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Sustainability Research

Introduction

The University’s research profile and achievements in the area of Sustainability are increasing, as efforts focus on building interdisciplinary and socially relevant research. The University’s Research Plan recognises Sustainability as a key strategic priority encouraging individual, collaborative and pedagogic research in this area.

The University’s Sustainability Strategy ‘Promising Futures’ seeks to increase opportunities for research and research development in the area of Sustainability across University departments and research institutes.

The implementation of the University’s Sustainability Strategy and its research targets have also been supported by funding provided by the European Commission through a Marie Curie Research Fellowship (2009-2011). The overall aim was to undertake evidence based research on the complexity of, and opportunities for, sustainability as an interdisciplinary research activity involving established researchers from across the University faculties.

The Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship Project - 'Living and Learning for Sustainability' also sought to support action research processes to embed Education for Sustainability across professional courses at the University.
To find out more about this research, please contact Professor Daniella Tilbury (dtilbury@glos.ac.uk).

 

Research Institutes and Centres

Several research institutes and centres at the University have sustainability as a focus:

The Countryside and Community Research Institute

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is engaged in research, consultancy and policy work on agri-environment schemes, rural economic development, sustainable land use management, organic markets, rural services and communities, and historic sites and landscapes. It directs and collaborates on a variety of projects for agencies such as DEFRA, ESRC, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Irish Heritage Council.

 

The International Research Institute in Sustainability

The International Research Institute in Sustainability (IRIS) was established in October 2008 to provide new cutting edge research programmes and to strengthen existing research expertise in sustainability within the University. IRIS brings together researchers of international excellence in the area of sustainability and undertakes work for international agencies such as UNESCO Culture, UNESCO DESD, UNESCO Asia-Pacific, IUCN, UNECE and EU.
IRIS has expertise across a range of areas, including: leadership, governance and organisational change; professional practice and education for sustainable development; health and wellbeing and the measurement of progress towards sustainable development.

  • IRIS offers annual PhD studentships and opportunities for research students to contribute, through participatory inquiry, critical action research and other innovative methodologies, to real change for sustainability.
  • IRIS also convenes a postgraduate sustainability research network Postgraduate Researchers Interested in Sustainablility Matters - (PRISM)  which includes members from other UK and international universities.


Pedagogic Research and Scholarship Institute

The Pedagogic Research and Scholarship Institute (PRSI) has sustainability as a priority theme and therefore plays an important role in funding and supporting staff to undertake research into teaching.

The PRSI was launched in 2006 and is engaged in a number of exciting activities across the university promoting research into teaching and learning both within and beyond the university.


Centre for Active Learning

The Centre for Active Learning (CeAL) was a HEFCE-funded Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning inititative between 2005 and 2010.  It supported pedagogic research on sustainability as part of its work to develop, research and promote innovative active learning based on inquiry and reflection both within the University and across the sector. The centre was instrumental in producing an Essentials of Teaching and Learning Toolkit

 

Centre for Environmental Change and Quaternary Research

The Centre for Environmental Change and Quaternary Research (CECQR) specialises in reconstructing past climatic and environmental change, and evaluates consequential recent changes in species distribution and phenology.

  

Research Initiatives within the University

 

Language and Ecology Research Forum

The Language and Ecology Research Forum is an initiative organized by Dr Arran Stibbe, Course Leader in English Language at the University. It involves an international network of academics engaged in ongoing research in this area as well as the online journal Language & Ecology. The journal publishes papers focused on the analysis of language in social and ecological contexts and in recognition of the embedding of societies within natural ecosystems. Arran is a well known and active academic in the fields of ecolinguistics and Education for Sustainable Development. He has published widely on these issues, including the recent project Soundings in Sustainability Literacy and has been awarded a Green Gown commendation for his innovative work in this area in the English Language curriculum.

 

Tewkesbury - Living for the Future                                      

Dr Diane Crone and Professor David James have secured a three year funded PhD research project award to investigate the impact of Healthy Towns scheme in the local town of  Tewkesbury. The project studentship for Living for the Future is held by Mary Mahoney and involves mixed methods research on the Healthy Towns interventions taking place within the Community. Tewkesbury was one of only nine towns across the country that succeeded in the bidding process to be part of this exciting Government led project. The areas covered in the project will follow the government iniative to develop a host of interventions related to cycling, walking, healthy eating and green spaces. The Healthy Town initiative helps to bring Tewkesbury to the forefront of efforts to tackle health inequality in the region. 

 

 

 

 

Other Sustainability Webpages:

 

 

University Research Fellows in Sustainability

Several Fellows attached to the University through its research Centres and Institutes bring a range of additional expertise to sustainability through collaborative and independent projects:

Paul Vare (IRIS) is a member of the UNECE ESD Indicators Expert Group and a member of the UNESCO UK Indicators Working Group. His research interests focus on ESD in the schools' sector and he is Director of the South West Coalition for ESD.

Roel Van Raaij (IRIS) is a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Agriculture in the Netherlands, he is secretary to the Steering Committee for the inter-ministerial programme Learning for Sustainable Development. His research interests in indicators for ESD have led to his involvement in the UNESCO Global Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Group for the Decade for ESD and the UNECE Indicators Expert Group.

Overson Shumba (IRIS) is Professor of Engineering in the Copperbelt University of Zambia. He has researched and written extensively on ESD and Environmental Science in primary education and teacher training in Zimbabwe.

John Baines (IRIS) is a Chartered Environmentalist with over 30 years experience in the fields of Environmental Education and ESD. He has a particular interest in ESD within continuing professional development and is a founder and the Chair of PP4SD.

Rolf Jucker (IRIS) is Director of the Swiss Foundation for Environmental Education and joint convenor of the Swiss Forum for ESD. He has conducted research into ESD in higher education and the relationship between ESD and social change.

Nigel Rayment (IRIS) is a strategic advisor to the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and a former senior manager in the further education sector. He has a particular research interest in ESD in the 16 to 19 age group.
Professor Anis Ahmed (IRIS) is Co-Founder of the University of the Liberal Arts in Bangladesh and established the Institute for Sustainable Development at ULAB. He has pioneered work on sustainability in the curriculum and in land-based businesses.

Simon Steiner (IRIS) is a Chartered Engineer based at the University of Birmingham and he is Academic Advisor to the HE Academy's Engineering Subject Centre. He has an interest in intergrating sustainability into the engineering professions.

Glenn Strachan (IRIS) is member of the PP4SD (Professional Practice for Sustainable Development) Project Management Group researching the needs of professionals with regard to sustainable development and producing CPD programmes.  Consultant in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship to the Welsh Assembly Government, working with the ESDGC Champion for Wales in supporting educational professionals.

Professor Sharon Turnbull (IRIS) is Director of the Research Centre for Applied Leadership at the Leadership Foundation. She has researched and published in the field of organisational culture and change, including researching ancient and indigenous leadership practices.

Bland Tomkinson (IRIS) is University Advisor on Pedagogic Developments at the University of Manchester. In addition to general pedagogical research he has a special interest in ESD in the Engineering curriculum.

David Wortman (IRIS) has extensive experience of managing sustainability projects in the corporate sector and for the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability. His extensive list of publications are primarily concerned with people’s responses to sustainability.

Gillian Martin Mehers (IRIS) is Director and Head of Learning at Bright Green Learning in Switzerland. She was formally Head of Learning and Leadership at IUCN. Her work focuses on leaders and practitioners in sustainability.

John Davies (IRIS) has held leadership positions, including two pro-vice chancellorships in higher education institutions in countries around the world. He draws on his extensive experience to consult on strategic issues in higher education at an international level.

Professor Michael Dower continues to work with the CCRI, in particular in relation to international rural development, and contributes to the postgraduate course in European Rural Development.

Professor David Gibbon (CCRI) has a background as an agriculturalist, specialising in all aspects of sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods and in community participation, social learning and action to manage landscapes and futures.

Professor Andrew Gilg (CCRI) has 35 years of experience in research into countryside planning issues, while his recent research includes work for DEFRA into ‘Environmental attitudes’.

Dr James Jones (CCRI) is a specialist in farm business management, agri-business, agricultural economics, agricultural policy and rural estate management at the Royal Agricultural College.

Will Manley (CCRI) is a chartered environmental scientist with specialist research interests in agri-ecosystems, biodiversity, countryside policy and rural recreational activities, and the integration of these areas with commercial agriculture, forestry and rural development.

Professor Bill Slee (CCRI) heads up the Socio-Economics Research Group at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen and conducts research addressing pressing challenges such as climate change and natural resource management conflicts.

Ken Thomson (CCRI) is Professor Emeritus at the University of Aberdeen, and brings an international reputation as a rural economist to the CCRI, particularly to work on projects related to the CAP and to rural and regional development within the enlarged Europe.

Tom Woolley is CCRI Professor of Sustainable Rural Architecture is an architect and environmental researcher who has written widely in this area.

Ian Condliffe (CCRI) is particularly interested in upland environmental, agricultural, and common land issues and on working with others to achieve solutions in these areas.

Alan Greer (CCRI) is a Reader in Politics and Public Policy at the University of the West of England (UWE). His main research interests lie in the field of public policy analysis and governance, with particular emphasis on comparative agricultural and rural policy.

Dr Ingrid Sarlöv Herlin (CCRI) is a landscape researcher with interests in integrated planning and management of landscapes and how landscape policy (particularly the European Landscape convention) affects planning and management of landscapes.

Don Webber (CCRI) is Reader in Regional Economics at the University of West of England (UWE). He is an applied economist with research interests in the urban-rural productivity divide.

Alan Woods (CCRI) has over 20 years’ experience in land-use policy research and advocacy, working mainly with the RSPB and CLA, and now runs his own consultancy in business strategy and environmental policy.

 

Q. Are you an early career researcher seeking support and/or professional development in the area of sustainability?
Q. Are you looking for a research studentship in the area of sustainability?
Q. Are you an experienced researcher  interested  in extending your specialism to include sustainability matters?
Q. Are you someone who would like to make a difference through research?

If so, please contact Professor Daniella Tilbury (dtilbury@glos.ac.uk)
 

University Researchers 

The University has extended the scope and depth of its research activities in investigating sustainability through research activities involving its central academic staff and through the expertise of external Research Fellows connected to the institution. Their interests and profiles span a diverse range of subject specialisms and areas of expertise.

David Booth has research expertise in urban landscape character assessment, highways design and route selection, school grounds design and derelict land reclamation, using sustainability considerations in his work with a range of external partners and organisations.

Bill Burford’s research interests cover ‘green’ technology, studio culture and design in the field of Landscape Architecture.

Professor Frank Chambers researches climate change, assessing human impact on the landscape and the implications for biodiversity and conservation management.

Dr Michael Clark is an experienced database programmer, GIS and data analyst specializing in GIS and software systems for rural research and policy.

Dr Paul Courtney specialises in the socio-economic and spatial dimensions of rural activities, particularly rural community development and rural economic performance.

Professor Nigel Curry is Director of the CCRI and has over 30 years research experience into aspects of the rural economy, the planning process, land rights and rural communities in rural areas.

Dr Janine Dermody specialises in consumer behaviour, non-profit and ‘green’ marketing, and political behaviour and communication.

James Derounian undertakes action research and consultancy on issues of action learning, community engagement and regeneration for a range of clients including the Carnegie UK Trust, Action with Communities in Rural England and the New Economics Foundation.

Dr Janet Dwyer is Co-Director of CRRI with expertise European and UK policy for sustainable agriculture and rural development, including the design and delivery of EU policy under the CAP.

Professor Walid El Ansari has expertise in community participation and public health, wellbeing and sustainability.

Rhiannon Fisher’s PhD research focuses on issues relating to social capital and environmental justice in connection to the potential impacts of climate change.

Dr Peter Gaskell specialises in studies of the historic environment, landscape change and agri-environmental policy.

Dr Adam Hart is an entomologist focusing on honeybees and lesser known solitary bees, who serves as associate editor of the journal Ecological Entomology and as Scientific Director of the Global Bee Project, a local conservation initiative, and research projects involving local schools.

Professor Brian Ilbery’s research interests lie in agricultural change and policy, short food supply chains and local/regional speciality food and drink products.

Dr Julie Ingram has expertise in the socio-economic aspects of agriculture, especially knowledge exchange, in relation to policy, practice, management and the environment.

Dr Owain Jones has research interests in rural communities and rural childhood; landscape place and nature, and sustainable food chains.

Professor Peter Jones specialises in corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the retail sector.

Dr Carol Kambites specialises in social capital within communities, local governance and the ways in which people relate to the places where they live.

Dr James Kirwan has expertise in the socio-economic impacts of the agro-food system, the production and consumption of food and impacts on sustainable rural development.

Katarina Kubinakova has interests in integrated rural development, and employment and economy development in rural areas.

Nick Lewis' main research interest is in the recreational use of the countryside. He is routinely involved in a variety of topic areas within the CCRI, primarily with project and fieldwork development. He is involved extensively with analysis and presentation of results through tools such as SPSS.

Dr Kenny Lynch is Deputy Director of the Pedagogic Research and Scholarship Institute and also has research interests in sustainable development, particularly in African environments.

Dr Jason MacVaugh has a particular focus on pedagogic research in the area of education for sustainable development and problem-based learning.

Dr Damian Maye has research interests in agricultural restructuring, food supply chains and rural development, especially the growth of alternative food networks and disease and biosecurity in the rural economy.

Professor Lindsey McEwen specialises in flood, water and catchment science, flood education and pedagogical research.

Jane Mills specialises in socio-economic aspects of agri-environmental policy, agriculatural change and environmental management..

Professor Malcolm Moseley has expertise in three overlapping fields- rural governance, rural community development, and the efficient and equitable delivery of rural services.

Ingrid Mulà is carrying out a PhD on social learning for sustainability in Higher Education and is involved in research on indicators of learning for sustainability.

Noreen O'Connell Gallagher is a doctoral research student with health and education expertise who is carrying out evaluation research linked to health interventions through the Tewkebsury Healthy Town initiative.

Professor Stephen Owen has research interests in planning and designing rural settlements and linking community-based planning with strategic decision-making.

Sandrina Pereira is undertaking a PhD on the sustainable management of forests in southern Europe and conducting research into EU the rural development regulations.

Dr John Powell has research interests in the interface between the rural economy and governance issues, with expertise in resource valuation, policy evaluation and institutional analysis.

Dr Matt Reed has research interests in organic farming and food, food promotion, nutrigenetics, family farming and the local food economy.

Dr Nina Reeves is leading a project to provide Speech and Language Therapists with a secure web-based therapy tool to create treatment exercises for use at home and progress reviews between therapy sessions, taking a sustainability perspective on resource use and the needs of remote communities.

Dr Janet Rose has expertise in action research in the context of early years education, is interested in the role of sustainability in terms of developing social capital and leadership in early years education, and is co-leading a research project on developing forest schools in the UK.

Dr Alex Ryan has expertise in education for sustainability, interdisciplinary and pedagogic research in Higher Education, and in the relationship between embodiment and learning.

Chris Short specialises in the relationship between agriculture and other land uses, notably shared resources and integrated rural development.

Claire Simmons has research interests in broadcast journalism, ethics and media debates on sustainability.

Dr Arran Stibbe has research interests in ecological and sustainability literacy.

Glenn Strachan is Senior Research Fellow in IRIS and specialises in education for sustainable development and professional practice for sustainability, while also conducting doctoral research on design for learning and organisational change in sustainability.

Professor Daniella Tilbury is Director of Sustainability and has expertise in social and organisational change for sustainability, evaluation and indicators for sustainability and education.

Angela Tomkins is a Fellow in Education for Sustainability (Professional Development) carrying out action research to explore professional and curriculum development for sustainability in the Business School.

Dr Sue Williams has expertise in action research and action learning, and is developing research approaches to connect sustainability with issues of leadership and professional development in public and private sector organisations.

 

 

 

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