4 May - ACCESS, Flex fund update, funding, jobs, events and more
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Quick round up of this week's news, jobs, funding and events
Updates
ACCESS Summer School speakers announced and application deadline extended
Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 September
This year’s Summer School will focus on the ACCESS Guiding Principles of
- Environmental Sustainability
- Knowledge Co-Production
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Across a lively and interactive programme, participants will explore ways in which the work of environmental social scientists can be informed and shaped by these Guiding Principles. Sessions will include a mix of interactive workshops, peer-group learning and reflections, and seminars from expert speakers.
Keynote speaker
Patrick Devine-Wright, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter, was IPCC Lead Author on Social aspects of Climate Change mitigation in Working group 3. Chair of the Devon Net Zero Climate Emergency Task Force and Director of Exeter Community Energy.
Hear from experts
- Stewart Barr, Professor of Geography at the University of Exeter
- Kate Burningham, Professor in Sociology of the Environment, University of Surrey
- Sarah Hartley, Professor, University of Exeter Business School
We have extended the application deadline for the Summer School until Monday 15 May.
ACCESS Leadership College
Last week we welcomed the ACCESS Leadership College fellows to Dartington Hall to their first College retreat. More about the retreat in next week's newsletter.
Events
Telling Stories: The Humanities in an Age of Planetary Agenda-setting
Thursday 11 May
You can join researchers at Exeter University from across humanities disciplines as they present their work relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and explore why storytelling might be an important part of planetary agenda-setting.
The workshop also invites colleagues from disciplines beyond the humanities (incl. the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences) to act as respondents. Respondents will reflect on the ways in which the work presented might encourage them to think differently about their own research.
Collectively they will consider why story-telling might be an important part of agenda-setting. It is hoped that this event will highlight the importance of humanities research and to identify future research collaborators.
CATER Summer School
31 October to 9 November, Kenya
As part of a Norwegian Research Council funded project called CATER (and in partnership with the EU Horizon 2020 project CONFER) they are organising a series of summer schools for PhDs, post-Docs, early career researchers and practitioners focused on improving North-South transdisciplinary research capacity in climate services, risk and adaptation.
Met Office - Co-benefits of the climate action imperative
Wednesday 24 May, 3pm to 4pm BST (Online)
The Met Office will be hosting a webinar on the co-benefits of climate change action. They will be discussing the co-benefits of climate action such as those on health and wellbeing. Considering the cost benefit of taking action as well as the fact that many co-benefits will be realised more quickly than the impact on our changing climate. In addition to science and policy perspectives, there will also be the opportunity to hear about how co-benefits are already being realised in some communities.
Speakers from the University of Leeds, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Belfast City Council.
Invitation to participate in an online decision theatre workshop
Heat pumps are a critical technology in decarbonising residential heating in the UK. Their deployment is widely regarded as a complex, disruptive, multi actor challenge. Accumulated knowledge suggests a coordinated approach is required to reduce costs, build supply chains, raise awareness, and prime the market.
Expressions of interest are invited from various stakeholders to participate in small 2.5 hour online workshops. Each workshop will explore what, if any, implications arise out of recent events in:
- geopolitics (i.e. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022),
- politics (including the rapid succession of Prime Ministers and Chancellors),
- the economy (e.g. inflation) and
- society (e.g. cost of living crisis).
Each workshop will be run as a decision theatre and will culminate in collective decision making about what needs to change to support residential heat pump deployment in the UK.
The workshops form part of a EPSRC-funded Network+ project ‘Pump Priming’, exploring the implications of recent events on the deployment of residential heat pumps in the UK.
Three workshop dates are proposed:
Tuesday 6 June, 1.30 to 4pm
Monday 12 June, 1.30 to 4pm
Friday 16 June, 10 to 12.30pm
CREDS in celebration
Tuesday 23 May, 2 to 6pm BST at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London and online
Over the past five years, research from CREDS (Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions) has shown that flexible energy demand, decarbonised energy sources and reductions in energy use are all essential for the transition to a zero-carbon society. This event will showcase CREDS’ research findings, alongside four impact success stories sharing how CREDS worked with policymakers, businesses and researchers to change the conversation about energy use.
Please register to attend in person on our in-person event page.
Please register to attend virtually on our virtual event page.
GREAT Closing Conference - Call for papers
Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September
Gridding Equitable Urban Futures in Areas of Transition (GREAT) asks some thought provoking questions in their forthcoming interdisciplinary conference.
- In what ways should we rethink the relationship between socio-technical transitions and the making of more equitable urban futures?
- What capacities, requirements and imaginaries do communities have in contexts of informality; contexts that are often perceived as marginal, precarious, and incomplete?
- How should we contextualise policies bent on targets, notably decarbonising and net zero energy, so that the knowledge, creativity, resilience, and regenerative resourcefulness of citizens are integrated into visions of just, equitable futures for the specific places which they call their home?
Call for papers deadline Friday 19 May.
Academy of Social Sciences AGM and Annual Lecture
Monday 5 June
Can social science protect us against global threats?
We are facing a future of next pandemics, climate change and political polarisation. Social science has the potential to play a fundamental role in building resilience of children and youth against these global threats. This lecture will explore challenges and questions raised through policy-focused research in HIV, COVID and climate hazards, beginning in sub-Saharan Africa and moving across continents as shared threats, and possible shared solutions, emerge.
The AGM and Annual Lecture are open to all Fellows and representatives of our member social science societies. Booking is required, on a first come first served basis. Fellows and Member Learned Society representatives can book by using the online link. The lecture is open to the public and if you are not a Fellow and would like to attend the lecture, please email ACSS
Sustainable and Just Food Transitions in Times of Uncertainty
Friday 26 May at 6.30pm at the University of Exeter
As we face unprecedented global challenges, it's more important than ever to prioritize sustainable and equitable food systems. This event provides a unique opportunity for experts and industry leaders to collaborate on innovative solutions that support a healthy planet and population.
Panel of experts:
Abi Reader – National Farmers Union (NFU) CYMRU Deputy President, and a third-generation mixed farmer
Guy Watson Singh – Twice awarded farmer of the year, founder of Riverford organic farmers, farmer and organic veg box pioneer
Dr Tom Powel – Associate research fellow at the Global Systems Institute and expert in management of terrestrial ecology through agriculture and forestry
A member of The Food and Land Use Coalition, yet to be determined
They'll cover all aspects of food production, distribution, and consumption, emphasizing the need for food transitions. This event will provide a platform to exchange ideas and innovative solutions that support sustainable food systems. The panel will last around 30 minutes, with 30mins of Q&A followed by informal networking.
Funding
Pre-announcement: ESRC responsive mode: secondary data analysis round one
Apply for funding to support research that exploits existing data resources for social and economic research, created by ESRC or other agencies.
From 26 June, you can apply via the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service.
EPSRC are looking for additional partners to build multidisciplinary teams
Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) are running a Circular Economy critical mass programme.
They have been through outline stage and now working on full stage and are keen to build the multidisciplinary teams between outline to full stage.
They are aiming to support potential additional partners to identify, approach and join programmes, either from unsuccessful outline bids but also from wider afield.
Closing date Tuesday 13 June
CHANSE Pre-Announcement of Two New Calls for Transnational Research Projects
Co-created by the HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) and NORFACE (New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Cooperation in Europe) networks, CHANSE (Collaboration of Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe) is a joint initiative of 27 research funding organisations from 24 countries.
CHANSE has published a pre-announcement covering two Calls for international research projects on the following themes:
Crisis - Perspectives from the Humanities (organised jointly by CHANSE and HERA. For Humanities research)
Enhancing Well-being for the Future (organised jointly by CHANSE and NORFACE. For Social Science research)
The aim of this call is to stimulate research projects aiming to gain systematic knowledge on mechanisms underlying wellbeing as well as dynamic processes related to how wellbeing develops over time.
The call focuses on the following research themes:
- Crises, challenges, and wellbeing.
- Environmental challenges and wellbeing.
- Wellbeing and mental health.
- Wellbeing, economy, and politics.
The theme can be approached from a variety of perspectives and disciplines in the social sciences.
Funding per project is a maximum of €1.5 million (across all partners). The maximum project period is 24-36 months.
The official Call announcements are expected to be published on 26 May 2023. The indicative deadline for submitting outline proposals to both calls is 21 September 2023 (14:00 CEST).
Jobs
PhD Opportunities: ‘Energy-efficient Indoor Climate Control for Optimised Health (EICCOH)'
Three fully-funded PhD studentships are offered as part of the Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training (SCDT) in ‘Energy-efficient Indoor Climate Control for Optimised Health (EICCOH)’. The aim of this interdisciplinary SCDT is to meet the needs of the fast-growing green construction industry to optimise building performance and deliver net-zero buildings whilst promoting occupant’s health and wellbeing.
Deadline Friday 12 May
PhD post Environmental Decision-making
There is a PhD position at the interface of decision analysis and psychology in the Department Environmental Social Sciences at Eawag, Switzerland.
The PhD will contribute to a better understanding of the effects of risk and uncertainty on environmental decisions.
Deadline for applications Friday 19 May 2023
RENEW are recruiting for a Project Manager and Impact Manager
There is a full-time post available for a Project Manager to join the NERC funded Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach (RENEW) programme, led by Professor Kevin Gaston and co-Director Professor Catriona McKinnon at the University of Exeter, and co-Director Professor Rosie Hails at the National Trust. Deadline for applications Sunday 14 May.
There is a part-time (0.6 FTE) post available for an Impact Manager to join the NERC funded RENEW programme. Deadline for applications Sunday 14 May.
Info
DfT College of Experts
The Department of Transport (DfT) is setting up a College of Experts to provide the department with scientific and technical services.
It will comprise a list of pre-approved technical experts from whom DfT will commission short pieces of ad hoc work under contract.
The College will increase DfT’s access to scientific networks, broaden its evidence base, identify key areas of research interest for DfT and bolster the provision of scientific advice.
It will cover any disciplines related to transport including the:
- provision of ad hoc advice and support to policy and analytical colleagues where appropriate, aiding with project and programme development and evaluation
- provision of training, workshops and discussions on specific technical or subject-specific areas
- participation in working/advisory groups for DfT R&D projects and programmes
- provision of support to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) by offering extended expert/scientific networks that can help guide DfT decision-making
- provision of evidence, analysis, or expert advice to inform DfT’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) on deep dives where technical experts in specific areas are needed.
Closing date Monday 15 May
The contribution of social science to nature recovery
At a recent Natural England conference a panel discussion, chaired by Professor Michael Winter (University of Exeter and NE Board Member), along with members of Natural England's Social Science Expert Panel and colleagues, shared critical social science perspectives on the drivers of nature recovery: who and what is involved and the contribution of social science.
MET Office webinar Mitigation: a road to Net Zero
This Met Office webinar on 21 March 2023 includes speakers from the University of Leeds, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Civil Aviation Authority that discusses what is meant by Net Zero and the UK Government’s priorities for reaching Net Zero by 2050.
