ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science
ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science
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Resources

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE REPORTS

Environmental Social Science is essential to help address environmental issues such as climate change and environmental degradation, which are ultimately social issues. However, the value of Environmental Social Science is often underestimated, and it can be challenging for environmental social scientists within and outside of academia to explain to colleagues, funders and decision-makers how useful and important they are.

ACCESS is taking a co-productive approach to the creation of a definition, dimensions and operationalisation of what we mean by Environmental Social Science.

The following reports used information gathered from a survey and interviews (2023) conducted with environmental social scientists in academic and non-academic roles to help build a shared understanding of Environmental Social Science. Both reports were referred to in the webinar, Why do we need Environmental Social Sciences? with Birgitta Gatersleben.

Plastic question marks on a table with two lit up

What is Environmental Social Science?

This report focuses on what the participants considered the range of social sciences that can and should be included in the list, the different social groups that can and should be studied, and the different types of environments and environmental issues that can and should be examined. The interviews also highlighted the range of different goals of research in this area, from understanding complex people-environment interactions to testing the impact of specific behaviour change interventions.

Overall, the surveys and interviews confirmed the need to develop a clear definition and description of ESS that can be used to champion the field.

Infographic showing what factors influence the integration of social sciences into policy and practice

What factors influence Environmental Social Science inclusion in policy and practice?

In this report authors Birgitta Gatersleben, George W. Warren, Valentine Seymour, Harry Marshall, and Gerardo A. Torres Contreras determined there were five themes that could influence Environmental Social Science impact on policy and practice in both positive and/or negative ways from the interviews; (1) Perceived Value; (2) Accessibility; (3) Problem Framing, and (4) Networks. In addition, Timings and Relevance was a fifth thematic factor elicited by participants as hindering further integration of ESS into policy and practice.

Leadership College workshop with people around tables talking and moving information around

Benefits, drawbacks, barriers, and drivers of working with other disciplines and stakeholders

This report seeks to provide evidence to promote greater integration of Environmental Social Science (ESS) into research projects or policy and practice that could span different disciplinary and sectoral boundaries. The literature review report provides an overview of the multiple ways in which different disciplines and stakeholder groups can be brought together, giving evidence on the potential benefits and drawbacks of working with other disciplines, and outlines barriers and drivers to greater collaboration from prior research.

EVENT REPORTS

Since our first ACCESS Annual Assembly in 2022, we have been evaluating our events.

Early in the planning for the Assembly, we decided we wanted to welcome in-person and online visitors. It was important for us to:

  • Invite people from various disciplines and champion the benefits of collaboration and co-production.
  • Be inclusive and offer equally enriching experiences and networking opportunities to those in the room and those sitting at their desktop.
  • Experiment and move away from the conference norm of short presentation slots and parallel sessions over lunch to something more relaxed that would allow people to think, ask questions and connect with others.
  • Incorporate our Guiding Principles (EDI, Environmental Sustainability and Knowledge Coproduction)

From planning to evaluation, the report focuses on venue hire, accommodation, event programme, audio & visual technology, networking opportunities and how to incorporate our Guiding Principles.

  • ACCESS Winter School 2023 Reflections report
  • ACCESS Assembly 2023 Event Evaluation report
  • ACCESS Assembly 2022 Event Evaluation report
  • Guidance for Planning and Hosting a Successful Hybrid Event – Reflections from the ACCESS Annual Assembly 2022 report
In the lecture hall at the ACCESS Assembly in 2023
Workshop at the Leadership College
Workshop at the 2023 Summer School

FLEX FUND REPORTS

Discover what lessons we learned from administering Round 1 of the Flex Fund. We hope these insights will be useful to other organisations administering funds.

  • Flex Fund Evaluation report
  • Reflections on setting up a Flex Fund report
Light bulbs hanging from the ceiling

TASK FORCE REPORT

Making a Net Zero Society: Follow the Social Science Report

Summary Report

  • Summary
  • Infographic
  • Key Recommendations
  • Key steps

Full report

  • Key Steps & Infographic
  • Key Recommendations
  • References
  • Annex 1 – Perspectives on Societal Change
  • Annex 2 – Policy Document Analysis
  • Annex 3 – Case Studies of Societal Change
  • Glossary

We are excited to share a new report which identifies key steps and recommendations to support the delivery of the Net Zero 2030 policy target. The report Making a Net Zero Society: Follow the social science highlights the need to take a fresh approach to understand, plan and deliver the social and cultural change that will be needed to reach net zero targets.

In the report by the ESRC-funded ACCESS network, 10 leading academics offer their analysis of the recent UK Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework, Delivery Plan and Net Zero Society: Scenarios and Pathways Report. They go on to present selected case studies of past and ongoing societal change and transition, that offer lessons for net zero policy.

Read more

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE MAPS

These read-only systems maps show groups, organisations and individuals that could be engaged for research, development and innovation. They are designed for Environmental Social Scientists and people working in similar fields.

They can be used for a range of purposes:

  • Increase research impact, exploring the full range of organisations and actors that you could engage with to enable change
  • Facilitate collaboration, identifying opportunities for policy- and civil-society relevant research collaborations
  • Improve networking, brokering academic, third sector and commercial connections across sectors and disciplines
  • Enhance awareness of the opportunities that exist inside and outside your organisation, and those within your own knowledge exchange ecosystem
  • Broaden understanding of the complexity of the knowledge exchange ecosystem, and the diversity of actors who could engage in your work
  • Provide inspiration, supporting the design of this type of map in different contexts

Find out more

Environmental Social Science Knowledge Exchange Map of Opportunities

DATA EXCHANGE

The ACCESS Data Exchange is a signposting application that provides a search tool for a collection of UK environmental social science-related datasets which have been produced by a range of different organisations.

This includes datasets from official government statistics to climate-focused opinion surveys.

The aim of this tool is to aid environmental social scientists in accessing and using datasets to support research and decision-making in solving climate and environmental problems.

The data exchange was created by the Data Working Group, data providers and users in government, universities and other public organisations.

Data Exchange
Data exchange image showing a rolling sea with hologram world and small icons laid on top.
Data Exchange working group

MEDIA MONITOR

We are developing a media monitoring tool which tracks a wide range of social media and traditional news media.

The team are currently

  • Looking at different ways people could interrogate the data
  • Finalising the initial list of news sources, social media platforms and account lists
  • Developing a user friendly front-end dashboard.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions for the media monitor please  contact us

Laptop

RAPID RESPONSE REQUESTS

This is a bespoke request service for Environmental and Climate Research and Analysis.

We can

  • Offer advice and feedback on policy questions, proposals or ideas.
  • Help scope and frame research requirements.
  • Provide a bridging point between professionals and social scientists working across the environment and climate domain.

We have worked with a range of groups including Defra, BEIS/DESNZ, the Welsh Government, the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Forest Research.

Rapid Response Requests
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ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED UKRI INVESTMENTS

ACCESS is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). ESRC are part of UK Research and Innovation a non departmental public body of the government that directs research and innovation funding, funded through the science budget of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Below are some of their investment projects past and present which include useful data, insightful reports and papers and lots more.

 

Data based ESRC programmes

All the UKRI council logos

Other UKRI projects that focus on Climate and the Environment:

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