ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
Visual minutes from ACCESS Assembly 2023

ACCESS Assembly 2023


This year’s annual ACCESS Assembly was about getting together, discussing key challenges and sparking new networks.

From 14 to 16 June, Exeter University welcomed social scientists from across academia, public and private sectors from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England to this year’s Advancing Capacity for Climate Environment Social Science (ACCESS) Assembly.

One of the key themes was – How can we improve the impact social science research has on policy and practice? The keynote speakers were:

They all talked about translating, opening up, sharing and working effectively together across all sectors of society.

Over the two days, we also heard about ACCESS’s Guiding Principles and how these might be applied and further developed to make them more useable and accessible. Towards the end of the Assembly we heard about the ACCESS Data Exchange and Climate & Environment Media Monitor and how to get involved.

A key aspect that was highlighted during the discussions to support and promote the impact and value of environmental social science was collaboration and interaction. The Assembly sessions demonstrated the value of bringing together in person a group of people from wide range of backgrounds to engage in stimulating, mutually respectful discussions in order to inspire people, understand each other’s viewpoints and consider how best to take the field forwards.

Some of the attendees on Day 2 of the Assembly
One of the breakout sessions at the Assembly
ACCESS Co-Investigator, Travis Coan, in the lecture hall

Keynote & Session recordings

Mari Martiskainen, Translating social science energy research for policy

Rosie Hails, An ecologist's view on why we need social science to solve the biodiversity crisis

Nigel Gilbert, Handling Complexity in Environmental Policy Evaluation

Stewart Barr & Kate Burningham, Developing guiding principles for ACCESS

Beth Brockett & Clive Mitchell, Working effectively with policy and practice colleagues

Travis Coan & Michelle Spruce, ACCESS Data Exchange and Media Monitor

Comments about the Assembly:

“Congratulations on the ACCESS Assembly.  I think it was very useful and a great success.”

“It was great to be able to attend the Access Assembly. I had some very engaging discussions, some of which could lead into actual collaborations.”

“Can I just say a huge thank you to all of you for organising and supporting such a fantastic assembly. I’ve never experienced such a well-organised event before. Everything had been well-thought through and ran smoothly – well done!”

As part of our commitment to advance Environmental Social Science, we will be evaluating the Assembly, focusing on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and building social capital (social network connections between individuals).

Break out session at the ACCESS Assembly

Find our ACCESS Assembly 2023 Event Evaluation Report here

Visual minutes

Temujen Gunawardena, was our Visual Minute Taker at the Assembly. Tem brilliantly captured each keynote and presentation with a keen understanding of what was said and what resonated around the room.

We hope this visual summary of the two days will be a useful reminder for those who were there. And for those who weren’t, we hope it will spark your curiosity to join the network and/or work with us in the future.

Visual minutes from the ACCESS Assembly
Mari Martiskainen speaking at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Beth Brockett talking at ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Workshop at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Our online audience at the ACCESS Assembly 2023
Attendees at the ACCESS Assembly
People milling around at University
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