RE: [gep-ed] Political and Economic Determinants of Net Zero Goals

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hi Detlef, all, I know of two very interesting approaches, one called 
architectures of constraint, the other called national energy cultures. Both 
have been fruitfully applied to net-zero targets. Here are both studies, though 
you can email me if you don’t have access:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620300062

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032120308765

Best,

Benjamin

From: gep-ed@googlegroups.com  On Behalf Of Detlef 
Sprinz
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 8:31 AM
To: gep-ed@googlegroups.com
Subject: [gep-ed] Political and Economic Determinants of Net Zero Goals


Who is working on the political and economic determinants of net zero GHG 
emission goals, both the intermediate 2030 and the mid-21th century goals?

Any suggestions about published and unpublished work appreciated, as well as on 
work in progress.

Best wishes,
Detlef Sprinz



Detlef F. Sprinz, Ph.D.
Professor — Potsdam Institute (PIK) & University of Potsdam

PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
d...@pik-potsdam.de
www.sprinz.org
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[gep-ed] New Article: Better navigating the peer review process for authors, editors, and reviewers

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Have you ever been frustrated by bad peer review comments?  Or wondered, "how 
do I go about doing peer review, what is expected of me?"  Or just begun a job 
as a new editor at a journal? Or wanted to know how editors think, to see a 
sample of actual peer review comments, or a successful response to reviewer 
document?

The entire esteemed editorial team of Energy Research & Social Science put our 
collective heads together and wrote a Perspective based on our experience, with 
no less than 33 (!) distinct tips for authors, editors, and reviewers.  We by 
no means claim to have discovered the only tips available, but nevertheless 
wanted to offer the broader energy social science community our reflections in 
order to make the peer review process more effective, efficient, and even 
enjoyable. Although focused on the energy and climate change communities, we 
hope our suggestions will be use well beyond these areas.

Our Perspective "Towards codes of practice for navigating the academic peer 
review process" is fully open access, and available here: 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629622001797

Most sincerely,

Benjamin and colleagues


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[gep-ed] Postdoctoral hire for Sloan GENIE-US grant - Carbon removal in the USA

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Delighted to share this post on behalf of Holly, she is hiring for an exciting 
new project of ours looking at carbon removal's potential benefits, risks, and 
feasibility in the USA. See below, and write to Holly directly if you have any 
questions.

Sincerely,

Benjamin

https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/30157

Posting Details
Fiscal Year
2021-2022
Position Title
Postdoctoral Associate
Classification Title
Postdoctoral Associate
Department
Environment and Sustainability
Posting Number
R2100143
Posting Link
https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/30157
Employer
Research Foundation
Position Type
RF Professional
Type
Full-Time
Appointment Term
Salary Grade
E.8
Position Summary
The Department of Environment and Sustainability invites applications from 
highly motivated social science PhDs with an interest in the social dimensions 
of emerging approaches to confront climate change.

The successful applicant will join PI Dr. Holly Buck and the research team to 
conduct research on how communities in different regions of the US appraise 
carbon removal's potential benefits, risks, and feasibility.  We're also 
exploring how publics want to engage with the research and development of 
carbon removal and other technologies to reduce climate risk.

In this position, you will:

* Travel to conduct interviews and focus groups at five sites across 
the US, both independently and in collaboration with the research team.
* Assist in preparing a nationally representative survey.
* Work with a team of researchers to code and analyze qualitative and 
quantitative data.
* Write up results for peer-reviewed publications.
* Present key findings at academic conferences.
* Collaborate on briefing policymakers, NGOs, and other actors on 
research findings.

Expected grant-funded travel is 5-6 months over 2 years.  Remote working 
arrangements during non-fieldwork periods may be possible for candidates unable 
to relocate to Buffalo.

This position is affiliated with the Department of Environment and 
Sustainability at the University at Buffalo (UB), a large R1 Research 
University on the shores of Lake Erie.


Funding is available for two years.  The preferred start date is September 1 
2021.

Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal 
rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also 
focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic 
pursuit - all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our 
benefits website to learn about our benefit 
packages.
UB and the Department of Environment and Sustainability are strongly committed 
to diversity within our community, and we especially welcome applications from 
persons of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, people of all sexual orientations 
and gender identities, persons with disabilities, veterans, and others who may 
contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation 
will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, 
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and 
veteran or disability status.
Minimum Qualifications
Ph.D. in a social science field required (geography, sociology, anthropology, 
science and technology studies, environmental studies, or related fields). 
Ph.D. must have been conferred within 5 years of appointment date.

Ability to take initiative and manage projects with minimal supervision, 
including strong time management skills.

Experience in qualitative research methods, such as focus groups and interviews.

Success in communicating with and listening to people from many cultural 
backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge about climate change policy and decarbonization strategies are an 
advantage; candidates with familiarity in other human-environment topics also 
invited.

Ability to write for multiple audiences and multiple disciplines.

Basic familiarity with survey research.

Physical Demands
Salary Range
$60,000
Work Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 A.M.
40 hours per week.

Campus
North Campus
Posting Alerts
Special Instructions Summary

Contact's Name
Holly Buck
Contact's Title
Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability
Contact's Email
hbu...@buffalo.edu
Contact's Phone
(716) 645-0135
Posted
08/18/2021
Deadline for applicants
09/01/2021
Date to be filled
09/20/2021

Number of references required
3
Reference Cutoff Date
Instructions to Applicant




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[gep-ed] Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions REF 6260 - SPRU - University of Sussex Business School

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all, another exciting chance to come join us at the University of Sussex. 
Details below!

**
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-6260

Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions REF 6260

School/department: University of Sussex Business School / Science Policy 
Research Unit (SPRU)
Hours: full time Requests for flexible 
working<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/personnel/flexible-working> 
options will be considered (subject to business need).
Contract: fixed term for 14 months
Reference: 6260
Salary: starting at £33,797 to £40,322 per annum, pro rata if part time
Placed on: 28 June 2021
Closing date:  12 July 2021.  Applications must be received by midnight of the 
closing date.
Expected interview date: w/c 19 July 2021
Expected start date: September or October 2021


Job description

The Sussex Energy 
Group<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/research/themes/sussexenergygroup>, within 
the Science Policy Research Unit<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/> at the 
University of Sussex Business 
School<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/business-school/>, are seeking to appoint a 
Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions to work with Professor 
Benjamin Sovacool, Professor Adrian Smith, and Dr Mari Martiskainen and teams 
on two projects: the Centre for Research Into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS) 
funded project Fuel and Transport Poverty in the UK's Energy Transition (FAIR), 
and the ESRC / JPI SOLSTICE funded project Responsive Organising for Low 
Emission Societies (ROLES).

The Research Fellow will organise workshops, focus groups and undertake 
interviews with a range of research participants including policy makers, 
regulators, energy suppliers, advocacy groups, and householders. They will 
analyse interview and focus group data using qualitative data analysis methods; 
contribute to writing academic journal papers, policy briefings and blog posts; 
and present research findings to key audiences.

Essential criteria for the post include:

  *   A PhD in a related area (e.g. energy social science research or other 
relevant social science research)
  *   Knowledgeable about themes in energy justice, energy poverty and/or power 
in relation to energy studies
  *   Good general knowledge about UK energy policy
  *   Proven ability to organise, undertake and analyse systematically in-depth 
qualitative interviews with a range of policy, practitioner and lay subjects to 
academic and ethical standards
  *   Experience organising workshops with policy, practitioner and lay 
participants, and documenting and analysing workshops
  *   Ability to write reports and blogpost for non-academic audiences, 
particularly policy-makers and think tanks

Please contact Prof Benjamin Sovacool 
(b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>) for informal 
enquiries.

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we 
welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Download job description and person specification Ref 6260 [PDF 
176.35KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/6260-fps.pdf>


How to apply

Download our academic application form [DOC 
199.50KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/academic-application-form-(feb21).doc>
 and Personal details and equal opportunities form [DOC 
110.00KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/personal-data-equal-opps-form-january-2020.doc>
 and fill in all sections.

Email your completed application, and personal details and equal opportunities 
form, to usbsrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:usbsrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk>

You should attach your application form and all documents to the email in PDF 
format (we are unable to accept applications as google.docs or .pages) and use 
the format job reference number / job title / your name in the subject line.

You can also send your application by post to Human Resources Division, Sussex 
House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH.

  *   Download our terms and conditions summary for Research faculty [PDF 
11.39KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/download-our-terms-and-conditions-summary-for-research-faculty.pdf>


You might also be interested in:

  *   jobs<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs>
  *   our selection 
process<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/selection-process>
  *   how to get here.<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/directions>


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[gep-ed] Job opening: Postdoc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Climate Research and Action in the ERC-funded GENIE project

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hi all, forwarding on behalf of Professor Jan Minx in Berlin, Germany.

**

Dear colleagues,

we have a new, exciting job opening in the ERC-funded GENIE 
(https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/magazine/erc-2020-synergy-grants-examples#GENIE)
 project at MCC in Berlin. We are looking for a "Postdoc in Data Science and 
Artificial Intelligence for Climate Research and Action": 
https://www.mcc-berlin.net/fileadmin/data/C11_Stellenausschreibungen/Postdoc_GENIE_02.pdf

GENIE investigates the environmental, technical, social, legal, and policy 
dimensions of CDR and SRM to provide an urgently needed interdisciplinary 
perspective on their development.
If you are interested in this, feel free to pop me an email or just submit an 
application following the instructions in the ad.

All the best,

Jan

--

Prof. Jan Christoph Minx, PhD



Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC)

Head of Research Group on Applied Sustainability Sciences (APSIS)



Professor for Climate Change and Public Policy

Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds



Torgauer Str. 12-15

10829 Berlin

Germany



Tel: +49 (0) 30 3385537 250

Fax: +49 (0) 30 3385537 102

mailto: m...@mcc-berlin.net
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[gep-ed] Climate change, energy, and slavery? Tracing the modern connections and impacts

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Ever since graduate school, I have enjoyed reading the work of Prof. Kevin 
Bales, perhaps the 
world's leading expert on modern slavery.

Inspired by dual keynotes we gave at the Climate Justice Summit last year in 
Glasgow, Kevin and I have teamed up to look more closely at the troubling 
connections between energy, climate change, and modern slavery:

Bales, K and BK Sovacool. "From forests to factories: How modern slavery 
deepens the crisis of climate change," Energy Research & Social Science 77 
(July, 2021), 102096, pp. 1-9.

We look at how energy insecurity and climate change exacerbate slavery; but 
also how slavery contributes to climate change and environmental rapaciousness. 
 Very interestingly, we argue that abolishing modern slavery may be one of the 
single most important things (as well as one of the potentially quickest, and 
most cost-effective) we can do to fight climate change.

The study is gold open access and therefore available to all at 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629621001894.

Sincerely,

Benjamin (and Kevin)

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[gep-ed] Reckless or righteous? Reviewing the sociotechnical benefits and risks of climate change geoengineering

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear fellow energy, climate, or sustainability colleagues,

Some of you may have heard recently about "geoengineering" options such as 
negative emissions technologies (NETs), greenhouse gas removal (GGR), or carbon 
dioxide removal (CDR). These options all seek to remove CO2 from the atmosphere 
and store it safely in biological or geological sinks.  Or, the National 
Academies in the United States just published a very recent report on other 
climate intervention techniques for reflecting sunlight back into space via 
solar radiation management (SRM), including stratospheric aerosol injection or 
artificially brightening clouds.

Despite concerns about these options, they are increasingly being discussed as 
crucial complements to traditional climate or energy policy. Others however 
routinely dismiss such options as a distraction from mitigation, or even as a 
potential moral hazard that induces complacency in reducing emissions. Given 
how controversial but also important this debate has become, it's my pleasure 
to share with you a recent review looking at both sides.  It's fully open 
access and was just published in Energy Strategy Reviews:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X21000420

This work is funded by a very new European Research Council (ERC) project 
called 
GENIE,
 which launched a few days ago.  My core partners are Prof. Jan 
Minx at MCC in Berlin 
and Keywan 
Riahi
 at IIASA in Austria, with support from Greg 
Nemet at the 
University of Wisconsin-Madison. We will be continuing to explore this topic 
for the next six years (see https://genie-erc.github.io for more).

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead,

Benjamin

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[gep-ed] Post-doc position in policy impact evaluation: household actions to fight climate change

[Benjamin Sovacool]

And here’s another one, same group, different (and equally exciting) topic and 
project.

**

Dear colleagues,

we have another post-doc position in an exciting project that
systematically evaluates the mitigation potential of household actions
on climate change. Project enhances systematic review methodology with
machine learning (machine-learning expertise not required for this
position) and requires expertise in (statistical) meta-analysis.

https://www.mcc-berlin.net/fileadmin/data/C11_Stellenausschreibungen/Postdoc_ARIADNE.pdf

Please forward to your networks - and feel free to get in touch with me
at any point.

all the best

Jan

--
Prof. Jan Christoph Minx, PhD

Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC)
Head of Research Group on Applied Sustainability Sciences (APSIS)

Professor for Climate Change and Public Policy
Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds

Torgauer Str. 12-15
10829 Berlin
Germany

Tel: +49 (0) 30 3385537 250
Fax: +49 (0) 30 3385537 102
mailto: m...@mcc-berlin.net


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[gep-ed] Postdoc position in ERC funded project on feasibility of climate change technology transitions - CDR & SRM & geo-engineering & negative emissions

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good morning everyone, sharing this on behalf of Professor Minx! An opportunity 
to work with us on an exciting new ERC project.

**

Dear colleagues,

very proud to have won a long-term ERC Synergie grant together with
Benjamin Sovacool, Keywan Riahi and Greg Nemet on GeoEngineering and
NegatIve Emissions pathways in Europe - GENIE!

We are now looking for another talented researcher who wishs to join
this ambitious endeavour that aims to better understand feasibility and
potential role of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation
management (SRM) technologies in climate policy.

Job description is here:
https://www.mcc-berlin.net/fileadmin/data/C11_Stellenausschreibungen/Postdoc_GENIE.pdf<https://www.mcc-berlin.net/fileadmin/data/C11_Stellenausschreibungen/Postdoc_GENIE.pdf>


Please feel free to forward this to your networks. In case of questions
- just get in touch!

All the best,

Jan

--
Prof. Jan Christoph Minx, PhD

Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC)
Head of Research Group on Applied Sustainability Sciences (APSIS)

Professor for Climate Change and Public Policy
Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds

Torgauer Str. 12-15
10829 Berlin
Germany

Tel: +49 (0) 30 3385537 250
Fax: +49 (0) 30 3385537 102
mailto: m...@mcc-berlin.net<mailto:m...@mcc-berlin.net>


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[gep-ed] The hidden costs of energy and mobility: Grappling with global externalities

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

As many of you know, externalities are one of the most vexing conundrums facing 
sound energy and climate planning because they so upset markets, distort 
behaviors and improperly align supply and demand.

In that vein, I am very pleased to share this new study, co-authored with 
Professor Jinsoo Kim and Minyoung Yang. The study offers a comprehensive 
research synthesis of externalities for energy and mobility, and it synthesizes 
data from 139 studies with 704 estimations to examine the hidden costs of 
energy, mobility, and efficiency.

We find that electricity systems could generate $11.644 trillion in annual 
externalities. Yes, that's right. With a "t."  Transport could generate another 
$13.018 trillion in annual externalities. By contrast energy efficiency has an 
annual positive value of $312 billion per year (i.e., more net positive 
externalities than negative ones).

The study is fully open access here:

Sovacool, BK, J Kim and M Yang, "The hidden costs of energy and mobility: A 
global meta-analysis and research synthesis of electricity and transport 
externalities," Energy Research & Social Science 72 (February, 2021), 101885, 
pp. 1-20.<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101885>  Available at 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620304606

Please do disseminate far and wide, we want this one to shape future research 
and policy pathways.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Sovacool
University of Sussex
University of Aarhus

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[gep-ed] GENIE: Multiple postdoctoral positions in science policy, science and technology studies, social acceptance of technology, energy and climate economics or data science

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

I am extremely excited to announce at least two postdoctoral fellowships for 
the forthcoming ERC Synergy project 
GENIE,
 which is about GeoEngineering and NegatIve Emissions pathways in Europe, but 
from an inherently sociotechnical, social, ethical, political, sustainability 
transitions, and innovation perspective. These two posts will join me at the 
exciting Centre for Energy 
Technologies
 at Aarhus University in Denmark, but will have the opportunity to work closely 
with our partner GENIE organizations the Mercator Research Institute on Global 
Commons and Climate Change (or MCC, 
in Berlin, Germany) and the International Institute for Applied Systems 
Analysis (or IIASA, near Vienna, Austria).

The job descriptions are 
here
 and 
here.

The deadline for submissions is January 7, 2021.

Please do disseminate far and wide.

Any questions, feel free to email me or Dr. Peter Enevoldsen.

With best wishes to all,

Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D FAcSS
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex Business School
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United Kingdom
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexenergygroup/
UK: 01273 877128
International: +44 1273 877128
Email: b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk

University Distingushed Professor of Business and Social Sciences
Director of the Center for Energy Technologies
Aarhus University
Department of Business Development and Technology
Birk Centerpark 15
7400 Herning
Denmark
http://btech.au.dk/en/research/research-sections-and-centres/cet/
http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(fca10105-c4eb-4f0f-99a7-a354a8a8a47a).html
Email: benjami...@btech.au.dk

Editor in Chief
Energy Research & Social Science
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-research-and-social-science/

Co-Founder
Energy and Social Science Network
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/EASSN


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RE: [gep-ed] Readings/resources for finishing out this semester

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello Kate, all – no shortage of good suggestions and options here, another one 
could be to look at visions of the energy and climate future itself, which we 
tried to do systematically in this open access study, published in Social 
Studies of Science:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0306312720915283

The visions cover many different energy systems or social innovations (nuclear, 
EVs, divestment), are positive and negative, and are drawn from robust mixed 
methods research.  Maybe worth exposing your class to 

Benjamin

From: gep-ed@googlegroups.com  On Behalf Of Dana R 
Fisher
Sent: 15 November 2020 17:55
To: Leah Stokes 
Cc: Kate O'NEILL ; gep-ed@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [gep-ed] Readings/resources for finishing out this semester

Going in a really different direction,  here's a recent theoretical piece by 
Andrew Jorgenson and me that asks broad questions about risk, decision-making, 
and the Environment. Pdf is available here:  
https://www.asanet.org/ending-stalemate-toward-theory-anthro-shift

I'm happy to join a class on the paper to discuss.

Take care,

Dana
Dana R. Fisher, UMD

On Sun, Nov 15, 2020, 12:43 PM Leah Stokes 
mailto:lsto...@ucsb.edu>> wrote:
One option is you could assign something from our podcast, A Matter of Degrees. 
bit.ly/degreespod

I know other faculty are using it in class. We did a nice forward looking 
episode on electrification and cleaning up the energy system by 2035 (episode 
3).

Leah

On Sun, Nov 15, 2020, 9:40 AM Kate O'NEILL 
mailto:kmone...@berkeley.edu>> wrote:
Dear all - this is a rougher semester than usual in terms of finishing a Global 
Environmental Politics course on a strong note. I was wondering if anyone had 
any thoughts on an article, chapter or other resource that might help round it 
out. I have a Biden and Climate/Paris 
piece
 and connecting COVID to climate disasters/colonialism 
article,
 but I’m looking for a “next ten years of global environmental politics” piece, 
and, more importantly, something contemporary that might engage their 
imaginations in terms of thinking into the future or more widely about the 
world (I know that’s vague but I want to shift them out of their immediate 
stressful present if just for a moment. Doesn't have to be rosy but something 
that isn’t doom and end of the world).

As always, send suggestions to me and I’ll compile for the list!

All best to you all,

Kate

***
Kate O'Neill
Professor
Chair of the Society and Environment Division,
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management,
University of California at Berkeley
kmone...@berkeley.edu
@kmoneill2530
Website
WASTE 
(Polity Press, 2019)



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[gep-ed] Please do send us your review articles (especially sociotechnical reviews) at Energy Research & Social Science

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

As many of you know, I edit Energy Research & Social 
Science 
along with an awesome team of Kirsten Jenkins the managing editor, six 
associate editors and an even larger, and equally wonderful, community of 
authors and reviewers.  Although we publish original research articles and 
perspectives, our two most popular types, we also publish review articles.

These, however, for whatever reason are not submitted with equal consistency or 
persistency as the other article types.  Here is how we describe the three:


* Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 
10,000 words, including references): Research articles generally do something 
new or novel, whether it's to fill a research gap, address a puzzle, propose a 
new theory, tighten a concept, or draw from new data such as interviews or 
field research.

* Perspectives (generally 2,000 to 5,000 words): Unlike 
full-length research articles, Perspectives are shorter, opinion-like pieces on 
a recent topic of interest. They are intended to present the results of small 
pilot studies, introduce or critique new concepts (to the field of energy 
studies), commemorate an event or breakthrough, or mark something significant 
in current affairs.

* Review essays (8,000 to 12,000 words): Review articles 
generally do not produce new research. Instead, they scour existing 
peer-reviewed or even popular literature, have many references, and try to 
tease out major themes for those unfamiliar with a particular technology, 
topic, or field.

In that vein, if you have a good review article you were thinking of-including 
a critical review, interdisciplinary review, systematic review, meta-analysis, 
theoretical review, or even just a well-done narrative review and especially 
sociotechnical reviews-please do consider sending it to us. As long as it's on 
the topic of energy and society-broadly interpreted to also include mobility, 
climate, buildings, electricity, and even water and agriculture in some 
contexts-we would love to consider it.

Sincerely,

Benjamin K. Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief
Energy Research & Social Science




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[gep-ed] Come join us at Sussex - Hiring a Research Fellow in Energy Studies (and transitions/justice)

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Another chance to come be a part of the exciting research we do at SPRU and the 
Business School at Sussex. Please do consider applying to join us.

Benjamin K. Sovacool
Professor of Energy Policy
University of Sussex Business School

**
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-energy-studies-4260

Research Fellow in Energy Studies Ref: 4260

School/department: University of Sussex Business School / Science Policy 
Research Unit
Hours: Full time. Requests for flexible 
working<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/personnel/flexible-working> 
options will be considered (subject to business need).
Contract: Fixed term for 2 years from December 2020 until November 2022
Reference: 4260
Salary: Starting at £33,797 to £40,322 per annum.
Placed on: 01 October 2020
Closing date:  30 October 2020.  Applications must be received by midnight of 
the closing date.
Expected interview date: Early November 2020
Expected start date: Between December 2020 and January 2021


Job description

The Sussex Energy 
Group<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/research/themes/sussexenergygroup>, within 
the Science Policy Research Unit<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/> at the 
University of Sussex Business 
School<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/business-school/>, are seeking to appoint a 
Research Fellow in Energy Studies to work with Professor Benjamin 
Sovacool<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957> and teams on a range of newly 
funded projects, including CINTRAN - Carbon Intensive Regions in Transition (in 
a consortium led by Wupperthal Institute), JUSTNORTH - Toward just, equitable 
and sustainable Arctic economies, environments and societies (in a consortium 
led by the University of Uppsala), FAIR - Fuel and transport poverty in the 
UK's energy, and IDRIC - Industrial Decarbonization Research and Innovation 
Centre.

The Research Fellow will assist Professor Sovacool with these projects, 
including: collecting original data via field research, research interviews, 
focus groups, and other techniques; transcribing, coding, and analysing this 
data; the writing of case studies; the writing of reviews; the publication of 
academic outputs; other research assistance as needed.

Essential criteria for the positions are:
1.A PhD (obtained at the time of the appointment) in business studies, 
energy studies, energy policy, science and technology policy studies, energy 
geography, political science, public policy, innovation studies, sustainability 
transitions, or a related area
2.Able to begin between December 2020 or January 2021 and be able and 
willing to travel for field work (at up to 2-3 weeks at a time), project 
meetings and conferences.
3.The analytical skills or experience necessary to apply existing concepts 
and theories about sustainability transitions, sociotechnical transitions, 
political economy, ecology, and/or social justice
4.Strong knowledge and methods training, and experience, in qualitative 
techniques such as field research and interviewing, database management, and 
experience writing case studies
5.Evidence of the ability to communicate effectively to academic, policy 
and non-academic audiences.

Applications are invited from candidates at Research Fellow I (Grade 7).

Informal enquiries may be made with Prof Benjamin Sovacool 
b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we 
welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Download job description and person specification Ref 4260 [PDF 
160.31KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/4260-fps.pdf>


How to apply

Download our academic post application form [DOC 
301.50KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/acadnw.doc> and 
personal details and equal opportunities form [DOC 
162.50KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/personal-data-equal-opps-form-may-2018.doc>
 and fill in all sections.

Email your completed application, and personal details and equal opportunities 
form, to usbsrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:usbsrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk>

You should attach your application form and all documents to the email (don't 
use a web-based upload/weblink service) and use the format job reference number 
/ job title / your name in the subject line.

You can also send your application by post to Human Resources Division, Sussex 
House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH.

Download our terms and conditions summary for Research Faculty Terms and 
Conditions [DOC 
36.00KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/research-summ>


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To vie

[gep-ed] Invitation to submit Perspectives on STS + energy or climate transitions - Deadline November 1 2020

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear sustainability transitions and social science colleagues,

Inspired greatly by the work of Jonathan Köhler et 
al.
 and the STRN research community, David J. Hess and I have attempted to 
undertake a similar project looking at the intersections of science and 
technology studies (STS) and energy and climate transitions.  Our first study 
utilized a systematized review to take stock of the field and summarize what it 
has to offer; our second review involved a larger team of interdisciplinary 
science and technology studies colleagues (many of them STRN members) to 
propose future research agendas:


  *   Sociotechnical matters: Reviewing and integrating science and technology 
studies with energy social 
science
  *   Sociotechnical agendas: Reviewing future directions for energy and 
climate 
research

(Both articles are gold open access and can be read by all with the links 
above).

One of the novel aspects to the Köhler et al. study was that they opened it up 
to criticism, commentary, and debate by inviting a series of Comments in the 
sister journal EIST. Given we believe the discussion of STS could benefit from 
the same sort of exchange, we would like to do the same in the journal ERSS.

I hereby invite the community to submit pitches for Perspectives (short 
articles of 2000 to 5000 words) that engage with-in any way-the two studies 
above. If interested, please submit a short pitch as a Word Document of 200 to 
500 words to b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk by end of 
the day November 1 2020.  Contributions from early career scholars, scholars in 
the Global South, as well as disciplines far beyond STS or the STRN are 
especially welcome.  We will shortlist and invite up to *ten* of these pitches 
to submit a Perspective to ERSS that will be formally peer reviewed, with a 
deadline of January 1 2021. There is no guarantee of eventual acceptance.

Lastly, while Köhler et al. did an outstanding job mapping a research agenda 
for STRN, and we have tried to do the same for STS, the approach taken would 
certainly have utility in other fields, e.g. geography, political ecology, 
political economy, anthropology, environmental sociology, circular economy, 
etc.  We would most certainly welcome such reviews (as full length articles) at 
ERSS as well.

Have a good week all,

Benjamin

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[gep-ed] Special Section of Energy Research & Social Science (Volume 68, October 2020) published on COVID-19

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Fully cognizant it’s both a horrible time to do research, yet also a 
fascinating time for those of us in the research community, we’ve organized a 
quick, fairly short section of the journal Energy Research & Social Science 
interrogating the nexus of energy sustainability, climate change, and the 
Covid-19 pandemic. Elsevier has graciously agreed to make all articles within 
it promotional gold open access for the next six months. You can see a link to 
the Special Section below, and the table of contents below that.

A thousand thanks—maybe more—to the contributors and peer reviewers that made 
publishing this in an expedited fashion possible.

Happy to share a single PDF of the entire Special Section as requested, via 
email. Just write to me.

Wishing everyone the best of health,

Benjamin K. Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief
Energy Research & Social Science

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-research-and-social-science/vol/68/suppl/C
Special Section of COVID-19 Perspectives
Introduction
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Dylan Furszyfer Del Rio, Steve Griffiths, Contextualizing 
the Covid-19 pandemic for a carbon-constrained world: Insights for 
sustainability transitions, energy justice, and research methodology, Energy 
Research & Social Science, Volume 68, 2020, 101701, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101701.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620302760)
Abstract: The global Covid-19 pandemic has rapidly overwhelmed our societies, 
shocked the global economy and overburdened struggling health care systems and 
other social institutions around the world. While such impacts of Covid-19 are 
becoming clearer, the implications of the disease for energy and climate policy 
are more prosaic. This Special Section seeks to offer more clarity on the 
emerging connections between Covid-19 and energy supply and demand, energy 
governance, future low-carbon transitions, social justice, and even the 
practice of research methodology. It features articles that ask, and answer: 
What are the known and anticipated impacts of Covid-19 on energy demand and 
climate change? How has the disease shaped institutional responses and varying 
energy policy frameworks, especially in Africa? How will the disease impact 
ongoing social practices, innovations and sustainability transitions, including 
not only renewable energy but also mobility? How might the disease, and social 
responses to it, exacerbate underlying patterns of energy poverty, energy 
vulnerability, and energy injustice? Lastly, what challenges and insights does 
the pandemic offer for the practice of research, and for future research 
methodology? We find that without careful guidance and consideration, the brave 
new age wrought by Covid-19 could very well collapse in on itself with bloated 
stimulus packages that counter sustainability goals, misaligned incentives that 
exacerbate climate change, the entrenchment of unsustainable practices, and 
acute and troubling consequences for vulnerable groups.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Covid-19; Energy policy; Climate policy; Energy 
governance; Sustainability transitions

The energy and climate impacts of the virus
Azzam Abu-Rayash, Ibrahim Dincer, Analysis of mobility trends during the 
COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic: Exploring the impacts on global aviation and 
travel in selected cities, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 68, 2020, 
101693, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101693. 
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620302681)
Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the transportation 
sector and subsequent implications on the sectoral energy savings and 
greenhouse gas emissions in some selected cities worldwide. A model for smart 
transportation is proposed by considering four indicators, including transport 
efficiency, technology integration, traffic congestion rate, and accessibility 
ratio. While prior health crises, such as SARS, impacted the transportation 
sector, the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, resulting in exceptional 
impacts on this sector. Canadian Civil Aviation activities dropped by 71%, 
compared to business as usual, whereas military aviation activities declined by 
27%. As of the end of June 2020, cities with higher than 50% mobility index 
include Brussels, Singapore, Stockholm, Lyon, Paris, Moscow, and Hong Kong with 
the highest mobility index of 76%. American cities have the lowest mobility 
indexes as of the end of June with mobility indexes lower than 20%. It is 
expected and reasonable to assume that the public’s response to COVID-19 will 
exceed that of SARS. While Britons and Canadians are the biggest supporters of 
keeping the economy and businesses shut until COVID-19 is fully contained, the 
Chinese, Russians, Indians, and Italians find it vital to restart the economy 
regardless. Results show that the majority of the world is in a state of mental 
distress and will 

[gep-ed] The Politics of Uncertainty: Challenges of Transformation

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Greetings all, every now and then I get the distinct pleasure of promoting 
great work from colleagues that isn't directly my own. In this case, Professors 
Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling have edited a masterful volume on uncertainty and 
all of the political dimensions it entails. See below, and happy reading.

Benjamin

**

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003023845

The Politics of Uncertainty
Challenges of Transformation



Why is uncertainty so important to politics today? To explore the underlying 
reasons, issues and challenges, this book's chapters address finance and 
banking, insurance, technology regulation and critical infrastructures, as well 
as climate change, infectious disease responses, natural disasters, migration, 
crime and security and spirituality and religion.

The book argues that uncertainties must be understood as complex constructions 
of knowledge, materiality, experience, embodiment and practice. Examining in 
particular how uncertainties are experienced in contexts of marginalisation and 
precarity, this book shows how sustainability and development are not just 
technical issues, but depend deeply on political values and choices. What 
burgeoning uncertainties require lies less in escalating efforts at control, 
but more in a new - more collective, mutualistic and convivial - politics of 
responsibility and care. If hopes of much-needed progressive transformation are 
to be realised, then currently blinkered understandings of uncertainty need to 
be met with renewed democratic struggle.

Written in an accessible style and illustrated by multiple case studies from 
across the world, this book will appeal to a wide cross-disciplinary audience 
in fields ranging from economics to law to science studies to sociology to 
anthropology and geography, as well as professionals working in risk 
management, disaster risk reduction, emergencies and wider public policy fields.

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[gep-ed] Energy justice, environmental racism, and the political ecology (and sociology) of natural disasters

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Many of us are already all too aware that the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic and 
its impacts are not being felt equally, but are having disproportionate 
consequences for some of the world's most poor and vulnerable groups.  This has 
unfortunately become a common trend in disasters, whether they are human made 
or naturally occurring (or a mix of both), and with our responses to them.

A new study of ours, published this week, highlights these themes in the 
journal Environmental Sociology:

Social media and disasters: Human security, environmental racism, and crisis 
communication in Hurricane Irma response

ABSTRACT: Social media have been widely recognized as critical communication 
channel in disaster situations. However, there is limited empirical 
investigation on how the intersecting issues of social order, environmental 
impacts, and crisis communication unfold from the perspective of a social media 
user. This study examines 60,449 tweets to and from the news media in Florida 
during and immediately after Hurricane Irma in September, 2017. Based on a 
critical review of the literature coupled with an eight-category coding scheme 
(including second-hand reporting, reporting on self-experience, requesting 
help, coordinating relief efforts, and expressing well wishes), the article 
assesses the content and timing of tweets before, during, and after the storm. 
It finds that thematically, twitter coverage not only covers the storm itself 
but pressing social issues such as looting, price gouging, the privileging of 
elites in rebuilding efforts, environmental vulnerability, and abandoning pets. 
Temporally, the volume of different tweets peaked and dropped at different 
stages; for example, tweets about personal experience peaked when the hurricane 
hit the ground while requests for help peaked in the days after the hurricane. 
The study allows for a better understanding of the sociological, environmental, 
and even social justice impacts and related disaster response through the use 
of social media.

Citation: Sovacool, BK, X Xu, G Zarazua de Rubens, and C Chen. "Social media 
and disasters: Human security, environmental racism, and crisis communication 
in Hurricane Irma response," Environmental Sociology 6(3) (Fall, 2020), pp. 
291-306.

A special thanks to Dr. Chien-fei Chen for leading the very innovative form of 
social media data collection.

The study builds on earlier work of ours showing the energy justice, social 
justice, elitist and political ecology elements of disasters and our responses 
to them, published in:

Sovacool, BK. "Don't let disaster recovery perpetuate injustice," Nature 549 
(September 28, 2017), p. 433.

Sovacool, BK, M Tan-Mullins, and W Abrahamse. "Bloated bodies and broken 
bricks: Power, ecology, and inequality in the political economy of natural 
disaster recovery," World Development 110 (October, 2018), pp. 243-255.

Sovacool, BK, L Baker, M Martiskainen, and A Hook. "Processes of elite power 
and low-carbon pathways: Experimentation, financialisation, and dispossession," 
Global Environmental Change 59 (November, 2019), 101985, pp. 1-14.

Anybody wanting copies of any of these works need only ask. And please, build 
on this research to create more equitable, and accountable, post-disaster 
interventions going forward.

Sincerely,

Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D FAcSS
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex Business School
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United Kingdom
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexenergygroup/
UK: 01273 877128
International: +44 1273 877128
Email: b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk

Professor of Business and Social Sciences
Director of the Center for Energy Technologies
Aarhus University
Department of Business Development and Technology
Birk Centerpark 15
7400 Herning
Denmark

[gep-ed] FW: UKERC Opportunities at Warwick Business School - UK Energy in Global Context

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Greetings all, forwarding this on behalf of Mike, an exciting chance to join 
them at Warwick doing work on sociotechnical energy systems. Note a callout for 
a background in:

• Geopolitics of energy
• Sustainable energy transitions
• EU and/or UK energy and climate policy
• International energy business

Best,

Benjamin

From: Bradshaw, Michael 
Sent: 29 May 2020 09:19
To: Benjamin Sovacool 
Subject: UKERC Opportunities at Warwick Business School

Benjamin

We have just re-advertised the UKERC Post-Doc at Warwick a 1st October start 
date and 100% FTE until the end of the UKERC Phase 4. The details can be found 
at: 
https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?owner=5062452=fair=1867879_template=1457=1<https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?owner=5062452=fair=1867879_template=1457=1>
 The application deadline 26th June.

We are also still receiving applications for a linked 4-Year PhD Studentship at 
WBS, the details can be found at: 
https://www.wbs.ac.uk/courses/doctoral/phd/fees/#more<https://www.wbs.ac.uk/courses/doctoral/phd/fees/#more>
 The application deadline is the end of June for a October 2020 start.

If you could post this on your various networks it would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

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[gep-ed] New research on culture and low-carbon energy transitions

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good morning everyone,

Sorry for clogging your email inboxes during Covid, but I wanted to share a 
small collection of research that we feel addresses an under-examined topic in 
policy and transitions studies: culture.  Way back when I was collecting 
original data on renewable electricity technologies in the United States, I 
noticed that cultural aspects (related to norms of consumption, apathy about 
where electricity comes from, expectations of abundance) played as prominent a 
role in shaping social attitudes or practices as technical, economic, or 
political aspects: The cultural barriers to renewable energy and energy 
efficiency in the United 
States.

After writing this more than a decade ago, my research agenda shifted to other 
areas, but I always kept culture in the back of my mind as something worthy of 
additional exploration. I was finally able to return to that topic with the 
much needed help of Professor Steve Griffiths.  Together we've tried to take on 
the topic of culture and transitions in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary 
way. We have:


* A review "The cultural barriers to a low-carbon future: A review of 
six mobility and energy transitions across 28 countries," published in 
Renewable & Sustainable Energy 
Reviews

* A review "Culture and low-carbon energy transitions," published in 
Nature Sustainability

* A blog at Nature Sustainability getting "behind the 
paper"

We hope they pursue some interesting arguments but also point the way towards 
future research. Anybody needing copies need only email me. Even critiques or 
rebuttals welcome if they help advance this research agenda.

Wishing everyone the best,

Benjamin (and Steve)

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[gep-ed] New Book Out - Global Energy Politics

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello everyone,

Although Thijs and I are anxious that nobody actually reads books anymore, we 
did want to make you aware of a just-released tome from us on Global Energy 
Politics, published a few weeks ago with Polity Press:

https://politybooks.com/bookdetail/?isbn=9781509530489_id=2

For the fiscally aware, the book is under $30 in paperback and electronic book 
form. Below is the blurb and below that the table of contents. It's meant for 
students, but we're also keen for feedback and for colleagues to engage with 
the book in their research.

To request a draft chapter or two, just write us back. Offers for book reviews, 
even critical ones, heartily welcome!

Take care everyone,

Benjamin K. Sovacool, Professor of Energy Policy at Sussex University, 
Professor of Business and Social Sciences at Aarhus University
Thijs van de Graaf, Associate Professor of International Politics, University 
of Ghent

**

[http://thijsvandegraaf.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/9781509530489.jpg]

Ever since the Industrial Revolution energy has been a key driver of world 
politics. From the oil crises of the 1970s to today's rapid expansion of 
renewable energy sources, every shift in global energy patterns has important 
repercussions for international relations.

In this new book, Thijs Van de Graaf and Benjamin Sovacool uncover the 
intricate ways in which our energy systems have shaped global outcomes in four 
key areas of world politics: security, the economy, the environment and global 
justice. Moving beyond the narrow geopolitical focus that has dominated much of 
the discussion on global energy politics, they also deftly trace the 
connections between energy, environmental politics, and community activism.

The authors argue that we are on the cusp of a global energy shift that 
promises to be no less transformative for the pursuit of wealth and power in 
world politics than the historical shifts from wood to coal and from coal to 
oil. This ongoing energy transformation will not only upend the global balance 
of power; it could also fundamentally transfer political authority away from 
the nation state, empowering citizens, regions and local communities.

Global Energy Politics will be an essential resource for students of the social 
sciences grappling with the major energy issues of our times.
Contents
Foreword by Adnan Z. Amin
Preface
1. Introduction: Systems, Frames, and Transitions
2. The History and Functioning of Energy Markets
Part I: World Politics Through an Energy Prism
3. Energy and Security: Fueling Geopolitics and War?
4. Energy and the Economy: Powering Growth and Prosperity?
5. Energy and the Environment: Wrecking the Planet?
6. Energy and Justice: Equitable and Fair?
Part II: Governing the Energy Transition
7. Energy Technologies and Innovation
8. National and Regional Energy Policy
9. Global Energy Governance
10. Conclusions: Contested Energy Futures

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[gep-ed] SPRU are recruiting Research Fellows in Energy Justice and Transitions in the UK

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear everyone,

As a parent of young children and an educator myself, I am terrified for our 
future when I think about (hopefully) short-term issues such as the coronavirus 
pandemic or longer-term threats such as climate change. But in my mind, one 
thing remains more or less certain: issues of justice, inequality, and 
vulnerability will remain central as we navigate crises such as these, and many 
of the solutions that we may come to advocate for can also have surprising and 
often unintended impacts on justice.

For that reason, even though the timing is terrible, I am circulating the call 
below for research fellowships which will look centrally at issues of justice 
alongside that of low-carbon energy transitions. If you care about justice, and 
also meet the essential criteria in the job description of course, please do 
apply. Come join a world-leading team here at Sussex where we try to 
systematically understand, and then change, the structures and forms of agency 
that entrench injustice.  See our call for applications below my signature.

Please do forward to any interested colleagues too.

Most sincerely,
_
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D FAcSS
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex Business School
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United Kingdom
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexenergygroup/
UK: 01273 877128
International: +44 1273 877128
Email: b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>

Professor of Business and Social Sciences
Director of the Center for Energy Technologies
Aarhus University
Department of Business Development and Technology
Birk Centerpark 15
7400 Herning
Denmark
http://btech.au.dk/en/research/research-sections-and-centres/cet/
http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(fca10105-c4eb-4f0f-99a7-a354a8a8a47a).html
Email: benjami...@btech.au.dk<mailto:benjami...@btech.au.dk>

Editor in Chief
Energy Research & Social Science
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-research-and-social-science/

Co-Founder
Energy and Social Science Network
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/EASSN<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/EASSN>

[http://www.sussex.ac.uk/its/images/sussexsignaturelogo_business2018_2.png][LOGO
 - Centre for Energy Technologies blue UK]

From: Marion Clarke 
Sent: 30 March 2020 11:37
To: spr...@sussex.ac.uk; 'spru...@sussex.ac.uk' 
Subject: [Sprurs] SPRU are recruiting Research Fellows in Energy Justice and 
Transitions

Dear all, please share widely through your networks:

The Sussex Energy 
Group<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/research/themes/sussexenergygroup>, within 
the Science Policy Research Unit<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/> at the 
University of Sussex Business 
School<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/business-school/>, are seeking to appoint two 
Research Fellows in Energy Justice and Transitions to work with Professor 
Benjamin Sovacool<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957> and teams on a range 
of newly funded projects, including CINTRAN - Carbon Intensive Regions in 
Transition (in a consortium led by Wupperthal Institute), JUSTNORTH - Toward 
just, equitable and sustainable Arctic economies, environments and societies 
(in a consortium led by the University of Uppsala), and CREDS - Centre for 
Research into Energy Demand Solutions (in a consortium led by the University of 
Oxford). The posts are fixed term for 2 years, starting between June and 
October 2020. Closing date for applications is 27 April 2020. Further details 
and how to apply: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-ref-3492

The Research Fellows will examine the sustainability, equity, power, and/or 
justice implications of low-carbon energy transitions; co-lead the research 
design, analysis, and writing of case studies of justice and decarbonisation 
with fieldwork in Northern and Central Europe and/or the Arctic; and assist 
with other outputs examining conceptual and empirical applications of energy 
transitions and/or energy justice.
Essential criteria for the positions are:
* A PhD (obtained at the time of the appointment) in energy studies, 
energy policy, science and technology policy studies, energy geography, 
political science, innovation studies, sustainability transitions, or a related 
area
* Able to begin between June and October 2020 and be able and willing 
to travel for field work (at up to 2-3 weeks at a time), project meetings and 
conferences.
* The analytical skills or experience necessary to apply existing 
concepts and theories about sustainability transitions, sociotechnical 
transitions, political economy, ecology, and/or social justice
* Strong knowledge and methods training, and experience, in qualitative 
techniques such as field research and interviewing, database management, and 
experience writing case studies
* Evidence of the 

[gep-ed] One 3-year PhD studentship on “Energy Demand in the Digital Society” at SPRU, University of Sussex

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good morning all, forwarding this on behalf of Steve Sorrell. A funded PhD 
studentship available here at Sussex for someone working at the intersections 
of digital society/transitions and energy consumption and demand. Fun stuff!

Benjamin

**

Hi All

We are advertising a new PhD studentship through CREDS

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/one-3-year-phd-studentship-on-energy-demand-in-the-digital-society-at-spru-university-of-sussex/?p119988

Would be grateful if you could tweet / circulate

Thanks, Steve

Project Description
The department:

The PhD will be based in the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the 
University of Sussex. Established in 1966, SPRU conducts research, consultancy 
and postgraduate teaching in the area of science, technology, and innovation 
policy. SPRU comprises over 70 faculty and 60 doctoral students and is ranked 
third in the world and the highest in the UK in a global list of think tanks in 
science and technology. The Sussex Energy Group (SEG) at SPRU aims to 
understand and foster transitions towards sustainable, low carbon energy 
systems. Drawing from SPRU’s tradition, the Group undertakes academically 
rigorous, interdisciplinary social science research on contemporary energy and 
climate policy challenges.

The research area:
This PhD studentship will explore the potential contribution of digital 
technologies to reducing energy demand and assisting the transition to secure, 
low carbon energy systems. The studentship forms part of the Digital Society 
theme of the Centre for Research on Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), and the 
successful student will be invited to take part in CREDS meetings and related 
research and engagement activities.

Digital technologies are driving a new industrial revolution that is 
transforming industrial structures, business strategies, employment patterns, 
consumer preferences and social practices around the world. This revolution is 
gathering pace, with developments in automation, the ‘Internet of Things’ and 
3-D printing set to unleash further transformational change. Information and 
Communication Technologies (ICTs) have wide-ranging and complex implications 
for energy demand and there is ongoing controversy about their net impact. On 
the one hand, they offer many benefits, such as optimising energy use in 
buildings and industrial processes and displacing the transport and consumption 
of material commodities. On the other hand, the digital economy has a large and 
rapidly growing energy footprint, with improvements in the energy efficiency of 
individual devices being offset by the continuing increases in the number, 
power, complexity and range of applications of those devices, together with the 
associated growth in energy-intensive digital services.
Applications are welcome for projects that investigate the historic and 
potential future impact of digital technologies on energy demand, the 
mechanisms contributing to those impacts and the means by which the 
energy-saving potential of digital technologies can be maximised. The projects 
may use ideas from economics, innovation studies, sociology or other relevant 
disciplines and may employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods. 
The studentships will contribute to a larger programme of research in this 
area, led by Prof Tim Foxon and Prof Steve Sorrell. Possible topics for 
research projects include:

• the recent and future impacts of ICTs on energy consumption and energy 
productivity at the sectoral and macroeconomic level;
• the potential for innovative, ICT-based business models to deliver end-use 
services with lower energy use and carbon emissions;
• the influence of smart systems on energy-related user practices (e.g. working 
remotely, changing leisure patterns) and the effect of these on energy 
consumption;
• the use of digital technologies to optimise the energy efficiency of 
industrial processes, logistics and larger systems such as entire cities.

Benefits:
The PhD studentship is offered for a maximum of three years, renewable on a 
yearly basis, subject to satisfactory performance on the doctoral degree. The 
successful candidate will receive a full fee waiver plus a stipend equivalent 
to the UKRI doctoral stipend, currently £15,009 per annum, paid each year in 
three termly instalments (typically in October, January and April). In order to 
prepare students for academic careers, individuals receiving a studentship will 
be offered the possibility to undertake some teaching and/or marking activities 
in the School, of up to a maximum of six hours per week during term time, or to 
apply for any part-time Research Assistant roles that may become available. Any 
teaching undertaken will be paid at grade 6 of the University’s Doctoral Tutor 
salary scale in addition to the stipend.

Application procedure:
If you are interested in applying for a studentship, you need to first apply 
for a PhD place in Science and Technology Policy 

[gep-ed] The Women of Energy Studies: A Publisher’s selection of highly cited papers by female scientists

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

As someone who strongly believes in pluralism and diversity, I wanted to share 
this compilation of work highlighting some leading studies all published by 
female scientists:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-research-and-social-science/special-issue/10C755N2XHX

Many of them relate to key themes well explored in this group, including 
renewable energy transitions, political power, energy storage, electricity 
systems, solar energy and carbon emissions from cities. Enjoy!
_
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex Business School
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United Kingdom
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexenergygroup/
UK: 01273 877128
International: +44 1273 877128
Email: b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk

Professor of Business and Social Sciences
Director of the Center for Energy Technologies
Aarhus University
Department of Business Development and Technology
Birk Centerpark 15
7400 Herning
Denmark
http://btech.au.dk/en/research/research-sections-and-centres/cet/
http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(fca10105-c4eb-4f0f-99a7-a354a8a8a47a).html
Email: benjami...@btech.au.dk

Editor in Chief
Energy Research & Social Science
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-research-and-social-science/

Co-Founder
Energy and Social Science Network
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/EASSN

[http://www.sussex.ac.uk/its/images/sussexsignaturelogo_business2018_2.png][LOGO
 - Centre for Energy Technologies blue UK]





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[gep-ed] The (marginal) role of social science and the misallocation of climate research funding

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require rapid and deep alteration of 
attitudes, norms, incentives, politics and international affairs. Some of the 
most burning unsolved climate-change and energy transition puzzles are 
therefore in the realm of the social sciences. However, these are precisely the 
fields that receive least funding for climate-related research.

Our new article analyses a new dataset of research grants from 332 donors 
around the world spanning 4.3 million awards with a cumulative value of USD 1.3 
trillion from 1950 to 2021. Between 1990 and 2018, the natural and technical 
sciences received 770% more funding than the social sciences for research on 
issues related to climate change. Only 0.12% of all research funding was spent 
on the social science of climate mitigation.

Read the whole analysis here, available open access to all:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629619309119?via%3Dihub

Sincerely,

Benjamin Sovacool and Indra Overland

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[gep-ed] Triptych on climate mitigation - going beyond politics

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all, a busy start to the year—see below for a note from Tom Dietz 
discussing a trio of articles recently published (open access for a limited 
period) on the topic of “beyond politics” for climate change mitigation. Enjoy!

**
Colleagues:
I think some of you may be interested in this triptych on climate mitigation 
forthcoming in Energy Research and Social Science. It is available free open 
access until 12 February 2020 at the URLs below.
Best
Tom
+++
Gilligan, Jonathan M and Michael P Vandenbergh. 2020. "Private Climate 
Governance." Energy Research and Social Science 60:101400. doi: 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101400.

Abstract: The growing sense of urgency by the public for action to address 
climate change stands in stark contrast to the slow pace and limited 
accomplishments of national and international institutions to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions. Political institutions face significant structural barriers to 
taking strong and rapid action to cut emissions, but private environmental 
governance has potential to avoid those barriers and achieve rapid emissions 
reductions. It appears unlikely that private governance alone can reduce 
emissions enough to stabilize the climate, but it does have the potential to 
reduce emissions sufficiently and quickly enough to buy time for enacting more 
comprehensive public governance measures. In this Perspective, we review what 
is known about private governance, present a framework for analyzing private 
governance initiatives, outline the prospects of the framework for 
understanding and guiding private governance, and identify future research 
priorities for applying this framework.

Open access:

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1aHOS7tZ6Zn9yY
+++
Stern, Paul C and Thomas Dietz. 2020. "A Broader Social Science Research Agenda 
on Sustainability: Nongovernmental Influences on Climate Footprints." Energy 
Research and Social Science 60:101401.
doi: 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101401.

Abstract.  Vandenbergh and Gilligan's book Beyond Politics and their essay in 
this issue open up a broad and under-explored agenda of research to inform 
efforts to limit climate change. They focused largely on understanding how 
companies and other non-governmental entities can be important agents of 
change. We sketch the implications non-governmental action for research as well 
as how such research can underpin action. A focus on opportunities across the 
life cycles of goods and services that provide for human needs and wants points 
to four key questions for research. We also note key challenges for social 
science research, including involving researchers from areas of social science 
that have been little involved previously in research on limiting climate 
change. We hope these arguments can contribute to a more robust and 
generalizable social science that can make greater contributions to limiting 
climate change. We encourage fellow social scientists to pursue the research 
questions we raise.
Open access:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1aHlQ_oMjTBKCs

+++


Chen, C.-F., Wang, Y., Adua, L., & Bai, H. (2020). Reducing Household Fossil 
Fuel Consumption by Enabling Technology and Behavior. Energy Research and 
Social Science, 60:101402.
 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101402.
Inspired by Beyond Politics and extending its thesis focusing on the household 
sector’s potential in enabling energy efficiency technology and behavioral 
plasticity in reducing carbon emissions, we examine this sector’s critical role 
in the operation of grid-connected technologies, particularly electric vehicles 
(EVs) and demand response (DR), through the lens of private governance. In this 
perspective, we present a framework for understanding social-technological 
integration. We discuss the role of households’ actions in technology adoption 
and operation and utilities’ actions contributing to the impact of these 
technologies on emissions reduction. Our perspective attempts to offer a brief 
overview and some insights regarding the energy-saving potential from consumer 
initiatives and utility programs in motivating customers to adopt DR and EVs, 
while highlighting the behavioral challenges to realizing sufficient reductions 
in carbon emissions. We observe, indeed, that the household sector can 
contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon emissions with technical 
innovations that bring customers to the center of control and decision-making.
Open access:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1aM1U7tZ6ZnA0Q


--
Thomas Dietz

-University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, 
Sociology and Animal Studies
Member: Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, 

[gep-ed] New article in Science: Sustainable supply of minerals and metals key to a low-carbon energy future

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

With apologies for clogging your inboxes so close to the holidays, I wanted to 
make you aware of a new article we had published today in Science, looking at 
the sustainability of the metal and mineral supply chains we depend upon for 
decarbonisation.  I am admittedly not a deep specialist in this myself, so I 
teamed up with some of the best mining and minerals experts in the world I 
know, and we have produced I believe one of the most authoritative studies on 
the topic.

For public consumption, the press release and summary of the study is below, 
anybody wanting a PDF copy of the article and it's Supplementary Material need 
only email me.

With very best wishes from London,

Benjamin K. Sovacool (and co-authors)

The study:

Sovacool, BK, SH Ali, M Bazilian, B Radley, B Nemery, J Okatz, and D Mulvaney. 
"Sustainable minerals and metals for a low-carbon future," Science 367 (6473) 
(January 3, 2020), pp. 30-33.

Summary: Climate change mitigation will create new natural resource and supply 
chain opportunities and dilemmas, because substantial amounts of raw materials 
will be required to build new low-carbon energy devices and infrastructure. 
However, despite attempts at improved governance and better corporate 
management, procurement of many mineral and metal resources occurs in areas 
generally acknowledged for mismanagement, remains environmentally capricious, 
and, in some cases, is a source of conflict at the sites of resource 
extraction. These extractive and smelting industries have thus left a legacy in 
many parts of the world of environmental degradation, adverse impacts to public 
health, marginalized communities and workers, and biodiversity damage. We 
identify key sustainability challenges with practices used in industries that 
will supply the metals and minerals-including cobalt, copper, lithium, cadmium, 
and rare earth elements (REEs)-needed for technologies such as solar 
photovoltaics, batteries, electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, fuel 
cells, and nuclear reactors. We then propose four holistic recommendations to 
make mining and metal processing more sustainable and just and to make the 
mining and extractive industries more efficient and resilient.

The press 
release:


Sustainable supply of minerals and metals key to a low-carbon energy future

The global low-carbon revolution could be at risk unless new international 
agreements and governance mechanisms are put in place to ensure a sustainable 
supply of rare minerals and metals, a new academic study has warned.

The amount of cobalt, copper, lithium, cadmium, and rare earth elements needed 
for solar photovoltaics, batteries, electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind 
turbines, fuel cells, and nuclear reactors will likely grow at a rapid pace in 
the upcoming years. Even if alternatives are found for one metal, there will be 
reliance on another as the scope of possibilities is inherently limited by 
physical and chemical properties of elements.

However, with global supplies often heavily monopolized by a single country, 
confronted by social and environmental conflict, or concentrated in poorly 
functioning markets, there is a real possibility that a shortage of minerals 
could hold back the urgent need for a rapid upscaling of low-carbon 
technologies. In some cases, markets are providing misleading signals to 
investors that can lead to poor decisions. In other cases, the countries or 
regions supplying minerals are politically unstable.

An international team of researchers have made a number of recommendations to 
help manage the demand for such low-carbon technology minerals as well as 
limiting the environmental and public health damage of their extraction and 
processing, supporting social benefits, and also ensuring the benefits are 
shared more universally and equitably, in a new paper published in Science 
today [January 3].

Benjamin K. Sovacool, Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Sussex, 
said: "Mining, metals, and materials extraction is the hidden foundation of the 
low-carbon transition. But it is far too dirty, dangerous, and damaging to 
continue on its current trajectory."


[cid:image005.jpg@01D5C210.B6745440]
This image shows a young cobalt miner in the DRC in Kolwezi clambering up a 
mineshaft. Note the bare feet and lack of a ladder, just holes dug in the walls.



"The impacts to mining rightfully alarm many environmental campaigners as a 
large price to pay to safeguard a low-carbon future. But as the extraction 
through terrestrial mining becomes more challenging, the on-land reserves of 
some terrestrial minerals dwindle or the social resistance in some countries 
escalates, even oceanic or even space based mineral reserves will become a 
plausible source."



Although the new study calls for renewed attention to tackle existing 

[gep-ed] Please do send us your review articles at Energy Research & Social Science

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

As many of you know, I edit Energy Research & Social 
Science 
along with an awesome team of Kirsten Jenkins the managing editor, six 
associate editors and an even larger, and equally wonderful, community of 
authors and reviewers.  Although we publish original research articles and 
perspectives, our two most popular types, we also publish review articles.

These, however, for whatever reason are not submitted with equal consistency or 
persistency as the other article types.  Here is how we describe the three:


* Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 
10,000 words, including references): Research articles generally do something 
new or novel, whether it's to fill a research gap, address a puzzle, propose a 
new theory, tighten a concept, or draw from new data such as interviews or 
field research.

* Perspectives (generally 2,000 to 5,000 words): Unlike 
full-length research articles, Perspectives are shorter, opinion-like pieces on 
a recent topic of interest. They are intended to present the results of small 
pilot studies, introduce or critique new concepts (to the field of energy 
studies), commemorate an event or breakthrough, or mark something significant 
in current affairs.

* Review essays (8,000 to 12,000 words): Review articles 
generally do not produce new research. Instead, they scour existing 
peer-reviewed or even popular literature, have many references, and try to 
tease out major themes for those unfamiliar with a particular technology, 
topic, or field.

In that vein, if you have a good review article you were thinking of-including 
a critical review, interdisciplinary review, systematic review, meta-analysis, 
theoretical review, or even just a well-done narrative review-please do 
consider sending it to us. As long as it's on the topic of energy and 
society-broadly interpreted to also include mobility, climate, buildings, 
electricity, and even water and agriculture in some contexts-we would love to 
consider it.

Sincerely,

Benjamin K. Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief
Energy Research & Social Science




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[gep-ed] What does climate change mean for sustainable development?

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good morning all,

An international team of researchers including myself at SPRU but also KTH in 
Sweden, the International Energy Agency in Paris, Colorado School of Mines in 
the USA, UCL in the UK, Politecnico di Milano in Italy, UBC in Canada, and 
University of New South Wales in Australia have a Perspective in this month's 
Nature Sustainability about the importance of both climate change and climate 
action and the SDGs.

As we argue, the international community has committed to combat climate change 
and achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here we explore 
(dis)connections in evidence and governance between these commitments. Our 
structured evidence review suggests that climate change can undermine 16 SDGs, 
while combatting climate change can reinforce all 17 SDGs but undermine efforts 
to achieve 12. Understanding these relationships requires wider and deeper 
interdisciplinary collaboration. Climate change and sustainable development 
governance should be better connected to maximize the effectiveness of action 
in both domains. The emergence around the world of new coordinating 
institutions and sustainable development planning represents promising progress.


You can read it at: https://rdcu.be/bKseL



Francesco has a blog article at: 
https://sustainabilitycommunity.nature.com/users/266273-francesco-fuso-nerini/posts/50758-what-does-climate-change-mean-for-sustainable-development



A short press release is here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/news/all?id=49099



And if you're into Tweeting: 
https://twitter.com/SussexUniPress/status/1150794330002604035



Very much hoping the community will continue to build on this work!



Sincerely,
_
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex Business School
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United Kingdom
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexenergygroup/
UK: 01273 877128
International: +44 1273 877128
Email: b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk

Editor in Chief
Energy Research & Social Science
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-research-and-social-science/

Co-Founder
Energy and Social Science Network
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/EASSN

[Sussex Business School logo]



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[gep-ed] The roles of users in low-carbon transport innovations: Electrified, automated, and shared mobility

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

With apologies for cross-postings, a special issue on low-carbon transport and 
mobility was published yesterday in Transportation Research Part D. Guest 
edited with my colleague Jonn Axsen, we solicited interdisciplinary articles on 
what we see as the “big three” innovations or possible revolutions in mobility 
on the horizon: electric vehicles, shared mobility and ridesharing, and 
automated or autonomous mobility.

The Table of Contents for the Special Issue is below, I am most happy to share 
individual articles, or the entire volume, by request via personal email. No 
need to reply to all.

A special thank you to all of our contributors as well as the army of peer 
reviewers who helped improve the content of our analysis.

Please do consider forwarding and sharing widely.

With best wishes from Brighton,

Benjamin Sovacool
Guest Editor, Transportation Research Part D
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/transportation-research-part-d-transport-and-environment/vol/71/suppl/C

Introduction
Jonn Axsen, Benjamin K. Sovacool, The roles of users in electric, shared and 
automated mobility transitions, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and 
Environment, Volume 71, 2019, Pages 1-21, ISSN 1361-9209, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2019.02.012.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920918312483)
Abstract: This paper synthesizes insights from 19 peer-reviewed articles 
published in this Special Issue on the roles of users in electric, shared and 
automated mobility. While many researchers and stakeholders remain inspired by 
the potential low costs and societal benefits of these innovations, less is 
known about the real-world potential for uptake and usage. To better understand 
the likelihood and impacts of widespread uptake, we explore the perceptions of 
actual and potential users, including drivers, passengers, owners, and members, 
as well as other stakeholders such as pedestrians, planners, and policymakers. 
The Special Issue examines a range of cases, including plug-in electric 
vehicles, car-share and bike-share programs, ride-hailing and automated 
vehicles. For each innovation, we organize insights on user perceptions of 
benefits and drawbacks into four categories. Much of the research to date 
focuses on the first category, private-functional perceptions, mainly total 
cost of ownership (e.g., $/km), time use and comfort. Our synthesis however 
spans to the three other categories for each innovation: private-symbolic 
perceptions include the potential for social signaling and communicating 
identity; societal-functional perceptions include GHG emissions, public safety 
and noise; and societal-symbolic perceptions include inspiring pro-societal 
behavior in others, and the potential to combat or reinforce the status quo 
system of “automobility”. Further, our synthesis demonstrates how different 
theories and methods can be more or less equipped to “see” different perception 
categories. We also summarize findings regarding the characteristics of early 
users, as well as practical insights for strategies and policies seeking 
societally-beneficial outcomes from mass deployment of these innovations.
Keywords: Automated vehicles; Shared mobility; Electric vehicles; Car-share; 
Ride-hailing; Consumer behavior

Electric mobility
Edmond Daramy-Williams, Jillian Anable, Susan Grant-Muller, A systematic review 
of the evidence on plug-in electric vehicle user experience, Transportation 
Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 71, 2019, Pages 22-36, ISSN 
1361-9209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2019.01.008.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920918305261)
Abstract: Plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), comprising both battery and plug-in 
hybrid electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs), are innovations central to the 
low-carbon mobility transition. Despite this, there has not been a review of 
users’ experiences of them. We address this through this systematic review. Of 
6492 references located from diverse sources, we synthesised and thematically 
organised findings from 75. We found a wide range of themes relating to user 
experiences, characterised broadly under: driving and travel behaviours; 
interactions with the vehicle; and subjective aspects of the user experience. 
Most of the evidence pertained to BEVs. Specific findings were as follows. The 
limited electric range of the BEV was not debilitating and users valued the 
limited electric-only range in PHEVs. In terms of journey-making, BEVs can fit 
into users’ lives. Regarding interactions with specific vehicle attributes, 
regenerative braking and low noise were very popularly received, although the 
in-vehicle instrumentation not universally so. Users freely offered 
wide-ranging improvements for future vehicles. There were important symbolic 
and social aspects of user experience. Themes relating to the former included 
environmentalism, futurism, and status/identity; to the latter

[gep-ed] FW: SPRU are recruiting Lecturers in Public Policy, Innovation Studies, and Sustainable Development

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello all, forwarding on behalf of Marion.  Do consider coming to join us in 
colourful Brighton!

From: Marion Clarke 
Sent: 15 April 2019 17:02
To: spr...@sussex.ac.uk
Subject: [Sprurs] SPRU are recruiting Lecturers

Dear all
Please circulate through your networks  - SPRU are recruiting 3 lecturers, in 
Public Policy, Project Management with Innovation Studies, and Sustainable 
Development
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/lecturer-in-public-policy-ref-0956
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/lecturer-project-management-ref-0958
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/lecturer-in-sustainable-development-ref-0949
thanks
Marion

Dr Marion Clarke
Research Unit Manager
Science Policy Research Unit
University of Sussex Business School
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SL, UK

Phone: (+44) (0)1273 877153
Email: m.s.cla...@sussex.ac.uk
Web: www.sussex.ac.uk/spru



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[gep-ed] No more Hoover dams: Hydropowered countries suffer higher levels of poverty, corruption and debt

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Greetings all,

With apologies for any cross postings, I wanted to share a stream of research 
that has been a long time in the making. We in the energy and electricity 
community of scholars often talk about wind and solar energy, and those of us 
in the energy and development community talk about the importance of biomass 
and cookstoves. However, as many of you know, hydropower is the world's biggest 
source of renewable electricity, by far, it even surpasses global generation 
from nuclear power. Hydropower is also expected to grow significantly in the 
coming decades, and many countries (Australia, China, Malaysia, the DRC) have 
announced or embarked on building mega-dams to meet increases in energy demand.

Yet, this pursuit of hydropower has its risks, and Goetz Walter, Kathleen 
Hancock, and I have been trying to more systematically expose and analyse them. 
 The most recent of these efforts is a quantitative analysis of how hydropower 
states perform on key metrics compared to other states, published this week in 
Review of International Political Economy.  An earlier paper with Kathleen was 
more qualitative, and published in International Studies Review, talked more 
about resource curse theory and small case studies. Citations for the two 
articles are here, and I am happy to share them by request (though the RIPE one 
is fully open access):


· Hancock, K and BK Sovacool. "International Political Economy and 
Renewable Energy: Hydroelectric Power and the Resource Curse," International 
Studies Review 20(4) (December, 2018), pp. 615-632.

· Sovacool, BK and G Walter. "Internationalizing the political economy 
of hydroelectricity: Security, development, and sustainability in hydropower 
states," Review of International Political Economy 26(1) (Winter, 2019), pp. 
49-79.

You can also see the press release for the most recent RIPE article below. 
However, we are only scratching the surface and would certainly welcome future 
research in this space.

With best wishes but also hopes that this will motivate many others to begin to 
examine hydropower too,

Benjamin

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/news/all?id=48423

No more Hoover dams: Hydropowered countries suffer higher levels of poverty, 
corruption and debt

[https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/images/uploads/2019/04/10377.item.jpg]

Huge hydropower projects like the Hoover Dam in the US could become a relic of 
the past because of their huge financial and environmental costs

Countries relying on the world's biggest and most established source of 
renewable electricity have seen their poverty, corruption and debt levels rise 
and their economy slow at significantly greater rates than nations which use 
other energy resources over the last three decades, a major new study has found.

The study also found that hydropower states did not suffer from a hydroelectric 
resource curse and did not see an increase in internal conflict to any 
significant degree while carbon reduction benefits were realised only over time 
after the initial environmental impact of construction.

The financial benefits of major hydropower projects could also take decades to 
emerge, the study published today in The Review of International Political 
Economy<https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09692290.2018.1511449> 
found.

The new study by the University of Sussex and the International School of 
Management in Germany compared the security, political governance, economic 
development and climate change performance of major hydropower states against 
oil-producing and all other countries using 30 years of World Bank data.

Lead author Professor Benjamin 
Sovacool<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957>, Professor of Energy Policy 
at the Science Policy Research Unit<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/> at the 
University of Sussex, said the era of the awe-inspiring mega hydropower 
projects such as the Hoover Dam in the US and The Three Gorges in China should 
be coming to an end in favour of smaller projects.

He added: "Even though hydropower might not bring immediate and 
all-encompassing benefits to a country, it is still a vital source of renewable 
energy."

In the most rigorous comparative study of its kind, researchers took a global 
approach that compared national portfolios of hydroelectric infrastructure 
where previous research has almost entirely focused on the impacts of 
individual dams or river basins. Additionally, whereas previous research tended 
to examine only hydropower states, this study compared hydropower countries 
with OPEC members and non-hydropower states.

The report's authors, Prof Sovacool and Dr Götz Walter, say the report should 
be food for thought for major institutions such as the World Bank, currently 
calling for substantial and global investment in hydropower as a means towards 
international development. They add it is a warning to the cheerleaders of 
major proje

[gep-ed] A guide for students (and others) about how to write academic articles: Towards codes of practice for appropriate methods and research design

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Performing research and writing articles is often the bedrock of what we do in 
academia, for better or worse, yet learning how to research and write is a 
never ending process.  We can all get better at it, myself included.  Moreover, 
it can be incredibly difficult trying to determine the difference between a 
"good" and a "bad" article, all the more so when we all come from diverse 
backgrounds and write for different disciplines and audiences.

With these complexities in mind, Professor Steve 
Sorrell and Associate Professor Jonn 
Axsen and 
I have tried to create readable but 
robust review for students and professional researchers about how to (1) design 
and conduct research as well as (2) analyse results, structure evidence and 
arguments, and write.  We cover a lot of ground, from how to pose research 
questions to different ways of conceptualizing novelty and then tips for rigor 
and even "style," or the art of writing well.  It's written from the 
perspective of our own field, that of energy social science, but we hope that 
many of the tips and codes of practice expand well beyond that field.  I 
thought this table works well as a high level summary of many of our arguments:
Key structural ingredients of good and bad papers

Good papers

Bad papers

Title

Describes topic but also key findings, themes, and contributions, and/or cases

Describes only the topic or method

Identifies the geographic location of the research (if relevant)

Does not mention location or case study (if relevant)

Abstract

Clearly states research objectives or questions, methods, findings, 
limitations, and future directions

Focuses only on one or two aspects of the manuscript

Is closely copy edited, is not repeated later in the text

Is full of typos, or repeated in the text itself verbatim

Introduction

Is short and sharp, often with an attention getting device at the start

Has a messy introduction that is too long

Presents the core argument or question within the first few paragraphs

Presents the core argument too late

Is well linked with the rest of the paper

Is poorly-linked with the rest of the paper

Is well linked with the conclusion and findings

Ignores the link between the introduction and conclusion

Previews the structure of the paper to come

Does not give the structure of the argument

Research Questions, Frameworks, Methods and Designs

Has a clear, answerable, interesting research question or questions

Has an unclear research question or none at all

If appropriate, engages with a conceptual framework or frameworks

Does not state an appropriate theoretical or conceptual framework

Is explicit about research design

Does not clarify research design

Follows or acknowledges codes of practice for its research design

Does not consider codes of practice

Mentions and pre-empts methodological limitations

Ignores or hides methodological limitations

Results

Actively interprets data

Lets data speak for itself

Is selective and judicious about data utilized

Presents data not directly linked to the core argument

Tightly couples data and analysis

Decouples the presentation of data from the analysis

Discussion/
Conclusion

Aims to make the conclusion the best part of the article

Has a thin conclusion

Does not start a new argument in the conclusion

Starts a new argument in the conclusion

Does not present new data in the conclusion

Presents new data in the conclusion

Uses the conclusion to discuss findings as well as future research directions

Lets the conclusion be a summary and nothing else

Cautiously discusses limitations and generalizability of findings (or lack 
thereof)

Ignores limitations and/or inappropriately presents findings as fully universal 
or generalizable

General structure

Tells a compelling story for the reader

Lets the reader wonder what the results mean

Has coherent, logical structure with clear headings and subheadings

Has jumbled structure and no headings or subheadings

Strong paragraph unity

Lacks paragraph unity

Is well signposted

Forgets signposts


We've made the review fully open access here: 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618307230.  Please 
spread the word.  Note that these are merely our own personal views, they do 
not represent any of the organizations funding our work or any of the journals 
we may edit for.

Criticism and suggestions for improvement also welcome, though please don't 
reply to all when sending, just write to me and I can consider and share with 
my co-authors.

Sincerely,
_
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Ph.D
Professor of Energy Policy
Director of the Sussex Energy Group
Director of the Center on Innovation and Energy Demand
Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
University of Sussex
Jubilee Building, Room 367
Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SL
United 

[gep-ed] Research Fellow in Public Acceptance in Shale Gas (Fixed Term) at SPRU, University of Sussex

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good afternoon all, excited to announce an opportunity for a research 
fellowship looking at the public acceptance of shale gas here at SPRU, details 
below.  Feel free to circulate further.

**

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-in-public-acceptance-of-shale-gas

Research Fellow in Public Acceptance in Shale Gas (Fixed Term)

Post Title: Research Fellow in Public Acceptance of Shale Gas
School/department:  University of Sussex Business School, Science Policy 
Research Unit (SPRU)
Hours: Full time
Contract: Fixed term for 24 months.
Reference:  0019
Salary: starting at £33,199 and rising to £39,609 per annum
Placed on:  5 October 2018
Closing date:  6 November 2018.
 Interview date: 14 November 2018
Expected start date: 1 January 2019


Job description

The Science Policy Research Unit<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/index> (SPRU), 
within the University of Sussex Business School, conducts research, consultancy 
and postgraduate teaching in the area of science, technology, and innovation. 
SPRU comprises over 70 faculty and 40 doctoral students and is ranked third in 
the world and the highest in the UK in a global list of think tanks in science 
and technology. SPRU includes the Sussex Energy 
Group<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/research/major/sussexenergygroup> (SEG), a 
leading social science research group in the area of energy and climate policy 
that focuses in particular on the transition to sustainable, low carbon energy 
systems.

SPRU is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to investigate citizen acceptance 
of shale gas in the UK. This project will contribute to a wider programme of 
research on social acceptance of shale gas, as part of a three year grant from 
the National Energy Research Council (NERC).

The deployment of fracking technologies to utilise shale gas resources has been 
controversial in the UK, and internationally. While some actors welcome 
utilising domestic shale gas resources as providing economic benefits, others 
see it as a novel and risky technology with the potential to adversely affect 
public health and the environment. The governance of shale development is also 
a source of conflict, with varying ideas about the role of publics in processes 
of decision-making. This contestation poses a key socio-political challenge for 
shale gas development in the UK. This project aims to improve understanding of 
the nature of this challenge through an integrated approach across three 
distinct but related objects of analysis: 1) public perceptions, 2) policy 
frames, and 3) processes of public engagement and participation.

The successful candidate will focus on the first work package (public 
perceptions), while also interacting with researchers involved in the other two 
work packages. Specifically, the Research Fellow will help design and implement 
a cross-sectional survey twice, spaced one year apart, on public perceptions of 
shale gas in the UK. Data will be collected from representative samples of UK 
citizens, aiming for a sample size of around 1000. Survey questions will 
address respondent awareness, acceptance, and perceptions. Explanatory 
variables will include trust, place-identity, perceived fairness, and personal 
values. Data analysis will include overall descriptive statistics, as well as 
statistical comparisons by region and over time (comparing the first and second 
iteration of the survey). More advanced multivariate analyses will identify 
statistical associations between overall support and perceptions, values, 
environmental concern, demographics, and region (using techniques such as 
multiple regression and cluster analysis).  Previous experience of working with 
surveys and conducting data analysis is required, while previous experience of 
working on public acceptance of energy is desirable.

Informal enquiries should be made to Professor Benjamin Sovacool 
(b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>).

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we 
welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Download job description and person specification Ref 0019 [PDF 
195.11KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/documents/0019-fps.pdf>


How to apply

Download our academic post application form [DOC 
301.50KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/acadnw.doc> and 
personal details and equal opportunities form [DOC 
162.50KB]<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/humanresources/documents/personal-data-equal-opps-form-may-2018.doc>
 and fill in all sections.

Email your completed application, and personal details and equal opportunities 
form, to bmecrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk <mailto:bmecrecruitm...@sussex.ac.uk>

You should attach your application form and all documents to the email (don't 
use a web-based upload/weblink service) and use the format job reference number 
/ job title / your name in

[gep-ed] Volume 43 (September, 2018) of ERSS Published: Special Issue on "Sustainable energy transformations in an age of populism, post-truth politics, and local resistance"

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good morning everyone,

In my opinion, one of the best parts of an editor’s job is when a timely, well 
executed special issue is published.  I am excited to say Vol 43 of Energy 
Research & Social Science is just that, a hard look at “Sustainable energy 
transformations in an age of populism, post-truth politics, and local 
resistance,” guested edited by Cornelia Fraune and Michèle Knodt.

See below for a link to the SI and its table of contents. As always, able to 
share copies of individual articles, or the whole volume, by request via email.

Sincerely,

Benjamin K. Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief, Energy Research & Social Science

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-research-and-social-science/vol/43/suppl/C

Sustainable energy transformations in an age of populism, post-truth politics, 
and local resistance
Edited by Cornelia Fraune and Michèle Knodt
Volume 43, Pages 1-158 (September 2018)

Introduction
Cornelia Fraune, Michèle Knodt, Sustainable energy transformations in an age of 
populism, post-truth politics, and local resistance, Energy Research & Social 
Science, Volume 43, 2018, Pages 1-7, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.029. 
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618305322)
Abstract: The increase of right-wing populist parties, post-truth politics, and 
local resistance challenges the policies and politics of sustainable energy 
transformation. The contributions of this Special Issue address at least one of 
these political phenomena in the context of sustainable energy transformation. 
They show that populism, especially right-wing populism, and post-truth 
politics indicate rising political polarisation on climate and energy policies 
while local resistance indicates the political nature of sustainable energy 
transformations. More research is needed to explore the causes, nature, and 
consequences of the increase in extreme positions on climate and energy 
policies across political parties and individuals
Social tensions within sustainable energy transformations
Michael Jefferson, Exaggeration and/or denial: Twin towers of industrial and 
commercial interests supposedly intended to accelerate energy transition in the 
United Kingdom, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 43, 2018, Pages 8-15,  
ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.008. 
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618304833)
Abstract: Over the past twenty years debates on the supply of, and demand for, 
useful energy have often been characterised by exaggeration on the one part and 
denial on the other. Exaggeration has primarily come from vested interests in 
promoting certain forms of renewable energy. These interests have been pitted 
against fossil fuel ones in claiming the need for transition to a low carbon 
world. Such views have often taken insufficient account of locational, 
technical, and other performance limitations. Their views have increasingly 
rested upon the politicisation of the climatic change debate, despite this 
topic’s basic uncertainties. Local interests and concerns, and the claims of 
‘populism’, have also intruded. Denial has come from those who are inclined to 
dismiss the notion that human activities can change global near surface 
temperatures, whereas given the uncertainties a precautionary approach is 
required. Sustainable energy transformation is occurring, but we also see 
sub-optimal decision-making and exaggerated claims, as is to be expected in an 
age of “post-truth politics”. “Post-truth politics” need to be abandoned in the 
genuine pursuit of truth and realism. Failing this, social networking will 
hinder effective policymaking and its implementation.
Keywords: Truth; Subsidies/vested interests; Dubious claims; Uncertainties; 
Precautionary

Julie MacArthur, Steve Matthewman, Populist resistance and alternative 
transitions: Indigenous ownership of energy infrastructure in Aotearoa New 
Zealand, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 43, 2018, Pages 16-24, ISSN 
2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.009. 
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618304845)
Abstract: The energy transitions necessary to address climate change mitigation 
and adaptation manifest unevenly, varying in nature, context, distribution of 
benefits and radical depth. While populist developments and economic 
protectionism are often viewed pejoratively, we argue that a critical reading 
reveals clear connections to progressive social struggles. Frustration with 
elite capture of political processes and economic assets manifests in a 
populist desire to redistribute political power via nationalist or localist 
economic policies. Debates over the benefits of ownership by 'the people' and 
representation of marginalized actors are particularly acute in settler states. 
We examine Indigenous led energy transitions in Aotearoa New Zealand, via a 
critical reading of scholarship on populist resistance 

[gep-ed] Registration is now open for the ERSS 2019 conference - May 28-31 2019

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello all, at long last, this has now been finalized. See below for an email 
from the 2019 Conference Chair, Prof. Martin J. “Mike” Pasqualetti.  He is 
copied here for any direct queries, and available at 
pasquale...@asu.edu.

**

Registration is now open for the ERSS 2019 conference, ENERGY AND SOCIETY IN 
TRANSITION.

• 
https://www.elsevier.com/events/conferences/international-conference-on-energy-research-and-social-science
• https://www.elsevier.com/erss-conference

The conference will be held on the campus of Arizona State University, in 
Tempe, Arizona, an easy 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport by car, taxi 
or light rail.  ASU is the largest in the country, and houses a full complement 
of energy studies in the social sciences, design, the humanities, law, 
business, and engineering.  Sky Harbor airport is well-served by most of the 
major airlines, including BA, American, United, Delta, and more.  You are 
welcome to register, attend the conference, and explore the beautiful southwest 
USA (including Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, and 7 additional national 
parks and monuments within driving distance).


[ERSS header banner]

We invite abstracts that explore the intersection of energy and social change. 
Illustrative examples of appropriate topics include, but are not limited to:

  *   Societal drivers, dynamics, and outcomes of energy systems change 
(including social, economic, cultural, or political aspects)
  *   Public perspectives on and responses to new energy technologies
  *   Innovations in energy and electricity markets and policy
  *   Changing landscapes and geographies of energy production, transport, and 
consumption
  *   The social practices of energy use, demand, and behavior
  *   Historical and social analyses of transitions
  *   Cities, urban energy systems, and urban form and function
  *   New models of governance and democracy
  *   Geopolitics of energy transformations
  *   The energy-poverty nexus, including questions of ethics, justice, and 
inequality in energy systems change
  *   Energy innovation and sustainable development
  *   Enduring and changing relationships of energy, gender, and race
We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from across the social sciences, 
environmental studies, humanities, and energy research.



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[gep-ed] Major new project to examine the politics of fracking in the UK

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Good afternoon everyone from a sunny England - we announced today the launch of 
a new project so please do share (to me individually) any relevant material on 
fracking or politics that you think we may find useful.

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/bmec/newsandevents/news?id=45248

Major new project to examine the politics of fracking in the UK

A new research project by academics from the Science Policy Research Unit 
(SPRU) at the University of Sussex is hoping to shed light on the politics of 
fracking and the utilisation of shale gas within the UK, primarily England.

A hotly contested issue since its emergence on the scene in 2010, the study 
will assess the scope for public opinion to influence policy and 
decision-making on shale site development in the UK, and whether this is likely 
to reduce or amplify controversy.

[http://www.sussex.ac.uk/wcm/assets/media/25/content/54840.350x285.jpg]

Fracking is a technology that allows the extraction of unconventional fossil 
fuel resources (oil and gas). The technology has widely been used in North 
America over the last decade but it is in a much earlier stage of development 
in the UK.

Current UK Government policy actively encourages the use of hydraulic 
fracturing ('fracking) as a means to meet the triple challenge of 
decarbonisation (a challenge which fracking partially overcomes due to its 
lower carbon output in comparison to coal, according to a report by the 
Department of Energy), affordability and energy security.

However, many other members of the public view fracking as a risky technology 
with the potential to adversely affect public health and the natural 
environment, a development that would be a backwards step towards fossil fuels 
and away from renewable energy sources.

The project, entitled 'Fracking, Framing and Effective Participation', will 
analyse the opinions held by different groups and how this divide represents a 
key challenge for shale gas development in the UK.

The study will also look at the governance of shale development, and the 
varying ideas about the ways and extent to which local communities should have 
a say in processes of decision-making.

Governance is often a source of conflict, which most visibly manifests itself 
in public protests and police presence at shale gas sites.

Mr Laurence Williams<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/341438>, Research Fellow 
working on the project remarked: "'Stop fracking democracy' has been a common 
slogan amongst anti-fracking groups, reminding us that this controversy is 
about the governance of this new technology as well as perceived risks to 
health and the environment. This project will help shed light on whether 
opportunities for publics to participate in decision-making work to resolve or 
amplify such grievances."

The study aims to improve the understanding of the nature of the challenge 
fracking presents through the analysis of three connected areas:

1) Public perceptions - An analysis of evolving public perceptions of fracking, 
shale gas, and the governance of its development at both national and local 
levels.

2) Policy debates and commitments - An analysis of UK policy debates on 
fracking, how these debates led to a policy commitment to support fracking, and 
how this position continues to be contested by various stakeholders.

3) Processes of public engagement and participation - An assessment of the 
extent to which policies shape and are shaped by formal processes of public 
participation and engagement.

Professor Andrew Stirling<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/7513>, a 
co-Investigator of the project, said:

"One of the trickiest issues in technological controversies like UK fracking 
debates is that deciding the best way forward is not just a technical matter 
for expert-led 'evidence-based policy'. Complexities, uncertainties and 
contending political values and interests extend deeply into the science 
itself. This is why this project will pay careful attention to the practical 
implications of different ways of framing the issue - and so help inform onward 
public debate in ways that are not only more rigorous but more accountable 
about which values and interests have been attended to, and which have been 
sidelined."

The primary benefit of the research will be to provide both a better 
understanding of the scale and nature of the social and political challenges 
and a better understanding of the potential of public participation and 
engagement to help address these challenges.

Professor Benjamin Sovacool<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957>, who is 
leading the project, said "Shale gas could be a bridge to a low carbon future, 
or a costly detour. This project will enable us to better assess the social and 
political dynamics of this emerging innovation, as well as policy processes and 
potential risks."

The research, which will begin on the 1st July and is funded by the NERC and 
ESRC, invo

[gep-ed] Volume 41 (July, 2018) of ERSS Published: Special issue on "Energy infrastructure and the fate of the nation"

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Dear all,

Pleased to announce that Volume 41 of Energy Research & Social Science was 
published last night, this one a Special Issue carefully crafted by Gavin 
Bridge, Begüm Özkaynak, and Ethemcan Turhan over the course of the past year.  
I fully admit my head is still spinning from its contents (in a good way), as 
it is crammed with so much insight, with so many unique (and often 
underexplored) case studies, and so many energy systems (nuclear, gas, oil, 
hydro, solar) examined.  The guest editors are copied here should you want to 
engage. As always, requests for copies of the volume or articles are welcome 
when sent to me individually.  Table of Contents below.

Wishing everyone a good week ahead,

Benjamin Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief
Energy Research & Social Science

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-research-and-social-science/vol/41
Introduction
Gavin Bridge, Begüm Özkaynak, Ethemcan Turhan, Energy infrastructure and the 
fate of the nation: Introduction to special issue, Energy Research & Social 
Science, Volume 41, 2018, Pages 1-11, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.029.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618302251)
Abstract: In this article we introduce a Special Issue of Energy Research and 
Social Science focused on energy infrastructure and the political economy of 
national development. Many countries are experiencing transformational growth 
in energy infrastructure, such as transmission and distribution systems; 
import, export and storage facilities; the development of domestic energy 
resources; and construction of new power generating stations based on wind, 
water, coal, gas and nuclear sources. Large-scale projects like these are 
frequently justified by appeals to grand narratives – promoting economic 
growth, securing energy supply, modernizing energy service provision, and 
transitioning to more environmentally sustainable energy systems - in which the 
fate of the nation is closely tied to infrastructural development. The papers 
in this collection present compelling empirical evidence of how claims for 
energy infrastructure’s national significance and/or necessity intersect with 
the (re)production of political and economic power. Drawing on case material 
from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe, they highlight the 
capacity of different energy technologies and infrastructural assemblages to 
shape political and economic outcomes beyond their role in storing, 
transporting or transforming energy. This Introduction to the Special Issue 
does three things. First, it characterises the scale and significance of the 
contemporary ‘infrastructural moment’, observing how, in many national 
contexts, energy policy-making remains centralised and divorced from public 
participation. Second, it critically differentiates existing literature on the 
political economy of energy infrastructure to identify five distinctive ways in 
which research understands the ‘political work’ infrastructure performs. Third, 
it introduces the papers in the Special Issue and organises them into four key 
themes. Overall, the Introduction affirms the importance for social science of 
understanding the economically and politically constitutive power of energy 
infrastructures. The critical reflexivity this requires is essential to moving 
towards energy infrastructures that are just, equitable and sustainable.
Keywords: Infrastructure; Political economy; Nation; Development; Scale; 
Geopolitics; Liberalisation; Investment; Inequality; Technopolitics; 
Socio-technical imaginary
Energy Infrastructure: Market Frontier or State-led National Development?
Thomas F. Purcell, Estefania Martinez, Post-neoliberal energy modernity and the 
political economy of the landlord state in Ecuador, Energy Research & Social 
Science, Volume 41, 2018, Pages 12-21, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.003.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618303414)
Abstract: This paper offers a value-theoretic critique of ‘post-neoliberal’ 
energy production in Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government is attempting to end 
the dependence on finite hydrocarbon resources and unite energy infrastructure 
with industrial competitiveness through the transformation of the country’s 
‘energy matrix’. Based on extensive field research, we argue that the project 
reveals the contradictions of the landlord state’s attempt to mobilise circuits 
of ground rent and foreign debt to create cheap energy as a comparative 
advantage for national industrial development. Riding high on global commodity 
prices and tapping into a huge stream of Chinese investment, the government 
massively increased investment in new sources of hydroelectricity and energy 
infrastructure. Whilst ostensibly bringing about a reduction in energy 
production costs, this has come at the price of leveraging the country’s 
natural resources (oil and minerals) an

[gep-ed] SPRU are recruiting a Lecturer in Energy Policy and Sustainability at University of Sussex

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello all, a chance to come join us here in the UK below, for a permanent 
position (i.e., equivalent of tenured) broadly touching on energy policy, 
politics, transitions, innovation, governance and sustainable development.  
You'd have to see me in the office every week though - can't determine if 
that's a plus or minus?

**
Dear all

Please circulate through your networks and let me know if you would like to 
contact prospective candidates

SPRU are recruiting a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Energy Policy

The Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), within the School of Business, 
Management and Economics, wishes to appoint a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in 
Energy Policy to contribute to SPRU's postgraduate teaching activities, to 
Co-Direct the Sussex Energy 
Group (SEG) and 
to play a leading role in SEG's research.

The successful applicant must have a demonstrable record of: a) academic or 
professional teaching in the area of energy and climate policy, ideally 
including previous experience of delivery via online distance learning; and b) 
leading interdisciplinary social science research on energy and climate policy, 
including topics such as energy transitions, innovation, sustainable 
development, governance and political economy.

The post-holder, in particular, will be expected to lead / contribute to the 
design and delivery of new postgraduate online distance learning (ODL) courses 
in Energy Policy and in Sustainable Development.   Furthermore, the post-holder 
will work with colleagues to develop and expand SPRU's on-campus postgraduate 
teaching activities in the area of energy policy; to contribute to the design 
and delivery of the core postgraduate module "Introduction to Energy Policy".

Informal enquiries may be made with Professor Benjamin K. Sovacool 
(b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk)
Further details and how to apply: 
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-energy-policy-3015
Closing date for applications: 31 May 2018
Expected interview date: 14 June 2018

Marion Clarke
Research Unit Manager
SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit
University of Sussex
Jubilee Building, room 362
Brighton BN1 9SL, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1273 877153
Email: m.s.cla...@sussex.ac.uk
Web: www.sussex.ac.uk/spru

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[gep-ed] FW: Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello all, please circulate (and re-circulate) widely!

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/jobs/research-fellow-energy-justice-transitions-3033
Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions ref 3033

School/department: School of Business, Management and Economics, Science Policy 
Research Unit (SPRU)
Hours: full time
Contract: fixed term until 30 May 2020
Reference:  3033
Salary: starting at £32,548 and rising to £38,833 per annum
Placed on: 9 March 2018
Closing date:  13 April 2018.  Applications must be received by midnight of the 
closing date.
Expected interview date: Week commencing 16 April 2018
Expected start date: 1 June 2018


Job description

The Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), within the School of Business, 
Management and Economics, conducts research, consultancy and postgraduate 
teaching in the area of science, technology, and innovation. SPRU comprises 
over 70 faculty and 40 doctoral students and is ranked third in the world and 
the highest in the UK in a global list of think tanks in science and technology.

SPRU includes the Sussex Energy Group (SEG), a leading social science research 
group in the area of energy and climate policy that focuses in particular on 
the transition to sustainable, low carbon energy systems. SEG's research falls 
under six themes:

(1) Energy innovation and transitions, (2) Economics and finance, (3) Energy 
justice, (4) Energy demand and behaviour, (5) Smart infrastructure, and (6) 
Energy supply technologies.

SPRU wishes to appoint a Research Fellow in Energy Justice and Transitions to 
support both SEG as well as the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand. The 
fellow will examine the political economy and justice implications of 
low-carbon energy transitions, and also co-lead the research design, analysis, 
and writing of four case studies of justice and decarbonisation:

Nuclear power in France, solar PV in Germany, electric vehicles in Norway, and 
smart meters in the UK. Furthermore, the fellow will investigate how smart and 
digital energy systems influence energy-related user practices (e.g. working 
remotely, changing leisure patterns) and how those changes may affect energy 
consumption.

This could examine issues such as diffusion of smart meters, user acceptance of 
smart homes and potential for teleworking.  They will lastly assist with other 
outputs examining conceptual and empirical applications of energy transitions 
and/or energy justice.

The successful applicant must have a demonstrable record of designing, 
conducting, and publishing interdisciplinary social science research on energy 
and climate policy, including topics such as energy transitions, smart energy 
systems, energy justice, and/or energy and innovation.

Desirable criteria include formal research methods training or experience, 
especially with qualitative case studies, expert interviews, survey design and 
analysis, systematic reviews, and/or meta-analysis.  Candidates with 
multi-methods training and experience writing comparative analysis are 
especially encouraged to apply.

Informal enquiries can be directed at Professor Benjamin Sovacool 
b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>

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[gep-ed] Volume 36 (February, 2018) of Energy Research & Social Science Published - Spatial Adventures in Energy Studies

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Greetings everyone from a snowy University of Sussex,

It's been a busy month at Energy Research & Social Science. I am happy to share 
with you the fruits of another intensive and novel Special Issue of ERSS on 
"Spatial Adventures in Energy Studies: - Emerging Geographies of Energy 
Production and Use," masterfully guest edited by Vanesa Castán Broto and Lucy 
Baker: 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-research-and-social-science/vol/36/suppl/C.
 In my opinion, it does an excellent job both evaluating the "spatial turn" in 
energy studies and in presenting a broad and global collection of case studies 
with insights across many disciplines beyond geography - especially politics, 
governance, transitions, justice, and sociology/theories of practice.

The Table of Contents is below. As always, happy to share copies of articles by 
email request.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Sovacool
Editor-in-Chief
Energy Research & Social Science

Introduction
Vanesa Castán Broto, Lucy Baker, Spatial adventures in energy studies: An 
introduction to the special issue, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 36, 
2018, Pages 1-10, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.11.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617303894)
Abstract: This paper has two purposes: first, it makes a case for the 
development of energy studies perspectives that consider 'relational space' as 
a critical concept organising the provision and use of energy. Second, it 
presents an overview of this field of research with consideration of the papers 
included in this special issue. The argument has three parts: first, there is 
an analysis of the growth of relational perspectives on space and energy 
looking at current debates within the literature; second, there is an analysis 
of visual representations of different energy features to demonstrate the 
empirical importance of a grounded understanding of relational space; third, 
there is an overview of the papers in this special issue as a means to put 
forward a diverse research agenda in this area. We conclude that relational 
perspectives have the potential to inform future energy studies and provide new 
insights for policy and practice.
Keywords: Relational space; Mapping; Visual representations of energy; Energy 
and everyday life; Energy geographies
Spatial Thinking in Energy Studies
Gavin Bridge, The map is not the territory: A sympathetic critique of energy 
research's spatial turn, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 36, 2018, 
Pages 11-20, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.033.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617303171)
Abstract: Energy research in the social sciences has embarked on a 'spatial 
adventure' (Castán Broto and Baker, 2017). Those setting out on this journey 
have started from different disciplinary and theoretical locations, yet a "map" 
of sorts has begun to emerge. Made up of epistemological positions, conceptual 
vantage points and lines of enquiry, this map demarcates and structures the 
growing field of energy geography providing a more-or-less agreed guide to the 
territory. In the paper's first half I reflect on the scope and significance of 
the spatial turn in energy research. I describe the map now guiding much 
spatial research on energy, identifying core ideas around which 
spatially-sensitive social science energy research has come to cohere, 
notwithstanding its heterogeneity and internal diversity. I offer a supportive 
reading. In the second half, I offer a more critical reading of the adventure 
so far, arguing that it is unnecessarily limited in its reading of space. The 
full potential of a spatial perspective for social science research on energy 
has yet to be realised. I outline three pathways for realising some of this 
potential - geographies of knowledge production, differentiation and 
disassembly - and show how each takes energy research's spatial adventure in 
new directions.
Keywords: Geography; Space; Energy systems; Disassembly; Energy geographies

Allison Hui, Gordon Walker, Concepts and methodologies for a new relational 
geography of energy demand: Social practices, doing-places and settings, Energy 
Research & Social Science, Volume 36, 2018, Pages 21-29, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.032.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221462961730316X)
Abstract: Understandings of space as not an objective surface or container but 
rather a set of relations that are continually made and re-made have become 
well established within the social sciences, yet they remain noticeably absent 
in how energy demand research is understood and undertaken. This is, in part, 
because relevant vocabularies and methodologies remain minimally developed. 
This paper therefore establishes a conceptual approach, vocabulary and set of 
methodologies that offer new opportunities for underst

[gep-ed] Volume 37 (March 2018) of ERSS Published - featuring a Special Section on Disruptive Innovation and Energy Transformation

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello everyone,

It’s that time of the month again—excited to share with you the Table of 
Contents (below) for the most recent volume of Energy Research & Social 
Science. This time around, Charlie Wilson has masterfully guest edited a 
Special Section of papers on “Disruptive Innovation and Energy Transformation.” 
 Note also many articles touching on themes specifically relevant for this 
group, i.e. politics, policies, institutions, and governance.

As always, those lacking access to papers can simply email me individual 
requests.  Due to some Special Issues in press, our next volume (35) will go 
back in time to be time-stamped in January. If only we had Michael J. Fox to 
promote it.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Sovacool
Editor in Chief
Energy Research & Social Science

Special Section on Disruptive Innovation and Energy Transformation
Charlie Wilson, David Tyfield, Critical perspectives on disruptive innovation 
and energy transformation, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 37, March 
2018, Pages 211-215, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.10.032.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617303626)
Abstract: What are ‘disruption’ and ‘disruptive innovation’? And what relevance 
do they have for energy transformation? Ten critical perspectives offer ten 
contrasting responses to these questions. The relevance of Christensen’s 
canonical definition of disruptive innovation is highly contested in its 
applicability to energy and climate challenges, as is the usefulness of 
analysing discrete business models or technologies rather than socio-technical 
systems. Further research on disruptive innovation and energy transformation 
needs to tackle: (i) the social, systemic and emissions impact of widespread 
adoption; (ii) how to mitigate the adverse distributional consequences of 
disruption; (iii) the consumer appeal of ‘good enough’ products for users 
marginalised or excluded from mainstream markets; (iv) the role of incumbents 
in system transformation; and (v) the reasons for geographic variation in 
disruption processes currently underway.
Keywords: Disruption; Innovation; Climate; System

Charlie Wilson, Disruptive low-carbon innovations, Energy Research & Social 
Science, Volume 37, March 2018, Pages 216-223, ISSN 2214-6296, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.10.053.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617303857)
Abstract: This perspective article considers the potential for disruptive 
innovations to transform the market for energy-related goods and services in 
line with emission reductions required for stringent mitigation. Its rationale 
is that consumers are a neglected constituency in societal efforts to meet 
climate policy objectives. First, I review Christensen’s canonical definition 
of disruptive innovation as low-end products offering novel sources of value to 
users marginalised or over-supplied by mainstream markets. Second, I apply 
disruptive innovation concepts to the challenge of climate change mitigation 
and the necessary contribution of low-carbon innovation. There are both 
potentials for disruptive low-carbon innovations but also problems in achieving 
social benefits through the consumption of private goods. Third, I set out a 
series of criteria for disruptive low-carbon innovations and apply these to 
identify sets of potential innovations relating to mobility, buildings  
cities, food, and energy supply. A wide range of consumer-facing innovations 
offer goods or services with novel attributes currently valued only in small 
market niches. Fourth, I report on the findings of two workshops on disruptive 
low-carbon innovation involving innovators, market intermediaries, policymakers 
and researchers. Different stakeholders hold sharply contrasting understandings 
of disruptive low-carbon innovation and its distinctive relevance for energy 
transformation.
Keywords: Disruptive; Innovation; Climate mitigation

Frank W. Geels, Disruption and low-carbon system transformation: Progress and 
new challenges in socio-technical transitions research and the Multi-Level 
Perspective, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 37, March 2018, Pages 
224-231, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.10.010.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617303377)
Abstract: This paper firstly assesses the usefulness of Christensen’s 
disruptive innovation framework for low-carbon system change, identifying three 
conceptual limitations with regard to the unit of analysis (products rather 
than systems), limited multi-dimensionality, and a simplistic (‘point source’) 
conception of change. Secondly, it shows that the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) 
offers a more comprehensive framework on all three dimensions. Thirdly, it 
reviews progress in socio-technical transition research and the MLP on these 
three dimensions and identifies new challenges, including ‘whole system’ 
reconfiguratio

[gep-ed] RE: [Ecopolitics] When Climate Change Adaptation Goes Wrong

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello Jon, perhaps unsurprisingly, I disagree strongly with the general thrust 
of your critique, but let me explain why, and permit me to start with something 
positive.  I really do appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts - 
and having read Ferguson and Mosse, I can confirm they are worth reading. I 
would add to the list Escobar's Encountering Development.  Ferguson and Escobar 
in particular reveal the value of a discursive approach to understanding power, 
institutions, and development as a practice.



That said, I still don’t see their arguments - or yours - as undermining the 
value of a political ecology approach.  Such an approach, too, can reveal 
unequal power relations and hegemonic discursive practices.  If you prefer the 
style of Ferguson and Escobar, then I recommend you find a copy of Marcus 
Taylor's The Political Ecology of Climate Change Adaptation: Livelihoods,  
Agrarian Change and the Conflicts of Development. He helps show the value of 
that approach more eloquently than I ever do.



Nor do I see these streams of thought as eroding the utility of trying to 
optimize climate change adaptation efforts so that they become more attuned to 
justice and vulnerability issues.  Of course the relationship between processes 
such as enclosure, exclusion, encroachment, and entrenchment are mutually 
constitutive with broader forces such as neo-liberalism, capitalism, 
development aid, and so on. (They also interrelate with each other). I never 
meant to imply that climate change adaptation was the sole driver or cause of 
these ills - instead, I hope my work illuminates how these broader factors 
begin to interact, reproduce, circulate, and then distort adaptation efforts.   
Let me remind you as well that we were drawing on some primary data 
(interviews) in the article and this did include practitioners of development 
aid in Bangladesh.  Apparently many of the lessons learned from the 1960s have 
been forgotten on the ground, if they were ever truly learned to begin with.



-Original Message-
From: Jon Marco CHURCH [mailto:jon-marco.chu...@univ-reims.fr]
Sent: 27 January 2018 11:42
To: Benjamin Sovacool <b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>
Cc: 'Ecopolitics' <ecopolit...@lists.opn.org>; gep-ed@googlegroups.com; 
greenpolit...@jiscmail.ac.uk; 'Karolina Kluczewska' <k...@st-andrews.ac.uk>; 
'Alice Baillat' <alice.bail...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Ecopolitics] When Climate Change Adaptation Goes Wrong



Dear Prof. Sovacool, dear readers the three mailing lists,



Many thanks for your reply. I apologize to those in the lists who are not 
interested in this matter. Prof. Maniates, who manages the GEP-ED list, asked 
me to expand on my email in ways that help better understand my concerns and 
objections.



I believe that the article "Bamboo beating bandits: conflict, inequality, and 
vulnerability in the political ecology of climate change adaptation in 
Bangladesh" sends a wrong message, because the focus of the research question 
is misplaced. In the article, social performance is analyzed almost exclusively 
on the basis of the impact of climate change adaptation projects in the context 
of Bangladesh. According to the article and the press release below:



- ADAPTATION PROJECTS transfer public assets into private hands or expand the 
roles of private actors into the public sphere (enclosure);

- ADAPTATION PROJECTS limit access to resources or marginalize particular 
stakeholders in decision-making activities (exclusion);

- ADAPTATION PROJECTS intrude on biodiversity areas or contribute to other 
forms of environmental degradation (encroachment);

- ADAPTATION PROJECTS aggravate the disempowerment of women and minorities, or 
worsen concentrations of wealth and income inequality within a community 
(entrenchment).



The burden is put on adaptation projects as if they were the sole culprit.

In my opinion, this is because this article almost completely ignores other 
variables that can influence the social performance of adaptation projects. For 
example, these projects are all implemented through development aid, which is 
known to lead sometimes to side-effects, such as policy fragmentation, capture 
and even corruption (Ferguson 1990; Lancaster 2007; Carothers 2011). These are 
the phenomena observed by the author.



My argument is that, before making such bold claims about the negative impact 
of adaptation projects, other variables, such as development aid, should have 
explored to see whether they explain the poor social performance observed. 
Development aid and in general collective action is the most obvious one to me, 
but there are probably other factors too.

However, there is only one reference to development aid in this article.

Almost all other references concern Bangladesh, climate change or political 
ecology.



To avoid this issue, the article should have at least expanded its 
bibliographic references and checked wheth

[gep-ed] RE: [Ecopolitics] When Climate Change Adaptation Goes Wrong

[Benjamin Sovacool]

Hello Jon, thanks for taking the time to write and comment.  I'll write you 
separately as I suspect most members of the list won't enjoy seeing a flurry of 
emails between us, but I did want to point out that I do not believe you are 
reading the piece closely or carefully.  As you can see here, on p. 192, I am 
very, very careful to indicate that the piece is not about rejecting 
adaptation, but making it better:



Lastly, the existence of enclosure, exclusion, encroachment, and entrenchment 
in some Bangladeshi adaptation measures does not mean that they are always 
present or even frequently present. Nor does it imply that Bangladesh should 
abandon its adaptation efforts. There are many adaptation projects that seem to 
be producing a net social benefit despite the complex Bangladeshi political 
ecology surrounding them (Ahammad, Nandy, & Husnain, 2013; Chowdhury, 2008; 
Rawlani & Sovacool, 2011). So, not every adaptation project need perpetuate 
inequality, exclude others, or enclose and encroach upon people's property or 
livelihood.  Although political ecology processes can at times distort or mold 
adaptation projects and processes to the interests of dominant stakeholders, 
they do not necessarily or completely undermine or obfuscate all of the 
benefits of adaptation. Even the specific critiques raised, some of them quite 
sobering, are aimed at a target: improving and learning from adaptation's 
political ecology so that the least vulnerable are helped, and so that benefits 
and burdens are made visible, and distributed fairly and according to 
representative processes. Planners and practitioners of adaptation projects 
need to become more cognizant of the potential for projects to harm others, or 
admit complicity in the processes of enclosure, exclusion, encroachment, and 
entrenchment.



So you're critique isn't mutually exclusive to my suggestion - make adaptation 
more attuned to justice and vulnerability themes. While I am less familiar with 
those scholars writing the development cooperation literature, I suspect they 
wouldn't disagree?



-Original Message-

From: Jon Marco CHURCH [mailto:jon-marco.chu...@univ-reims.fr]

Sent: 21 January 2018 09:08

To: Benjamin Sovacool <b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>>

Cc: 'Ecopolitics' 
<ecopolit...@lists.opn.org<mailto:ecopolit...@lists.opn.org>>; 
gep-ed@googlegroups.com<mailto:gep-ed@googlegroups.com>; 
greenpolit...@jiscmail.ac.uk<mailto:greenpolit...@jiscmail.ac.uk>; 'Karolina 
Kluczewska' <k...@st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:k...@st-andrews.ac.uk>>; 'Alice 
Baillat' <alice.bail...@gmail.com<mailto:alice.bail...@gmail.com>>

Subject: RE: [Ecopolitics] When Climate Change Adaptation Goes Wrong



Dear Prof. Sovacool,



I am at the same time a scholar of sustainable development and a practitioner 
of development cooperation. I read with much interest your article. I think 
however that the focus of your research question is misplaced. Your research 
findings have little to do with adaptation to climate change. Most of them are 
common throughout development cooperation.

The fact that there is a lot of funding available for projects on adaptation to 
climate change compared to other environmental issues exacerbates well-known 
problems with development cooperation.



I am afraid that your article and its press release send a very wrong and 
dangerous message. Adaptation to climate change and in general resilience to 
exogenous shocks is very important in vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.

The problem is not adaptation to climate change but development cooperation, 
which needs radical improvement.



I would like to thank Professor Takei for sharing your work.



Kind regards,



J.M.Church



--

Jon Marco CHURCH

Associate Professor

University of Reims

IATEUR - BP 30 - 57 rue Pierre Taittinger - 51571 Reims Cedex - France Tel. : 
+33 (0)3 26 91 37 45 - www.univ-reims.fr<http://www.univ-reims.fr> New 
publication : < Soft power of Tajikistan on the water agenda >, in Water 
Resources in Central Asia, S.S. Zhiltsov et al. (ed.), Cham, Springer.



-Original Message-

From: Ecopolitics [mailto:ecopolitics-boun...@lists.opn.org] On Behalf Of 
Milton Takei

Sent: Friday, January 19, 2018 2:57 AM

To: Ecopolitics <ecopolit...@lists.opn.org<mailto:ecopolit...@lists.opn.org>>

Subject: [Ecopolitics] When Climate Change Adaptation Goes Wrong



To ecopolitics subscribers:



   The following is from:



b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk<mailto:b.sovac...@sussex.ac.uk>

--Milton Takei





Good morning from Europe everyone,



As many of you know, much work in the community focuses on climate change 
mitigation, namely technologies, practices, and policies that can prevent 
emissions from escaping into the atmosphere.  But equally important is 
adaptation, building resilience to