News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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A quick round up of this week's news, jobs and opportunities
News
Interdisciplinary Environmental Social Scientists appointed to new DESNZ Expert Panel on Clean Power
Professor Benjamin Sovacool (ACCESS Leadership Team & University of Sussex), Professor Nicholas Pidgeon (ACCESS Co-Investigator & Cardiff University), and Professor Sara Walker (Co-Director of the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) & University of Birmingham) have been appointed to the new DESNZ Science and Technology Advisory Council.
The Science and Technology Advisory Council comprises 16 highly esteemed academic and industry experts. It will provide robust, scientific, evidence-based information to support key government decisions on overhauling our energy system to reach clean power by 2030.
It will also provide ministers with the most up-to-date and well-informed scientific evidence to improve decision-making and the effectiveness of policy implementation.
Their appointment is recognition of the value of interdisciplinary social science for policy on low carbon energy transitions.
Public Engagement on Grid Infrastructure: Roundtable Summary Note
ACCESS Director Patrick Devine-Wright (University of Exeter) was one of five environmental social science experts invited to attend a roundtable discussion on Public Engagement with Grid Transformation in December 2024.
Also invited were Catherine Queen (University of Liverpool), Melanie Rohse (Angela Ruskin University), Matthew Cotton (Teeside University), and Jason Chilvers (University of East Anglia).
The summary note from that roundtable was published this week.
Key points from the discussion included how to balance 'fast' and 'fair', how to effectively engage with the public, and the importance of a diversity of trusted voices in presenting information.
The event was organised by Rory Walshe of GO-Science. The Minister for Climate Change Kerry McCarthy, DESNZ Chief Scientific Advisor Paul Monks, and the UK Government's Chief Scientific Advisor Angela McLean were present.
Adopting green choices and behaviours: Roundtable Summary Note
Lorraine Whitmarsh (ACCESS Leadership Team and Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), University of Bath) was invited to a roundtable discussion on Adopting Green Choices and Behaviours in January, alongside fellow environmental social scientists Fiona Fylan (Leeds Beckett University), Mari Martiskainen (University of Sussex), Catherine Butler (University of Exeter) and Toby Park (Behavioural Insights Team).
The Minister for Climate Change Kerry McCarthy and the UK Government's Chief Scientific Advisor Angela McLean were present.
The summary note of that discussion has now been published. It looks at barriers, incentives and disincentives to making green choices, presenting clearer information, and interventions and factors beyond delivering information.
Watch the ACCESS Assembly 2025 recordings
If you missed this year’s ACCESS Assembly – or would like to rewatch some of the sessions – the recordings of the keynote presentations are now available to view.
Catch up on the Place-sensitive Just Transitions and 'Effective' Interdisciplinarity thematic sessions, and enjoy presentations from our three Flex Fund Round 2 projects.
Net Zero and Local Climate Governance webinar
Three ACCESS academics presented a Lunch and Learn session for the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority in May.
Ian Christie (ACCESS Co-Investigator, Centre for Environment & Sustainability (CES), University of Surrey) spoke about ‘Local Climate Governance: messy realities and missing links’.
Alice Moseley (ACCESS Leadership Team, University of Exeter) presented on ‘Key ACCESS Net Zero Survey Findings – implications for local authorities’.
Lorraine Whitmarsh (ACCESS Leadership Team and Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), University of Bath) delivered an ‘Introduction to CAST, public engagement & behaviour change’.
Events
Insights Wales: Welsh public opinion on Net Zero and Climate Policy – ACCESS Net Zero Taskforce
Wednesday 23 July, 1.30-2.30pm, online
In this webinar, hosted by Environment Platform Wales (EPW), ACCESS's Patrick Devine-Wright, Alice Moseley and Jenny Hatchard will share insights from the ACCESS Net Zero
Citizens' Survey undertaken in Summer 2024.
This presentation will focus on Welsh support for Net Zero targets and views about the likelihood of achieving these, as well as opinions on fairness, bias and public and stakeholder involvement in policy – and will consider how Welsh views and opinions compare to other parts of the UK.
Positive Tipping Points Toolkit Public Launch
Monday 8 September, 1-3pm, online
Following the publishing of the 2023 Global Tipping Points Report, a small collection of practitioners have been co-creating an open-source toolkit to help translate and apply the Positive Tipping Points framework for practical use in social and environmental change.
Join this free online event to get a guided tour through the toolkit, experience some of the tools in action, and learn about the ongoing support available for anyone who wants to use the toolkit in their work.
The Toolkit development has been led by the University of Exeter's Green Futures Network, in collaboration with a group of people working in different contexts from around the world. At the launch event you will hear stories from those who have been involved, and how they have been using the Toolkit in their specific contexts.
This event is for anyone who is working on social or environmental change, and is interested in playing with ideas of how we can use new ways of understanding impact.
Our Critical Decade for Climate Action Conference
Monday 8 – Wednesday 10 September, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich
The Tyndall Centre and the University of East Anglia are hosting this conference showcasing cutting-edge, evidence-based ideas and critically evaluates opportunities and challenges for climate action now.
The conference spans across four cross-cutting interdisciplinary questions over three days:
- What are the emergent and urgent transitions in our critical decade?
- How can climate action align with Paris commitments?
- What are the barriers and enablers to delivering climate action at scale?
- How to build and sustain coalitions for climate action?
An early bird offer is currently available.
Social Psychology Annual Conference 2025
Monday 8 – Wednesday 10 September, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
The central theme for this year's Social Psychology Annual Conference is Beyond Tribalism in Social Psychology: Bringing Together Diverse Research Traditions.
It emphasises the need to open up conversations across our various traditions in social psychology, facilitating dialogue between what might be viewed as sometimes competing perspectives—whether quantitative vs. qualitative, experimental vs. critical, or positivist vs. interpretivist—to understand how these different approaches could be considered in tandem to advance a holistic understanding of human behaviour in social contexts.
Subthemes include:
- Social Psychology in Times of Challenge and Change
- New Methodological and Data Analysis Approaches in Social Psychology
- Cognitive and Neural Foundations of Social Processes
- Social Psychology for Sustainable and Digital Futures
- Developmental Science Perspectives in Social Psychology
Registration closes: Monday 1 September
Environmental Intelligence @ Exeter Conference
Thursday 11 September, 9.30am-6pm, University of Exeter Streatham Campus
Hosted by the new Centre for Environmental Intelligence (CEI), the EI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and the EI Research Network, the event brings together the growing EI community at Exeter and beyond
Join students, staff, and external partners to explore exciting EI research, celebrate progress, and look ahead to 2025/2026. The day includes short talks, digital posters, panel discussions, and networking opportunities—perfect for sharing work, gaining feedback, and sparking collaborations.
Open to all interested in Environmental Intelligence across the University of Exeter and wider research community.
Funding
Behavioural Research UK (BR:UK) Commissioning Fund
This £1.3 million Commissioning Fund will support exemplar projects to further build behavioural research capability across the UK. The funding will facilitate the development and adoption of new approaches and ways of thinking that align with BR-UK objectives to:
- Increase scientific understanding of behavioural research and its contribution to tackling global challenges
- Advance the methods used in behavioural research in a range of contexts
- Generate impact by employing co-production of research proposals and championing widespread use of behavioural data sets.
There are two types of awards: Accelerator awards and Research Project Awards.
Accelerator awards involve a single-stage process.
Deadline for submission: Tuesday 12 August
Research Projects involve a two-stage process. Applicants should first submit an Expression of Interest.
Deadline: Thursday 31 July
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): Climate Adaptation Impacts on Health Inequalities Funding
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is seeking to commission a single consortium to conduct a series of research projects over 3-5 years at a cost of up to £2.5m, to address linked questions around climate change adaptation and health. This is part of the NIHR's commitment to climate, health and sustainability.
It is expected that single applications will be received from research consortiums consisting of multidisciplinary teams of investigators and UK organisations and institutions.
The PHR programme would like the successful consortium to have a range of – and to justify – its balance of expertise, from those with a climate science and academic background, to those with experience in health systems such as: public health policy and practice; health systems; epidemiology; media studies; political science; behavioural science; and climate science.
This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
Deadline: Tuesday 9 December, 1pm
Jobs
Senior Analyst – Climate and Food (2 positions), Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU)
The impacts of climate change on our food system are escalating, affecting food prices and production and food and farming are themselves a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
These roles at ECIU are an opportunity to combine your analytical and communication skills to generate reports and commentary that expands the evidence base while grabbing the attention of a range of stakeholders including journalists. Your work will help to ensure a better informed debate on the interactions between food, farming and climate change, covering emissions, resilience and adaptation to, for example, climate-induced food price shocks.
The work will include different types of foods, different farming from livestock to arable and both UK and international agriculture. You will be liaising with expert stakeholder groups and academics. Health will be a key theme in the work. The postholders will communicate findings to stakeholders including journalists and MPs.
Deadline: Monday 21 July, 11.59pm
Scottish Graduate School of Social Science internship opportunities for PhD researchers
SGSSS internships are open to all eligible social science postgraduate researchers registered at Scottish institutions, regardless of funding status.
Internships can be undertaken full-time (for up to 3 months) or part-time (for up to 6 months). Students receive a stipend equivalent payment for the internship.
Deadline: Monday 11 August, 4pm
Junior Research Fellowship, Trinity College Cambridge
This Research Fellowship provides an opportunity to spend up to four years in Cambridge undertaking post‐doctoral research or scholarly work at an early stage of an academic career; this research may be on a topic essentially of the Fellow’s own choice. However, for an experimental scientist, suitable arrangements must be made with one of the laboratories in the University, and if short-listed a letter obtained detailing those arrangements.
Trinity College invites applications from a wide range of candidates from any background. The Fellowships are available in all branches of University studies.
The number of Research Fellows elected varies from year to year depending on the strength of competition; in recent years it has been between 6 and 8.
Deadline: Thursday 28 August, 11.59pm
UK Parliaments Internship Opportunity for PhD Students
This set of UK Parliament fellowships is part of the Policy Internships scheme, funded by UKRI. The scheme provides the opportunity for doctoral students funded by the research councils of UKRI to work for three months within a host policy organisation, such as UK Parliament. Applicants specify their preferred host organisation when they apply for the internship.
In UK Parliament there are multiple internship opportunities available. Applicants can work within:
- POST (the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)
- a select committee
- the House of Commons or House of Lords Libraries
All internships will take place during 2026. The precise start date will be agreed with each successful applicant and their supervisor.
Deadline: Monday 8 September
Opportunities
Bridging Fields Programme – Residencies at the Royal Agricultural University, Cotswolds
Free training opportunity for academics/researchers at all levels who want to work more effectively and collaboratively with farmers/growers.
• Are you a researcher based at a UK academic institution?
• Do you conduct agricultural or environmental research that is relevant for sustainable food production... But feel you are lacking meaningful inclusion of farmers/growers?
• Do you want help with co-designing your research, co-producing solutions and collaborating more effectively?
The Bridging Fields programme aims to do just that.
They are offering a number of FREE overnight residencies at the Royal Agricultural University in the Cotswolds for a deep dive into farming & farm-centric research, as well as a programme of 1 day and online workshops over next 18 months on topics such as co-design and co-production, engaging farmers in projects, on farm experimentation and communication skills.
The first residency is on Tuesday 26 August, 3pm – Thursday 28 August, 2pm on the theme of soil and regenerative agriculture. There will be farm visits, talks and workshops with farmers and industry.
Email Lisa (lisa.morgans@rau.ac.uk ) for more information.
Energy Geographies Research Group (EnGRG) Committee Roles
There are several EnGRG Committee roles opening up:
- Chair: The Chair leads the Research Group, helping to set its agenda and supporting other committee members in their roles. They may also be asked to respond to consultations by the Royal Geographical Society on behalf of the group.
- Treasurer: Keeps the accounts for the group, ensures payments are made on behalf of the group, and compiles and submits the group’s annual financial reporting, supports the chair in leading the group.
- PGR representatives: Promotes postgraduate interests and needs to the wider Research Group and maintains connection with wider postgraduate community through the Postgraduate Forum and with Postgraduate representatives on other Research Groups.
- ECR representatives: Promotes interests and needs of early career researchers to the wider Research Group
- Ordinary Committee Members: Supports the work of the Research Group and provides feedback and input on the Research Group’s activities at Committee meetings.
The majority of committee roles should be taken by Fellows (including Associate Fellows) of the Royal Geographical Society.
Nominations should be sent by e-mail to Catherine Butler (EnGRG Chair) (c.butler@exeter.ac.uk) and Helena Hastie (EnGRG Secretary) (H.Hastie@exeter.ac.uk)
Deadline: Thursday 31 July
Join the Journal of Environmental Psychology's Early Career Advisory Board
Journal of Environmental Psychology (JEVP) is adding to its Early Career Advisory Board (ECAB) to recognise outstanding early career researchers and engage them in a path towards editorial work. For JEVP, early career researchers are defined as those who have completed their doctoral degree and are within five years of their first independent research career in a tenure-track or equivalent position. The responsibilities of ECAB members include:
• Conduct reviews for at least six submissions to JEVP annually,
• Aim to submit one or more manuscripts to JEVP within the term (which will be processed like any other regular submissions),
• Be an ambassador of JEVP and promote the journal via social media, conferences, and other channels,
• Provide consultation to JEVP editors at their request,
• Assist with special issues under the guidance and discretion of JEVP editors.
Deadline: Friday 15 August
Training
Free webinar: Designing and facilitating meetings/workshops with non-academic partners
Monday 6 October, 9-11am, online
This session from Fast Track Impact will help you design and facilitate partnership meetings and workshops with non-academic partners that are easy to facilitate, efficient and enjoyable, and generate and communicate real-world impacts from your research.
You will learn about practical tools to grow your confidence and effectiveness as a facilitator, which you will be able to use immediately to take meetings and workshops to a new level.
Info
Breaking Boundaries: Why Knowledge Exchange is the Missing Link for Impact in the Ecology Sector’
This post by ACCESS's Melissa Marselle, Sarah Golding and Valentine Seymour (all University of Sussex) on the British Ecological Society's blog argues that combining multiple perspectives is key to addressing today’s ecological challenges.
As well as highlighting why knowledge exchange is a critical ‘stepping stone’ to impact, the authors list key principles for engaging with others on knowledge exchange activities and provides impactful examples of real-world knowledge exchange from the environmental sector.
The post has been developed from a knowledge exchange workshop at last year’s British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, on behalf of ACCESS.
Walkability and Flood Resilience: Public Space Design in Climate‐Sensitive Urban Environments
This open-access article by Jakub Gorzka (Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland) et al. in Urban Planning demonstrates that climate‐adaptive urban design not only strengthens flood resilience but also fosters vibrant, walkable, and socially inclusive public spaces.
This study explores the intersection of walkability and flood adaptation strategies in waterfront public spaces across nine cities in the Baltic Sea Region, using a mixed‐method approach that integrates spatial mapping, quantitative metrics, qualitative analysis, and comparative case studies.
This study provides insights for urban planners, architects, and policymakers, proposing strategies to integrate flood resilience into walkable urban environments.
AuthentiSci – Bridging the communities of science and society.
Founded as a non-profit in Exeter, AuthentiSci connects the public with trusted scientific insight by crowd-sourcing reviews of media coverage from real scientists.
Whether you're curious about the latest headline or concerned about misinformation, AuthentiSci helps you check the facts and understand the evidence.
Visit authentisci.com to get involved as a scientist or explore recent reviews.
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.
Share 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 (Suzy) at: s.p.a.darke@exeter.ac.uk
