobart Sustainability Fund is aimed at supporting community-led sustainability projects and initiatives led by non-profit organisations, community groups and educational facilities, such as schools and colleges, to help them transform their local community through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment.
Opportunities
Two appointments to be made to Defra’s social science expert group
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is recruiting two members with expertise in the social sciences to join their Social Science Expert Group (SSEG), a sub-group of the Science Advisory Council (SAC).
The closing date for applications is Sunday 22 September
Lower bills, new jobs, secure energy, reduced emissions: help shape the UK path to Net Zero
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee is extending an invitation to stakeholders from industry, regulators, science and consumers to help shape its new programme of work.
Organisations and individuals with a stake in achieving energy security for the UK within a productive Net Zero economy are invited to join the new Chair of the Committee, Bill Esterson, and other MPs to contribute ideas for inquiries through this Parliament, to assist the new Committee in getting up to speed on the key issues and how it might usefully contribute.
Invited participants will be asked to produce a short scoping note proposing ideas for the Committee to inquire into. Attendees will then have an opportunity to ‘pitch’ and discuss these ideas with Members and other stakeholders present.
The event will be held in Parliament on Tuesday 5 November.
If you are interested in participating please contact the Committee on CommonsESNZ@parliament.uk by 27 September.
Horizon Europe are looking for experts
- Are you excited by the societal dimension of Research and Innovation (R&I) developments applied to the fields of Climate, Energy and/or Mobility?
- Are you eager to improve the responsiveness to societal needs and concerns as regards R&I processes in these fields?
- Are you interested in participatory and co-creation methods, knowledge integration and interdisciplinary perspectives?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you should apply to become an expert to evaluate the SSH aspects (Social Sciences, Humanities) of R&I actions under Cluster 5 work programmes of Horizon Europe.
Make sure to register before Friday 4 October
- Step 1: Register to the European Commission's expert database.
- Step 2: Complete this form.
The Council for Science and Technology is seeking new members! Apply now.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Social Scientists to apply your expertise to help put science and tech advice at the heart of decision making.
The closing date for applications is Monday 7 October
Planning for Net Zero - POST Request for information
The closing date for submission is Friday 25 October
Info
Participatory Engagement Toolkit from the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science
This new toolkit is aimed at helping conservationists work effectively alongside local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
It highlights more than 100 online resources on how to understand and apply participatory approaches, including searchable databases, websites, guidance documents, training curriculums, videos and case-study collections. These are presented through a resource map and thematic chapters discussing underlying principles, core skills and techniques, land-resource management, research, and monitoring and evaluation. Spotlight sections showcase selected techniques of Visioning, Participatory Mapping and Action Research.
The toolkit may be useful to a wide range of practitioners and community organisers, involved in fundraising, planning or delivering conservation programmes in partnerships with local communities. You can read more about it in this blog post, and a copy of the toolkit can be downloaded here.
Please spread widely among your networks!
Choices for climate action: A review of the multiple roles individuals play
This new review by Sam Hampton and Lorraine Whitmarsh provides an interdisciplinary synthesis of evidence on the potential and limitations of individual choice to mitigate climate change.
They identify six domains of individual choice for climate action (food, energy, transport, shopping, influence, and citizenship). They find that individual, social, physical, and political factors combine to shape low-carbon choices but in ways specific to each domain, demanding different responses from policy-makers.
How social science can help the UK achieve its missions
Prioritise evidence synthesis and better data to maximise research’s contribution to policy, says Stian Westlake, Chief Executive of The Economic and Social Research Council.
In this article for Research Professional News, he makes four key points:
- The need for more evidence synthesis pulling together what we already know;
- The specific relevance of areas of social science expertise (behavioural research being one example);
- The importance of better data collection or access
- The importance of acknowledging the value of curiosity-driven research in supporting mission-orientated work
Beyond the Single Story of Climate Vulnerability : Centring Disabled People and Their Knowledges in “Care-Full” Climate Action
This new paper from Sarah Bell and others brings disability justice and disability studies into correspondence with care, environmental and climate justice scholarship, this reflective paper challenges the master narratives that blur differentiated experiences of disability and climate impacts into a single story of inevitable vulnerability.
Recognising disabled people as knowers, makers and agents of change, it calls for transformative climate action, underpinned by values of solidarity, mutuality and care.
A just world on a safe planet: a Lancet Planetary Health–Earth Commission report on Earth-system boundaries, translations, and transformations
"In this Commission, we quantify safe and just Earth-system boundaries (ESBs) and assess minimum access to natural resources required for human dignity and to enable escape from poverty. Collectively, these describe a safe and just corridor that is essential to ensuring sustainable and resilient human and planetary health and thriving in the Anthropocene.
We then discuss the need for translation of ESBs across scales to inform science-based targets for action by key actors (and the challenges in doing so), and conclude by identifying the system transformations necessary to bring about a safe and just future." Professor Joyeeta Gupta et al.
Transform the UK through a new Mission for Sustainable Wellbeing
The UK Institution of Environmental Sciences has published a report calling on the new Labour Government to Transform the UK through a new Mission for Sustainable Wellbeing.
Putting people at the centre of the circle: an agenda for behavioural research on the circular economy
The authors of the paper, Kathryn Colley and others, draw on insights from the wider field of pro-environmental behaviour research, "we explore how we conceptualise circular behaviours themselves and how the behavioural theories we apply may constrain the ambition of the policy action our research supports."
"In doing so, we set out a person-centred agenda for research on circular behaviours, recommending: (1) greater application of systems-oriented approaches; (2) conceptual development on categorising circular behaviours, and (3) interdisciplinary efforts to integrate theory from across social science disciplines to underpin behavioural analyses and public engagement and action on the circular economy."
“We can't be too saintly”: Why members of parliament in the United Kingdom are reluctant to lead by example with low-carbon behaviour
Steve Westlake, Christina Demski and Nick Pidgeon explore how UK politicians view their responsibility to lead by example with low-carbon behaviour (or not) in this Science Direct research article.
