Events
Online
New Publications
Jobs and Training
Calls
Social Sustainability in Urban Areas: Communities, Connectivity and the Urban Fabric – Call for Peer Reviewers
‘Social Sustainability in Urban Areas: Communities, Connectivity and the Urban Fabric’ aims to be a groundbreaking new edited collection on the delivery of social sustainability in the urban context, offering both a critique of current policy and practice and creative solutions. It challenges many of the conventional wisdoms surrounding what constitutes sustainable communities and presents practical examples of projects that will help students, researchers, policy-makers and local practitioners to think carefully and innovatively about the practical and real world situations they are addressing. The book consists of original contributions from academics working in the fields of planning, housing, local community development, urban regeneration, transport and international sustainable development. Drawing on case study research gathered in the UK, Europe and Africa, it adopts an original, interdisciplinary approach to both theory and practice, illustrating the challenges and opportunities facing policy-makers and practitioners attempting to develop, manage and maintain sustainable communities. Editors Tony Manzi, Karen Lucas, Tony Lloyd Jones and Judith Allen are looking for peer reviewers with expertise in this area. Please contact Karen Lucas for more information.
Comparative Cross-National Research Methods – Call for Applications
The ESRC invites applications under this Initiative on Comparative Cross-National Research Methods. Several recent studies have identified a pressing need for the development of comparative cross-national research methods for the conduct of high quality international and cross-national comparative research. This initiative is aimed at generating methodological advancement as well as advancing understanding of the implementation of best practice. Research methods form a basis for any social science research. Through this initiative the ESRC is seeking to fund four to six research projects which will address one or more substantive research questions upon which to base the methodological work. The areas of research are open to the applicants’ choice that they are expected to justify. Applicants may also wish to consider addressing broad methodological issues relevant to the comparative cross-national research, for example, conceptual equivalence, equivalence of variables, linguistic equivalence. Full proposals must be submitted to the ESRC by 4pm on Tuesday 25th August 2009. More…
Interdisciplinary Challenges for Complexity Science – Call for EoIs
The Complexity-NET European Research Area Network (ERA-NET), coordinated by the EPSRC, invites Expressions of Interest for transnational interdisciplinary research projects. Proposed projects should be grounded in the mathematical and physical sciences, designed around meaningful collaboration with other scientific disciplines, and should have a clear emphasis on the development of methodologies, tools and techniques of complexity science for addressing real-world challenges. The principal themes of the call are: Emergence and self-organisation, individual to collective behaviour, micro to macro; dynamics and (un)predictability, risk and extreme events; and resilience, sustainability, management and control of complex systems. Expressions of Interest are invited from consortia which include investigators from at least three different countries participating in this call. The research projects funded through this activity will have a duration of up to 24 months and a total budget of up to €500,000 across all investigators. The closing date for Expressions of Interest is Thursday 30th July 2009. More…
Towards a Sustainable Urban Environment – Call for EoIs
The EPSRC invites expressions of interest from individuals within academia and other stakeholder organisations to attend a two-day workshop, from 14th to 15th July 09, to identify ‘Grand Challenges’ in developing a Sustainable Urban Environment, focussing on the need for integration and connectivity across different spatial and temporal scales. Cities are complex systems consisting of people, technology, buildings and infrastructure, interacting on different scales and with the surrounding environment. Actions to deliver sustainability have to be appropriate to the scale, whether in time or space. This raises questions such as: What are the right scales on which to integrate systems and services to achieve more sustainable outcomes? How can we better scale-up sustainable innovations to achieve whole systems change within an urban context? How can we take account of the interdependencies between different aspects of the urban environment in designing more sustainable cities? How do we engineer more efficient, integrated and resilient infrastructure (both new and existing) and services that can respond positively to change? The aim of the workshop is to identify a small number of ‘Grand Challenges’ in this area which will enable UK researchers to engage in research that is world-leading and has potential to result in a step change in current knowledge and practice. The Grand Challenges identified will provide input to a call for proposals that will be announced later in 2009. EoIs should be submitted by 12th June 09. More…
The Governance of Sustainability: Multiple Dimensions, Multiple Approaches – Call for Papers
This UACES funded collaborative research network, which aims to explore the tensions and ambiguities surrounding sustainability using a cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary approach, plans to hold its first two-day research paper workshop from the 23rd -24th July 2009 at the University of Bradford. Research papers (maximum of 6,000 words) are invited from doctoral students, early-career as well as more established academics, and practitioners from across a range of disciplines such as environmental studies, political studies, management studies, history, geography, legal studies, and economics. The paper may address any of the following topics: The economic dimension of sustainable development, with a particular reference to energy markets, climate change, and competition policy; the relationship between governance for sustainability and carbon control, specifically analysing governance approaches to broaden the constituency of engagement with climate/energy issues; multi-level governance and the challenge of sustainable development; Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability; the link between energy, the environment, the external policies and the identity of the EU. Abstracts of 150-200 words should be sent to the organisers by Friday 29th May 09. Please contact the co-ordinators for further information about the research workshop: Jenny Fairbrass, Thomas Hoerber and Simon Lightfoot
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Events
GoWell 3rd Annual Event
28th May 09: Teacher Building, St Enoch Square, Glasgow.
GoWell is a research and learning programme that aims to investigate the impact of investment in housing, regeneration and neighbourhood renewal on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities over a ten-year period. The next GoWell Annual Event will be held on Wednesday 28th May. Alongside the usual update on activity and progress over the past year, new findings will be presented from the Wave 2 Community Health and Wellbeing survey of almost 4,700 residents conducted during summer 2008. The event presents an important opportunity to bring people from communities together with housing, health and regeneration practitioners and policy-makers, to consider and discuss these findings. The second half of the morning will consist of six different workshops each of which will explore different aspects of regeneration/GoWell findings. More…
European Climate Teach-In Day
5th June 09: Online event
There is a perceived need to foster awareness about climate change in schools and universities and to engage young people and future professionals in the search for local solutions for a problem which has global dimensions. Yet, although much is written and spoken about climate change in scientific circles, little information filters through to other levels. Since much can be gained by using scientific information to stimulate the debate on climate change in schools and universities across Europe, the "European Climate Teach-In Day" is being organized for the 5th June 2009, which is also the World Environment Day. The "European Climate Teach-In Day" consists of: a set of presentations in English and German will be provided by some of the renowned experts on climate change; a set of videos on the scientific, economic and social aspects of climate change which can be downloaded; and a discussion forum which will be on-line for 24 hours during the period of the initiative. In addition to lectures, participant schools and universities will be provided with a set of guiding questions which can then be discussed as well as with a film which can be shown whenever possible. More…
Fair – ‘Renewable Energy and Climate change: a challenge to European schools and universities’
28th – 30th November 09: Hamburg.
Further to past successes, the third European Fair on Education for Sustainable Development is to be held in Hamburg from 28th to 30th October 2009. The fair is being organised by the Research and Transfer Centre “Applications of Life Sciences” of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and the Centre for Sustainable Construction, as an activity of the RCE Hamburg and Region. The aims of the event are fourfold: first, to provide European organisations with an opportunity to display and present their works (i.e. policy research, activities, practical projects) as they relate to education for, with and about the environment with a focus on renewable energy and climate issues; secondly, to foster the exchange of information, ideas and experiences acquired in the execution of projects, from successful initiatives and good practice; thirdly, to discuss methodological approaches and projects which aim to integrate the topic of renewable energy and climate change in the curriculum of schools and universities; and finally, to introduce the European RCEs and discuss their activities in the field of renewable energy and climate change, as well as to explore possibilities for cooperation. More…
Conference – ‘Klima 2009’
2nd – 6th November 09: Online.
This conference aims to highlight the latest scientific findings on the social, economic and political aspects of climate change. Participants will have the opportunity to read about new projects and innovative initiatives being undertaken in both industrialised and developing countries by universities and scientific institutions, government bodies, NGOs and other stakeholders. “Klima 2009" will encourage networking and information exchange among participants and hopefully catalyse new cooperation initiatives and possibly new joint projects. Besides the refereed scientific papers, there will be chances to discuss the problems, barriers, challenges and opportunities related to climate and sustainability research. Special discussion fora and chat rooms will cater for direct interaction with the participant scientists. More…
Conference – ‘Transport Technology and Climate Change: Building a Greener Scotland’
29th June 09: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The Transport Research Institute (TRI), Scottish Enterprise, COSLA and the Scottish Government are organising a one-day conference; ‘Transport Technology and Climate Change: Building a Greener Scotland’. The keynote speaker will be Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change. The conference will launch the Scottish Government’s consultation on the use of cleaner vehicles and alternative fuels to reduce emissions from road transport. Further plenary sessions will cover: the local government perspective; an overview of the impact of climate change and the need for reduced emissions; the perspective of industry on clean vehicle technology and implementation; and predictions for the future. There will be four parallel sessions, on: transport initiatives; emerging low carbon technologies; procurement of greener vehicles; and behaviour change related to transport. More…
Conference – ‘Green Shoots or False Dawn? Prospects for a global and UK economic recovery’
16th June 09: Royal Geographic Society, London.
We are two years on from the Credit Crunch and a year into the worst recession since the war. Is the economy touching bottom yet? Have stock market investors spotted green shoots, heralding an improvement in the real economy? Or is this a false dawn, with fundamental problems yet to be addressed? Should we be gearing ourselves up for a sharp recovery, or should we be preparing for at best weak growth for some time yet? This half-day conference, organised by Cambridge Econometrics, aims to develop a better understanding of the nature of the global and UK recession and the potential for recovery, drawing out the implications for the UK's sectors and places. The conference will go beyond a simple presentation of point forecasts and see what can be learned from scenarios carried out with our global and UK multi-sectoral economic models. The two sessions will allow time for questions and discussion. More…
Book Launch – ‘The Complete UrbanBuzz’
2nd June 09: Central London.
'The Complete UrbanBuzz' book launch, celebrating the successful completion of University College London's £7.75m knowledge exchange programme in the field of building sustainable communities, will take place on 2nd June 2009. UCL’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment led this two-year initiative which focused on the key question of “how to build sustainable communities”. The Complete UrbanBuzz will detail the programme’s work across the full gamut of sustainability issues – environmental, social and economic – and should appeal to all practitioners, policy-makers and academics that have an interest in shaping the world we live in. The event will feature headline keynote speakers, brief presentations from selected projects, an exhibition comprising the projects' outputs and other groupings, together with a free cocktail reception to wrap up the day. Special launch price copies of the publication should be available for sale on the day. More…
IPPR Event – ‘Devolution, Communities and Regeneration: Policy Innovations across the UK’
28th May 09: Cardiff.
Regeneration, housing, and community policies have an essential role to play in mitigating the impact of the recession and in seeking to improve the lives of people in some of the UK’s most deprived communities. This IPPR North research seminar, part of their ‘Devolution in Practice Project’, will seek to explore and learn from different policy approaches being taken across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England following devolution. Speakers include: Emyr Roberts, Director General, Public Services and Local Government Delivery, Welsh Assembly Government; Professor Steve Wilcox, York University (social housing); Professor Gareth Williams, Cardiff University (public health); and Dr Rick Muir, ippr (community policing).
Further speakers to be announced soon. For more information or to book your place please contact k.schmuecker@ippr.org
Event – ‘Sustainable Food Summit’
25th – 27th June 09: Amsterdam.
Sustainability has come to the forefront of the food industry. Whilst a growing number of companies are looking at sustainable business practices, there is some confusion on the various pathways: organic, fairtrade, local, carbon neutral, etc. What do these eco-labels mean and how sustainable are the pathways? What lessons can be learned from companies who have successfully and legitimately met the sustainability challenges? The Sustainable Food Summit will bring together key stakeholders (food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, retailers, industry organisations & certification agencies, investors, packaging companies, etc.) and create a forum to debate and discuss these major issues in a high-level forum. The focus of the first summit is sustainability and eco-labelling. Major issues that will be discussed in the inaugural summit include defining sustainability, sustainability pathways & eco-labelling, ethical sourcing, food miles & buying local, investment approaches, sustainable supply chains, marketing best-practices and ecological packaging. Companies/organisations at the forefront of sustainability initiatives will present papers in a high-level forum. More…
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Online
Love Parks Week
Love Parks Week features events in parks throughout the UK between 25th July and 2nd August. It is an annual campaign, organised by the parks charity GreenSpace. The new website has recently been launched, featuring new resources, the ‘What’s On’ guide and information about how to get involved in the campaign. GreenSpace is asking for as many people as possible to get into parks to join the campaign for continued investment and support for parks. More…
ERFF Online Research Database
The Environment Research Funders' Forum online database of environmental research is now available on the ERFF website. The database contains information on over 16,000 environmental research projects and programmes funded from public funds via nearly 20 ERFF member organisations. The work included in the database at present was funded largely during the period April 2005 - March 2008, but there is also some earlier and later work, including some planned projects and programmes. More recent work will continue to be added to the database on an ongoing basis. The database can be searched using an easy-to-use but powerful text search, and information about projects and programmes can be downloaded for further examination. There will be further enhancements to the site facilities in due course. More…
‘The True Value of Nature’ – Natural England’s Draft Policy on the Ecosystems Approach
Natural England has published a consultation seeking views on a draft policy document that sets out the agency’s approach to ecosystems. The consultation document highlights that decisions about the natural environment should seek to maintain the provision of ecosystem services wherever this is compatible with responsibilities for the natural environment, and respect for its intrinsic value. It argues that the value of the natural environment is not adequately recognised by society and stresses the need for people to understand the links between their own well-being and the value of services provided by the natural environment. It demonstrates that action is necessary from all sectors of society, including government, business, NGOs and local communities, to support the provision of ecosystem services. New mechanisms are needed for the delivery of an ecosystem services approach including innovative financial and other instruments. Investment in the natural environment, informed by economic analysis, is necessary to deliver ecosystem services which are critical to the well-being of present and future generations. Comments on the document are invited until 31st July 09. More…
RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme Website
The Research Councils UK's Global Uncertainties programme will shortly launch its website. The programme brings together all of the UK Research Councils and is led by the ESRC. It will integrate and support multidisciplinary research on conflict, crime, terrorism, environmental stress, and global poverty to inform national and global responses to new challenges, such as international terrorism and conflict; rapid technological development; demographic, cultural and socio-economic change; and increasing pressures on natural resources. Visit the website …
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Publications
EEA Report – ‘Looking back on looking forward: a review of evaluative scenario literature’
Faced with risk and uncertainty, environmental policy-makers are increasingly using scenario planning to guide decision making. The vibrancy of the field is evident in the numerous case studies conducted using diverse methodologies. Yet even well crafted scenarios can fail to have their intended policy impact if they present irrelevant information, lack support from relevant actors, are poorly embedded into relevant organisations or ignore key institutional context conditions. Unfortunately, the shortage of research on scenario planning and its influence means that there is limited guidance on how to optimise scenarios, in terms of both outputs and uptake by policy-makers. This technical report by the European Environment Agency aims to address this lack of information, presenting a review of relevant academic and non academic literature on the issue. More…
FEC Report – ‘From A to B: A snapshot of the UK food distribution system’
This report aims to ‘lift the lid’ on food transport, which often involves complex journeys through multiple processing systems in several countries. It begins by looking at the overall shape of the UK food distribution system, then follows the journey of food from overseas and UK producers via processors and manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, foodservice companies, and, finally, consumers’ own trips. The report is an overview of a complicated and rapidly changing system, and as such does not seek to provide analysis of the current state of play. Its sister publications – ‘Food distribution: an ethical agenda’ and ‘Future scenarios for the UK food system: a toolkit for thinking ahead’ do provide critical analysis and a guide to how the system could – and should – change in the future. Together, all three aim to provide a unique insight into the UK food system ‘from farm to fork’. More…
New Book – ‘Why We Disagree About Climate Change: understanding controversy , inaction and opportunity’
This new book, by Mike Hulme, emphasises that climate change is not ‘a problem’ waiting for ‘a solution’; it is an environmental, cultural and political phenomenon which is re-shaping the way we think about ourselves, our societies and humanity’s place on Earth. Drawing upon 25 years of professional work as an international climate change scientist and public commentator, Mike Hulme provides an insider’s account of the emergence of this phenomenon and the diverse ways in which it is understood. He uses different standpoints from science, economics, faith, psychology, communication, sociology, politics and development to explain why people disagree about climate change. In this way he aims to show that climate change, far from being simply an ‘issue’ or a ‘threat’, can act as a catalyst to revise our perception of our place in the world. More…
New Book – ‘Making the Links: Greenspace for a more successful and sustainable Scotland’
‘Making the Links’ blends case studies from across urban Scotland with international research to demonstrate how greenspace contributes to the Scottish Government's five strategic objectives and creates healthier, safer and stronger, wealthier and fairer, smarter and greener communities. The book also sets out the actions that are needed by a range of partners to make greenspace deliver these benefits and signposts readers to a range of useful tools and resources, as well as highlighting examples of good practice from across the country. More…
New Report – ‘Low Carbon Lifestyles: Still searching for Gladwell’s Tipping Point’
Significant attention is currently focused on the importance of a low carbon future, whether in terms of averting climatic catastrophe or, more immediately, as a means of stimulating an ailing economy. This report, by Icaro Consulting, highlights the findings of research that tested public reactions to a range of low carbon propositions, and shows the British public to be interested but looking for support. The research, marking a shift away from a focus on general attitudes, looks at attitudes towards 12 options including technologies like solar panels, financial support packages like ‘green’ loans, in-home smart meters, and real time variable electricity pricing. A representative sample of 1,000 British adults aged 18-64 were interviewed online by Ipsos MORI. More…
CBI Report – ‘Time to change gear? Assessing the UK transport networks’
This report by the CBI assesses the current state of the UK transport network and draws on a range of published evidence in order to rate different modes of transport according to their reliability and capacity. The road network comes off worst, rated ‘poor’ and judged to be worsening both in terms of reliability and capacity. More improvement has been made on the railways, with train travel rated ‘satisfactory’ for its reliability, judged as improving and ‘satisfactory’ for capacity. Capacity at UK airports is rated ‘poor’ by the report and getting worse. Their reliability is assessed as ‘satisfactory.’ The report contains a five point plan which, the CBI suggests, would make a real difference to the UK’s transport network if implemented by the government. Briefly, it advocates: keeping the transport budget at the level outlined in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review; promoting and inviting private investment in transport; establishing how alternative pricing structures can be used to help congestion and encourage investment; ending the ongoing rounds of consultation and delivering a long-term transport plan; and, removing barriers to the delivery of transport projects by implementing the Planning Act and acting on national policy statements. More…
CBI Publication – ‘Going the Distance’
‘Going the Distance’ explains the CBI’s priorities for delivering a low-carbon economy across the first three carbon budget periods up to the target year of 2020. Separate roadmaps, also available on online (www.cbi.org.uk/climatechange), explain in more detail how these reductions can be made from power generation, transport, industry and buildings. The roadmaps demonstrate that a clear and certain regulatory framework will help stimulate private sector investment in a low-carbon future. The roadmaps have been used to set out policies that need to be implemented, Government decisions that need to be made and what level of market response can be expected to deliver a low-carbon economy. Some of the immediate actions called for include: Speedy implementation of the Planning Act - appointments to the Infrastructure Planning Commission and National Policy Statements; smart meters fitted in homes and businesses as a matter of urgency; approval for the Severn Barrage project; incentives to encourage consumers to buy more efficient appliances; and public procurement of a fleet of electric vehicles to stimulate private investment in the infrastructure needed to support electric cars. More…
New Index – ‘Zero Carbon Capacity Index for the Built Environment’
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new index to measure and track the degree to which the built environment is able to support moves towards a low carbon built environment. By bringing together measures of actual progress plus the views and insights of experts around the world as to whether the policy measures are likely to deliver results over the next year, the Index provides a ranking of countries on the likelihood of countries to move towards a low carbon built environment. The 2008 results have been released and these can be found online (http://www.rics.org/zc2). A number of countries are making good progress, led by France. In addition, a number of countries could be making progress, both in terms of their overall carbon emissions and their policy mechanisms for the built environment - these include Australia, Mexico and South Africa. More…
CDF Publication – ‘Making spaces for Community Development’
This book, written by Michael Pitchford for the Community Development Foundation, seeks to help practitioners and their managers working with communities to reflect on and assess the aims and direction of their work. The book distils the learning of experienced community workers and sets it in the context of opportunities, dilemmas and tensions in communities today. The book: highlights the shift to partnership working and community planning, and analyses changes for policy and practice; explores the inherent tensions in and between communities and how policy and practice can address these; and tackles accountability and its impact on community development practice and relationships between practitioners and communities. More…
UNEP Report – ‘The Environmental Food Crisis’
UNEP recently launched a report, ‘The Environmental Food Crisis’, at the 17th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York. The report provides some new and sobering costs on how environmental degradation might impact food production, while highlighting new and promising paths. Invasive pests, land degradation, erosion, drought and climate change have already caused agricultural yields to fall in some cases by up to 50 per cent. Delivering food security to an additional 1 billion people in Africa will become ever more challenging over the next four decades unless more intelligent management of natural resources and emerging opportunities are brought to bear. Business as usual, with Africa's population set to rise from 770 million to 1.75 billion by 2050, is likely to dwarf the recent food crisis which plunged over 100 million into poverty and hunger in just two years. More…
CLG Report – ‘World Class Places: The Government’s Strategy for improving quality of place’
The way places and buildings are planned, designed and looked after matters to the UK population in numerous ways. The quality of our built environment is an important influence on crime, health, community cohesion and prosperity. It has a major impact on wildlife and climate change. This reports aims to illustrate the Government’s commitment to improving the places where we live, whether they be villages or large cities. The strategy lays out why and how quality of place matters and the practical steps the Government will be taking to build on the achievements of recent years and do more to create prosperous, attractive, distinctive, inclusive and sustainable world class places. More…
Carnegie UK Trust Publication – ‘Civil society associations and the values of social justice’
The Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society has published a new report on ‘Civil society associations and the values of social justice’. The report, written by Professor Gary Craig, explores how civil society associations (CSAs) understand and operationalise the concept of social justice and in addition, it considers what distinguishes CSAs from organisations in the public and private sectors and the obstacles civil society associations encounter in operating as social justice organisations. More…
New Report – ‘Green Infrastructure: connected and multi-functional landscapes’
Green infrastructure needs to be taken as seriously as the more familiar ‘grey infrastructure’ of roads, railways and power lines, argues the Landscape Institute (LI) in a new publication, ‘Green Infrastructure: connected and multifunctional landscapes’. The position statement, one of a series produced by the LI's Policy Committee, argues that Green Infrastructure must have the same priority as more conventional infrastructure. Policy and Public Affairs Officer Stephen Russell says: 'We are faced with a wide range of environmental, social and economic challenges; developing housing to meet demographic changes, ensuring that our environments are resilient to a changing climate, maintaining adequate supplies of water, managing flood risk, securing food and energy supplies and safeguarding against biodiversity loss. If we are to meet these challenges, everyone concerned with the planning, design and management of our places needs to consider a green infrastructure approach’. More…
SDRN Website: ‘Jobs and Training’ Section
Jobs and Training opportunities around the Sustainable Development Research network (including a new position on the SDRN Co-ordinating Team) are now updated frequently on the ‘Jobs and Training’ page of the SDRN website…
The SDRN Mailing is a moderated information resource and dissemination service for SDRN members. You can make use of this service by sending any information for inclusion in the mailing to Sarah Bell.
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To join or leave this list, please email Sarah Bell or follow the links from the JISCmail website.