News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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A quick round up of the latest news, jobs and opportunities
Happy New Year!
I hope you had a restful break over the festive season.
Apologies that Friday's newsletter is coming out later than planned.
Our little Cornish village was badly hit by Storm Goretti on Thursday. We lost around 100 trees in the parish, damaging homes and cars – it's incredible that nobody was hurt.
We were temporarily marooned. All four roads out of the village were blocked for most of Friday, and we had no power or internet and only very patchy mobile signal for 48 hours.
So we spent Friday knocking on doors to check on each other, gather and share information the old-fashioned way and distribute flasks of hot water, while chainsaws growled in every direction. Without the news, the internet or the TV, our world shrunk to 0.2 sq mi for a little while – I have to say I felt noticeably calmer for it.
Power has been restored almost everywhere now, two of our roads out have been cleared and we're reconnected to the internet (and the rest of the world). Life is almost back to normal, but our conversations keep circling back to the storm and what it's taught us, and I think they will for a while.
I hope you all came through safe and sound,
Suzy
News
Pamela Buchan leads new Marine Participation Review
ACCESS Leadership College Fellow, Pamela Buchan, is leading a systematic review of the research evidence base on participation in aspects of marine management in England.
The review is funded by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and will provide the MMO with new knowledge for marine planning, licensing, and management, supporting the MMO to implement the Government’s ambition for sustainable use of the marine environment.
The Marine Participation Review was commissioned by Aisling Lannin, Acting Chief Scientist and Head of Evidence and Evaluation at the MMO, and member of the ACCESS Policy and Practice Working Group.
The
project is supported by researchers including Karen Bickerstaff (ACCESS Leadership Team, Net Zero Task Force, University of Exeter) and Patrick Devine-Wright (ACCESS Director, University of Exeter).
Read more
Spotlight Interview*: Navigating insider and outsider positionality: Anita Lateano’s journey through conservation
While volunteering for a marine conservation programme in Mozambique, Anita Lateano noticed how wealthy tourists swam freely in marine reserves, while local people were excluded – a moment that set her on a path toward decolonial research methods.
In this week’s Spotlight Interview, Jaya Gajparia meets new ACCESS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Fellow, Anita Lateano, and learns about her work.
“conservation is often shaped by tourism or corporate funding… it can become more about visibility and performance than meaningful impact. A core question… is whose voices are included in conservation, and whose are left out.”
Read Anita's Spotlight Interview
*Anita was interviewed by Jaya Gajparia as part of her new ACCESS interview series, spotlighting environmental social scientists with global-majority backgrounds.
ACCESS funds project using AI to analyse public perceptions of outdoor swimming and bathing water
The Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science (C3DS) and the Environment Agency have begun a new ACCESS-funded project in collaboration with the Environment Agency examining media coverage of bathing water discourse in online UK newspapers.
The project will provide insight into media narratives, debates and discourses surrounding outdoor swimming, with a particular focus on water-based risk, pollution and water quality.
Ranadheer (Ranu) Malla, Research Associate and PhD student at C3DS, will be conducting AI analysis of the media content.
Sylvia Hayes, Research Fellow at C3DS, will be a conducting detailed, qualitative analysis of the key themes which emerge.
The project is led by Travis Coan (Co-Director of C3DS) and Anna Lorentzon (Principal Social Scientist at the Environment Agency).
Events
British Psychological Society: Westminster Briefing on Climate and Nature
Tuesday 20 January, 7-8.30pm, online
– What are the implications for government policy and clinical psychological practice?
In this experimental pop up gathering, we will step away from business as usual to talk in an informed & informal way on the topic of current health & psychological concern.
Annie Mitchell will give a brief presentation on the proposed Climate and Nature Bill, and share the short but punchy health presentation by Hugh Montgomery from the December 2025 Westminster Emergency Health and Nature Briefing.
There will be a reflective discussion to share feelings, thoughts and ideas on actions for psychologists both as practitioners as well as ordinary citizens.
GSI Presents - Jenny Hatchard & Steve Guilbert (ACCESS) From principles to action: Environmental social science in policy and practice
Wednesday 21 January, 2.30-3.30pm, University of Exeter & online
This is a University of Exeter Global Systems Institute seminar.
ACCESS Fellows Jenny Hatchard and Steve Guilbert will be discussing how the ACCESS Network works to inform environment and climate change policy and practice.
Open to University of Exeter staff.
Contact: gsi.support@exeter.ac.uk for more details
Webinar: Future visioning and public engagement with climate change
Thursday 29 January 2026, 1-2pm, online
This Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science (C3DS) will be delivered by Briony Latter, a social sciences researcher at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at Cardiff University, speaking on ‘Future visioning and public engagement with climate change’.
Email c3ds@exeter.ac.uk to register
Jobs
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions, University of Exeter)
This new full-time post is available immediately on a fixed term basis for 36 months. The fellow will be based in the Mathematics and Statistics department on Streatham campus at the University of Exeter. They will work in the Weather and Climate research group supervised by Mat Collins and Peter Cox.
This Research Fellow will focus on mathematical, statistical and modelling projects related to the Net+ Centre aims. The Research Fellow will work on various projects during the funded period, including collaboration with other researchers/partners across the Centre. Examples might include heat-health, vector-borne diseases and constraining future projections.
This role will offer opportunities for academic publications as well as the chance for real-world impact. The role will suit a strong climate scientist or similar researcher, preferably with experience of working in an interdisciplinary research context. Expertise in climate modelling, health data science, or related areas is beneficial but not essential.
Deadline: Tuesday 20 January
3 Research Fellowships in Global Methane Politics (Livestock)
The Global Methane Politics project (METH-POL) is a five-year European Research Council-funded project led by Jan Selby in the School of Politics and International Studies at Leeds.
The overall objectives of this project are to contribute to global climate change research and practice by exploring 1) the distinctive political dynamics and challenges associated with methane emissions and methane emission reduction efforts; and 2) why methane emissions are proving so hard to control, despite their acknowledged importance as a short-term climate forcer and the abundance of low-cost technical mitigation solutions.
The project will involve research across five major methane emitting sectors – livestock, oil and gas, solid waste, coal, and wastewater – and in more than a dozen countries spanning global North and South, and every continent. The project adopts a broadly political ecology theoretical approach, and will involve research at many different scales, from international policy arenas right down to the level of individual mines, farms and treatment plants where methane is emitted and governed in practice.
The project will principally make use of qualitative methods, especially documentary analysis, interviews and observations.
The three fellowships are available from October 2026 for 36 months on a full-time basis.
Deadline: Sunday 15 February
PhD studentships
PhD Studentship, University of Strathclyde
Exploring the multi-level governance of Community Benefit Funds (CBFs) to accelerate regional sustainability transitions
This PhD will be supervised by Matthew Hannon and Jen Roberts, of the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC), University of Strathclyde.
Community Benefit Funds (CBFs) from low-carbon projects are proliferating in the UK, to generate benefits for local communities. CBFs are rarely coordinated regionally, meaning investments are not normally made strategically.
This PhD explores innovative multi-level governance approaches to ensure CBFs deliver community-level benefit, whilst also accelerating regional sustainability transitions.
For informal enquiries, contact Prof. Matthew Hannon: matthew.hannon@strath.ac.uk
Deadline: Thursday 12 February
2 PhD Studentships at the Production and Consumption Transformations (PACT) Centre, University of Leeds
Both positions are associated with the UKRI- and DESNZ-funded Production and Consumption Transformations (PACT) Centre, led by John Barrett at the University of Leeds, UK.
- Justice implications of the UK's net zero carbon policies,
(supervised by Milena Büchs and Anne Owen)
This project focuses on the justice implications of policies that transform production and consumption in the UK to reach climate targets.
The project will investigate justice implications not only across income groups in the UK but also across other socio-economic characteristics and geographies, and it can cover justice implications in other countries which are linked to UK production and consumption through supply chains.
As part of this PhD scholarship, there is an option to spend up to six months at DESNZ through a secondment.
Deadline: Friday 6 March 2026
Read more
Political Economy of Production and Consumption Transformations (supervised by Richard Bärnthaler and Charles Dannreuther)
The project will focus on the political economy of production and consumption transformations in the UK.
They are particularly interested in examining (1) the political-economic dynamics along production–consumption chains within specific sectors and strategies for intervention, (2) the actors, coalitions, and institutional arrangements that can align industrial strategy with climate and social-ecological goals, and (3) the policy levers needed to bridge production and consumption to catalyse systemic change.
As part of this PhD scholarship, there is an option to spend up to six months at DESNZ through a secondment.
Deadline: Friday 6 March 2026
Read more
Opportunities
Call for Evidence, House of Commons Transport Select Committee
Supercharging the EV transition
The Transport Committee has launched a new inquiry into how the Government can accelerate the country’s transition to widespread use of electric vehicles (EV).
The Committee now welcomes written evidence submissions that respond to any of the following terms of reference:
a. How effective have Government policies been in driving EV adoption to date, and what further action is required to accelerate take-up?
b. How robust is the current rate of EV take-up relative to the Government’s targets?
c. How effective are existing incentives (such as the Electric Car Grant) in influencing EV take-up, and to what extent might further or different forms of support be required?
d. What are the likely implications of the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) for the wider EV transition, and what factors should guide the Government’s approach to its implementation? What has been the effect of the introduction of VED on zero-emission cars since April 2025?
e. How should the Government support further development of the second-hand EV market?
f. What are the most significant factors affecting consumer confidence in EVs, including purchase and running costs, chargepoint availability, concerns about battery longevity, safety and fire risk, and what are the best steps Government and the sector could take to address them?
g. What further action is required to ensure that the rollout of EV charging infrastructure facilitates transition at the necessary rate?
h. How effectively is the Department for Transport addressing issues in the rollout of charging infrastructure such as affordability, geographic equity, accessibility, administration of funding, and the availability of grid connections?
i. What lessons should be learned from other countries' successes or setbacks?
Deadline: Friday 30 January
Online survey: Supporting children and young people with climate distress
Do you have direct or research experience of supporting children and young people (CYP) with climate distress?
Sophie Randall (Cardiff University) is conducting a survey which seeks to understand the psychosocial support needs of CYP experiencing climate distress and how these can be supported in practice.
The survey should take approximately 20 minutes and participants have the option both to enter a prize draw for up to £100 and to be named as a contributor to the study should they choose.
Have Your Say – Shape the Future of PaNS!
Natural England's People and Nature Survey (PaNS) has been running since 2020, providing vital insights into how people experience, value, and interact with nature.
Now they want your feedback to help them look ahead.
- Share how you use PaNS
- Highlight what works well and what could improve
- Help ensure PaNS continues to deliver robust evidence for policy and practice
The survey takes around 20 - 30 minutes to complete—every response counts!
If you have any questions, please contact: people_and_nature@naturalengland.org.uk
Deadline: 2 February 2026
Call for Short Papers: Teaching Energy Geographies
Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute for British Geographers) Annual International Conference, Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 September, London
In this interactive short papers session convened by Gareth Powells, Stuart Dawley and Danny MacKinnon, (Newcastle University), we will share current and emerging practice in energy geography teaching, at multiple scales and levels.
5-minute presentations are invited which may address, but are not limited to, questions such as:
- How do we locate energy geography in broader geographical curricula, both tactically and intellectually?
- How do we connect teaching and learning in energy geography with thatin other disciplines, departments, schools and faculties?
- How can we transform students from passive consumers of information into engaged and critical producers of knowledge about energy?
- How can we help students confront the 'embeddedness' of fossil fuels in everyday life?
- How do we address the empirical complexity of energy systems without overwhelming students?
- How can we help students critically analyse energy systems at multiple scales?
Deadline: Friday 20 February
Contact: gareth.powells@newcastle.ac.uk
Call for Papers: Special Issue in the Journal of Environmental Psychology: 'Environmental psychology: Trends and reflections'
In this special issue calls for diverse perspectives on the past, present, and future of environmental psychology.
Contributors are encouraged to address key themes such as topical trends, methodological diversity, sample representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, philosophy of science, and interdisciplinary connections in the field.
Guest Editors: Kim-Pong Tam (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), kevintam@ust.hk; Eleanor Ratcliffe (University of Surrey), eleanor.ratcliffe@surrey.ac.uk; Amanda Gabriel (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), amanda.gabriel@slu.se; and Christina Barz (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences), christina.barz@h-da.de.
Deadline: Email extended abstracts (within 1,000 words) to the Guest Editors by Tuesday 31 March
Info
Reframing animal reintroductions to foster sustainable human–wildlife coexistence
In this new essay published in Conservation Biology, Roger Auster (University of Exeter) et al. argue for a reframing of how we approach reintroductions, with a futures-oriented approach that brings the social and ecological together towards a sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
This they conceptualise as a process of ‘renewed coexistence’, bridging reintroduction and human-wildlife interaction literatures and emphasising inclusion of the human dimensions from the outset, throughout the reintroduction process,
and into the long-term future.
The article is written in an applied manner, providing practical notes for application across reintroduction project phases and drawing attention to the post-project ‘Transition’, when the species transitions from one considered as ‘reintroduced’ to one that is considered part of our native fauna, and where governance is weaned off of project infrastructure.
New AI Resource Repository for behavioural researchers
BR-UK has been developing an AI Resource Repository for behavioural researchers, offering the following tools and resources:
- A living guide with overviews and practical examples of how AI can be used in each stage of the behavioural research process.
- Key ethical, governance, and policy considerations to help you use AI responsibly and reflectively in your work.
- General open-source learning resources including courses, videos and webinars.
- The BR-UK AI Help Desk – a new initiative designed to support the behavioural research community in navigating the rapidly evolving world of AI.
In need of inspiration for your environmental communications?
Communicate is the UK’s leading annual conference for climate and nature communicators and it took place back in November in London, Bristol and Manchester.
Communicate have recently published their YouTube playlist with a selection of some of the online and hybrid sessions from across the three days.
There are sessions on storytelling, social media, AI, engaging the public with species recovery, and advocating for culture change within our own organisations.
Keynotes from Ruth Levene, Artist and a founder of The Sheffield Wheat Experiment and Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder of Futerra are also available.
Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025
In 2020, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Systemiq published their report, Breaking the Plastic Wave (BPW1). This report found that the amount of plastic that would enter the ocean each year from municipal solid waste would nearly triple by 2040, increasing from 11 million metric tons (Mt) in 2016 to 29 Mt, unless the global community undertook the ambitious actions identified in the report.
Despite this urgent call, in the intervening five years, 570 Mt of plastic pollution has entered the land, air and water worldwide.
This updated report Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025 (BPW2) expands on BPW1, building on the better data that has become available over the past five years to examine all major sectors of the global plastic system.
"Our analysis also finds that plastic is interconnected with other global challenges, and that solving the plastic pollution problem will have broad implications for improving the health of people, the planet and the global economy."
The role of nature in tackling loneliness
In this blog post for the British Psychological Society, George Murrell (PhD candidate, University of Surrey) discusses the role of nature in tackling loneliness through social interaction and connection, providing restorative environments and enabling connection to the natural world.
He also describes his PhD project, which is exploring how different soundscapes in urban green spaces potentially impact feelings of loneliness, drawing on a growing body of research investigating the health and wellbeing impacts of listening to natural (e.g. birdsong) and non-natural (e.g. traffic) sounds.
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.
