News, Jobs, Events, Opportunities and lots more...
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A quick round up of this week's news, jobs and opportunities
News
We have two new ACCESS projects and a new ACCESS task force to announce this week (see below).
Thanks to everyone who has sent in news, events and opportunities to share in today's newsletter.
If you have anything you'd like to share with the ACCESS Network, I'd love to hear from you. You can reply to this email or reach me (Suzy) at: s.p.a.darke@exeter.ac.uk
NEW: ACCESS Adaptation and Resilience Task Force
We are delighted to announce the new ACCESS Adaptation and Resilience Task Force. It focuses on enabling more effective deployment of social sciences by policy makers to enable successful adaptation and resilience, by, with, and for individuals and communities in the UK.
This Task Force is composed of academics and government social scientists with extensive expertise in adaptation across science and policy, led by by Rory Walshe (Government Office for Science) and Irene Lorenzoni (University of East Anglia).
It runs from now until October 2026.
Read more
NEW: ACCESS/IES Project on Interdisciplinary Working
We're thrilled to share the news that ACCESS is partnering with the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) on a new Environmental Social Science in Interdisciplinary Working project.
The project aims to strengthen interdisciplinary working between environmental and social scientists, equipping both communities with the tools and insights needed to work more effectively together on urgent environmental issues.
The project is led by Birgitta Gatersleben (ACCESS Co-Director, University of Surrey).
NEW: Environmentally Just AI: Examining AI’s environmental impacts through environmental social science
Another exciting new ACCESS project, Environmentally Just AI: Examining AI’s environmental impacts through environmental social science, has started work this month.
Led by Sarah Hartley (ACCESS Leadership Team, University of Exeter), this short project will examine the environmental impacts of AI through a social-science lens, providing a holistic understanding of the problem and making policy recommendations to address these impacts in a way that is environmentally and socially just.
Events
Webinar: Effectively engaging minority ethnic communities in data research
Thursday 9 October, 1.30-2.30pm, online
Any research using public data for ‘public good’ should represent the people it is hoping to benefit.
Minority ethnic communities in the UK are more likely to face a range of inequalities, including health and access to services, for various reasons. These communities, like certain others, are also less likely to take part in research. This can be for a range of reasons, from language barriers through to mistrust of the system.
How can we begin to build relationships and trust with under-served communities so that data research truly reflects and benefits everyone living in the UK?
Join the Centre for Ethnic Health Research team as they introduce key principles for effective community engagement, with a focus on working with minority ethnic communities in data research. This session is part of a series of webinars exploring how you can use the PEDRI Good Practice Standards for public engagement in data research.
Event: In celebration of Black History Month – Journeys in Energy: A Storytelling Evening
Thursday 16 October, 6-9pm, London
Journeys in Energy: A Storytelling Evening will bring together Black professionals across the energy industry to share their lived experiences – the career paths they've taken, the successes they've achieved, and the moments of allyship and support that made the difference along the way.
Through these stories, we celebrate Black excellence and highlight the importance of inclusive workplaces and diverse voices in shaping the future of energy.
This evening is about community, connection, and aspiration. Whether you are a student, early-career professional, or industry leader, this is your opportunity to listen, learn, and be inspired.
Webinar: Game of (Delivery) Drones: A game-based approach for supporting deliberation on the use of drones in logistics
Tuesday 21 October, 1pm, online
This online seminar from TARG:ET (The Technology Acceptance Research Group for Energy Technologies) engages academic and non-academic experts from across the UK and beyond to discuss research and innovation occurring in relation to energy technologies and policies.
Dr Taalia Nadeem (University of Portsmouth) will be talking about:
Game of (Delivery) Drones: A game-based approach for supporting deliberation on the use of drones in logistics.
Her study explores how serious games can be used to engage stakeholders with the societal implications of delivery drones and inform policy development.
The findings show how participatory methods like serious games can foster dialogue, surface trade-offs, and support knowledge co-creation. The approach offers a replicable tool for stakeholder engagement and highlights the value of inclusive, game-based methods in shaping equitable, place-sensitive policies for emerging transport technologies.
Webinar: Comparing Climate Change Content and Comments across Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts and Long Videos
Thursday 23 October, 4-5pm, online
Social media plays a vital role as a communication channel for pertinent topics, including climate change.
In this Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science (C3DS) webinar, Yiran Duan (University of Colorado Boulder) investigates the content and comments of short and long-format videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to compare climate change discourse on these platforms.
Email: c3ds@exeter.ac.uk to register
Communicate Conference 2025: Against the Odds
Manchester, Tuesday 25 November, 10am-4.30pm
London, Wednesday 26 November, 10am-4.30pm
Bristol, Thursday 27 November, 10am-4.30pm
Online, Tuesday 25–Thursday 27 November, 10am-4.30pm
Communicate is the UK’s leading conference for environmental communicators and will return this November with more expert talks, panel discussions, interactive workshops and unmissable networking opportunities across the nature, climate and science sector.
This year our theme is Against the Odds, and we’ll be finding new ways to collaborate, break down barriers and amplify a wide range of voices and actions for nature. There are 57 sessions to choose from across three cities and an online programme, with topics including bringing youth voice into your work, effectively communicating with landowners, building resilience in your team, and getting creative with AI – along with many more.
Conference: Leadership and Leadership Development for Sustainability conference
Sunday 30 November - Tuesday 2 December, University of St Andrews
The 23rd International Studying Leadership Conference (ISLC) invites scholars, graduate students, and practitioners from a variety of fields to present their research and explore together the critical developments for leadership, and leadership development for sustainability.
Jobs
Policy and Campaigns Officer, Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, East Lothian
The Scottish Seabird Centre (SSC) works to ensure that Scotland’s marine environment is healthy, wildlife-rich, valued and enjoyed by all.
This is an exciting new role that will give the postholder the opportunity to build a new and influential programme. Working as part of the conservation team and closely with the CEO and marketing and communications team, you will develop and deliver advocacy strategies and campaigns, mobilising supporters and delivering the change that seabirds so urgently need.
You will bring strong advocacy skills, a passion for nature, and a background in policy and/or campaigns, underpinned by solid organisation and programme management skills.
Deadline: Monday 20 October
Head of School and Professor, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Australia
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Australia’s most comprehensive and globally recognised social science schools. As Head of School, you’ll provide strategic leadership across education, research and engagement, and play a key role in shaping the Faculty’s broader direction as a member of the executive. The initial leadership term will be offered for a period of three years, with the opportunity to extend.
A proven leader with a strong disciplinary reputation and a collaborative mindset, you will inspire staff and drive innovation across the School’s diverse portfolio.
Key priorities include:
- Advancing curriculum renewal and decolonising research and teaching
- Strengthening industry engagement and external partnerships
- Boosting recruitment across undergraduate and postgraduate programs
- Supporting research excellence and mentoring early career academics
- Leading staff development, performance and workload equity
- Expanding the School’s Higher Degree by Research program and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
Deadline: Thursday 23 October, 1.55pm
Career Development Research Fellowships 2026, St John's College, Oxford (Human Geography)
Career Development Research Fellowships for full-time research are offered by St John’s College to early career researchers who have recently completed or are close to completion of a doctorate (and will have submitted their thesis no later than three months before their start date of this post), or who have recently been awarded a doctorate.
They provide an unrivalled opportunity to establish a research profile as a member of a collegiate community.
Career Development Research Fellowships are fixed-term posts, tenable for four years.
Deadline: Friday 24 October, 12 noon
Assistant Professor in Biodiversity Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science
The LSE’s Department of Geography and Environment, in partnership with the LSE Global School of Sustainability, is inviting applications for a new position in Biodiversity Economics. The successful candidate will join our dynamic academic community producing outstanding research and delivering excellent teaching on environment and sustainability. We are especially interested in applicant whose work addresses the economics of biodiversity and ecosystems; ecology and economics or ecological economics; economic aspects of nature and biodiversity policy.
Candidates should have:
- Expertise and research interests in biodiversity economics, broadly defined as including: the economics of biodiversity and ecosystems; ecological economics; economic aspects of nature and biodiversity policy
- A completed PhD, or close to obtaining a PhD, in environmental economics, resource economics, ecological economics or a closely related field (with an emphasis on biodiversity and nature) by the post start date.
- Ability to teach environmental and/ or resource economics, including aspects of biodiversity economics, at undergraduate and/ or postgraduate level
Deadline: Sunday 26 October, 11.59pm
Research Coordinator, Shared Assets, remote (UK)
Shared Assets undertake advice & support, research, movement building, communications and resourcing work to support, mobilise and advocate for the development of models of managing land that create shared social, economic and environmental benefits.
Their research work supports collective learning related to working on and with the land. They communicate their findings through articles, blogs, podcasts, reports, events, and more – building a shared evidence base to support the development of a just land system.
The role holder will lead the full range of Shared Assets’ research projects, from scoping and design through to delivery, follow up and evaluation. They will need to have experience of designing and carrying out research and learning activities with a wide range of partners – including academics, community groups, NGOS and local authorities – in collaborative ways.
Deadline: Monday 27 October, 10am
Opportunities
Climate and health experts needed as reviewers for the IPCC's Special Report on Climate Change and Cities First Order Draft (FOD)
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) is seeking expert reviewers for the first draft of its Special Report on climate change and cities.
Experts are invited to review the FOD from 17 October to 12 December 2025 ahead of the report release in March 2027.
Wellcome Trust have partnered with the University of Alberta to support experts across the climate and health sector to be involved in the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) process through a webinar, which will cover:
- How to apply to be a reviewer
- What is involved in the review process
- Practical insights from IPCC authors
Webinar: Wednesday 15 October, 3-4pm
New Area of Research Interest on industrial decarbonisation, Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament has launched a new Area of Research Interest (ARI) focusing on industrial decarbonisation.
Given the significant role that electrification of industry and industrial processes is expected to play they are particularly keen to hear from experts with insights associated with the electrification of industry and industrial processes.
They would also welcome hearing from academics with expertise on the following aspects of industrial decarbonisation:
- the application of hydrogen and/or bioenergy to reduce industrial emissions,
- the application of carbon capture and storage at industrial sites,
- approaches to decarbonise the Grangemouth industrial cluster.
Responses will be used to identify research, expertise and contacts to support parliamentary scrutiny of this element of the forthcoming draft Climate Change Plan (CCP).
Join UPEN Community of Practice on knowledge mobilisation
The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) Community of Practice will focus on exploring approaches towards knowledge mobilisation and understanding its impact. They are aiming to;
- develop peer-learning, networks, and innovation within the community
- develop collective knowledge of knowledge mobilisation approaches and impacts and effectively communicate it beyond the immediate community
- strengthen cross-sector relationships that contribute to sustainable research-policy interactions
Anyone who is a ‘knowledge mobiliser’, ‘knowledge broker’, or has an interest in the research or practice of knowledge mobilisation in research to policy engagement is welcome.
Read more
Find out more about the UPEN Community of Practice at their inaugural event.
Monday, 3 November, 10am-12pm, online
Speaker sought for policy-maker focused session on the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan, Communicate London
Communicate is the UK’s leading conference for environmental communicators.
The Communicate team are looking for speakers with a specific interest in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to join a policy-maker focused session with Defra, DESNZ and a social science researcher.
This session will take place in London on Wednesday 26 November.
Please contact savita@bnhc.org.uk for further information.
Call for papers: Contemporary Social Science
The Academy of Social Science’s interdisciplinary journal, Contemporary Social Science, currently has open calls for papers for forthcoming special issues on:
Capability and capacity building in place leadership: identity, inclusion and change
Deadline 30 November 2025
Read more
Global Perspectives on Just Transitions: Integrating Industry 4.0, Net Zero and Skills
Deadline 31 December
Read more
Training
Extinction and Recovery: 5 week course on climate change and deep time
5 weeks from Monday 10 November, 7.30pm, online
This intercultural course on climate change and deep time is delivered by international non-profit Guardians Worldwide (GWW).
You will learn from Indigenous and non-indigenous practitioners about what climate change in the past has to teach us about the present and the future.
Core Goals
Understand past and present mass extinctions, including current biodiversity loss in a wider context.
Explore intercultural understandings of endings, cycles, and renewal—featuring Indigenous cosmologies and intercultural perspectives of time.
Develop strategies for ecological grief and climate anxiety, emphasizing persistence, speciation, and hopeful action.
Info
Narratives of Deforestation in Aotearoa New Zealand: Bringing the Social Back into Environmental Memory Research
This article by Olli Hellmann (University of Waikato), Natasha Tassell-Matamua (Massey University), and Taciano L. Milfont (University of Waikato), in Memory Studies Review, examines how collective memories of deforestation in Aotearoa New Zealand shape pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours, highlighting the social and political dimensions of environmental memory.
Their research underscores the importance of integrating social, political and contextual dimensions into non-human memory studies.
How does Britain feel about climate and nature?
Climate Outreach have published their fifth Britain Talks Climate report.
Based on extensive surveys of more than 7,000 people and focus groups around Britain, the report seeks to better understand and engage with people’s priorities, questions and concerns about climate and nature.
There are insights into how people in England, Wales and Scotland view climate change, how much we value nature, how we’re feeling about the energy transition and the politics of these issues.
Climate Outreach have also compiled a new communications toolkit, designed to help navigate and put into practice the most useful data and communications insights for all audiences.
The UK is not doing enough to help SMEs decarbonise
This article from Steffen Boehm (ACCESS Co-Investigator, University of Exeter), Aoife Maher and Francesca Boyd (University of Exeter) in Energy Research and Social Science comprises a systematic review of government-backed decarbonisation interventions.
Using Social Practice Theory and Maréchal & Holzemer’s 'grips' framework, the authors found consistent flaws in the UK government's approach, including overly focusing on short-term fixes (like LED lightbulbs) rather than systemic change and a one-size-fits-all support, despite the diversity of SMEs.
The authors recommend:
- co-designing schemes with SMEs, net-zero hubs, and local authorities.
- tailoring support to sectors and supply chains.
- investing in long-term decarbonisation partners (e.g. trade bodies and energy advisors).
- aligning interventions with wider policy levers (e.g. procurement, regulation, skills).
Is there a public mandate for restricting advertising of high-carbon products and services?
This article from Jacob Ainscough and Rebecca Willis (University of Lancaster) in PLOS Climate considers citizens’ jury and public polling evidence from the UK and asks if there is a public mandate for restricting the advertising of high-carbon goods and services.
They find majority support for the principle of greater restrictions on advertising, with the most popular form of intervention tested being a ‘traffic light’ labelling system and the least popular being an outright ban.
The authors discuss the implications of their evidence for political efforts to increase controls on advertising of high-carbon products and services.
How do Environmental Values and Attributes Influence Coastal Community Acceptance of Tidal Energy? Evidence from the Bristol Channel, UK
This paper, in Renewable Energy Focus, provides novel insights into potential contributing factors to public acceptance of tidal energy amongst residents of coastal communities along a major inlet in the UK with high potential for tidal energy development.
Andrew Edwards-Jones (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) et al. used photo-elicitation interviews that utilised self-taken photographs to drive discussions and understand coastal resident’s perceptions of tidal energy. The authors assessed how key environmental values and attributes influence these perceptions.
Key findings on participants’ perceptions of tidal energy included overall general positivity toward this technology, as well as recognition of its significance for sustainable energy.
Find an academic or policy exchange scheme
GO-Science have refreshed their Directory of Academic and Policy Exchange Schemes on GOV.UK. This comprehensive resource lists current exchange schemes from policy to academia and academia to policy across all career stages. Now featuring opportunities from MetroPolis, Durham University, The Royal Society, Centre for Evaluating Complexity Across the Nexus (CECAN), updates from The British Academy and more.
Whether you are a student, researcher, policy maker, or government official, you’ll find a range of opportunities to build experience, grow your network, and contribute to impactful projects.
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.
