Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s Post

Leveraging the skills, expertise and interests of our Earth Fellows, the Earth Communications Unit at Edinburgh Earth Initiative is strengthened by various research backgrounds. These allow Earth Fellows to bring focus to research areas at The University of Edinburgh that directly relate to their studies or areas they are passionate about, in the content they create. Meet Alys Daniels-Creasey – Earth Fellow: Natural Capital Alys is a Human Geography PhD researcher at The University of Edinburgh working in collaboration with the Scottish Land Commission. Her research focuses on how investments in Scotland’s natural capital are impacting local communities and asks how these processes can align with visions of justice. This research complements her work as an Earth Fellow, which investigates the socioeconomic costs of environmental inaction in the Scottish context. Previously, as an Earth Fellow, she supported the Fossil-Fuel.Ed, Adapt.Ed and Climate & Health projects, as well as Edinburgh Earth Initiative's climate justice work. QN: What is your background and how do you think it will help you in your work as an Earth Fellow? "My background is in sociology and arts-informed methods, which gives me a broad oversight of the connection between social and environmental concerns and enables me to approach these issues in innovative ways. This background will help me to approach my project from an interdisciplinary and creative mindset and to try to include all sorts of information in the research to synthesise this into something that can be clearly communicated to a general audience." QN: What is your project at the Edinburgh Earth Initiative about, and what is your role within it? "For my project, I am working in collaboration with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to look into the socioeconomic consequences of environmental inaction in Scotland. This involves desk-based research into the social and economic costs of not preserving, or boosting, the biodiversity of various habitats. Then, we hope to take this information into a scenario analysis workshop space to think through what this could all mean for the future of Scotland if we follow different paths of action." Interested in learning more about the Earth Fellows Programme? Read about it here https://lnkd.in/evAqFR54

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟   We are proud to announce that the article, "Regeneration Time: Ancient Wisdom for Planetary Wellbeing," by Professor Anne Poelina, Sandra Wooltorton, Mindy Blaise, Catrina Luz Aniere, Pierre Horwitz, Peta White, and Stephen Muecke, has won one of the two Manuscript Excellence Awards for AJEE for 2024! 🎉   "Regeneration Time: Ancient Wisdom for Planetary Wellbeing" explores the integration of ancient Aboriginal wisdom with contemporary environmental education. The authors highlight the importance of postqualitative research in understanding the sentient nature of life and the interconnectedness of people, place, and planet. This work emphasises the need for decolonisation and the recognition of Country's animacy and presence as essential for planetary wellbeing.   Click the link below to read the article. 🌏   #EnvironmentalEducation #PlanetaryWellbeing #AcademicExcellence #AboriginalWisdom

🌟 One of the best parts of my job is guiding and mentoring the next generation of researchers through their dissertation projects. I’m fortunate to work with a talented group of students who are tackling diverse and impactful topics in conservation and climate science. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their curiosity and dedication come to life through their work. Here are just a few of the fantastic projects I’m supervising this year: Assessing Species Resilience in the UK: Understanding how terrestrial species adapt and respond to changing environments. Penguin Body Weight Analysis: Exploring the impact of temporal and environmental factors through a 4-year longitudinal study. Climate Change and Fish Communities in Thailand: Evaluating how climate shifts are affecting aquatic ecosystems. Sea Turtle Gender Ratios: Analysing the influence of rising temperatures on sea turtle populations. Conservation Prioritisation of Marine Species in Thailand: A multi-criteria approach to inform better protection strategies. It’s inspiring to witness their passion and commitment, and I can't wait to see the contributions they make to the field! 🌍🐧🐟🐢 #ResearchMentor #ConservationScience #ClimateChange #Biodiversity #FutureScientists

Congratulations to Ocean Nexus Fellow Ricardo de Ycaza for successfully defending his dissertation this week at Oregon State University, OSU School of Public Policy! "I recently completed my PhD in Marine and Coastal Policy, focusing on 'Ocean Governance and the Blue Economy in Panama: Policy Coherence, Policy Design, and Social Equity.' This journey has been deeply enriching and transformative, both personally and professionally. Throughout my PhD, I collaborated on three publications that contributed to academic literature in marine social science and policy. I was fortunate to have my efforts recognized with a SYLFF fellowship in 2020. I also had the honor of being an Ocean Nexus Doctoral Fellow from 2021 to 2024, where I joined and shared experiences with a community of wonderful people. These accolades provided invaluable support and fostered numerous collaborative opportunities. The path to completing my PhD was not without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and personal health issues presented significant hurdles. Nevertheless, these experiences fostered resilience and adaptability, imparting lessons that extended beyond the academic realm. During my research, I honed my skills in both quantitative and qualitative social science methods. I became proficient in content analysis, designing and conducting semi-structured interviews, and using qualitative data analysis software. Additionally, I gained expertise in survey research and statistical analysis, enabling me to collect and interpret data effectively. Entering the PhD program with a background in natural sciences, I initially approached marine resource management from an environmental perspective. However, my work with Ocean Nexus and my research experiences broadened my outlook, highlighting the importance of integrating social dimensions into ocean governance. I am committed to balancing social objectives with environmental and economic goals in marine policy. My PhD journey has deepened my understanding of marine and coastal policy and reinforced my dedication to advancing equitable and sustainable ocean governance. I look forward to continuing my work in this field and engaging with Ocean Nexus, leveraging my academic background and the skills I have developed to make meaningful contributions to ocean governance and marine resource management policy and practice.” —Ricardo de Ycaza https://lnkd.in/ectwbWdJ Oregon State University OSU School of Public Policy Oregon State University - College of Liberal Arts Ana K. Spalding Alison Johnston Drew Gerkey Daniel Suman Andres M. Cisneros-Montemayor Jennifer Alix-Garcia #Panama #OceanGovernance #BlueEconomy #SocialEquity #Fisheries #Aquaculture #OceanPolicy

Responsible environmental education in the Anthropocene: understanding and responding to young people’s experiences of nature disconnection, eco-anxiety and ontological insecurity | Open Access Ariane Gienger, Melissa Nursey-Bray, Dianne Rodger, Anna Szorenyi, Philip Weinstein, Scott Hanson-Easey, Damien Fordham, Danielle Lemieux, Celeste Hill & Shoko Yoneyama Pages: 1619-1649 | DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2024.2367022 Abstract Children and young people today are growing up in an increasingly urban, technical, virtual and ecologically precarious world, leaving many feel disconnected from nature yet anxious about its degradation at the same time. Two distinct bodies of knowledge – namely youth human-nature relationships and youth eco-anxiety – are concerned with the former and the latter respectively. Through a narrative literature review, we bring these fields together and explore their interaction. We demonstrate that the dominant responses of facilitating nature exposure and encouraging environmental action risk counteracting each other and ultimately fail to address the root cause of children and young people’s experiences. We further show that emerging responses in both fields are overcoming these limitations by turning towards a reimagination of humanity’s relationship with nature, providing a holistic way forward. We conclude by discussing barriers restricting the expansion of such approaches and opportunities for future research to contribute to dismantling these barriers. #climatechange #Anthropocentrism #Ontology #transformativeeducation #UNESCO #SDG4 #qualityeducation https://lnkd.in/g-hGhaUC

👨🔬 Science Enthusiasts: If you’re fascinated by the natural world and eager to deepen your understanding of life’s complexities, this course is tailor-made for you. Whether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner, our program offers an enriching experience for anyone passionate about science. 👩💼 Professionals: For professionals working in fields such as biology, ecology, medicine, or conservation, “Evolutionary Dynamics: Navigating Forward” provides valuable insights that can enhance your expertise and advance your career. Stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions in your respective fields. 🌱 Environmentalists: Environmental advocates and conservationists can benefit immensely from understanding the evolutionary dynamics that shape ecosystems and species interactions. By grasping the mechanisms of evolution, you’ll be better equipped to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability. https://buff.ly/4cAma4c

🌍 Attended a Workshop on "Cultural Ecology of Environment and Climate Change: Learning from the Past for a Sustainable Future" 🌱 As a computer science student, I’m always looking to expand my knowledge and apply my skills to interdisciplinary challenges. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a thought-provoking workshop focused on the intersection of cultural ecology, environmental change, and climate sustainability. 🌿 **Key Takeaways**: - Understanding **Cultural Ecology**: How past human-environment interactions have shaped societies and ecosystems. - Exploring **Indigenous Knowledge**: Traditional ecological practices that promote sustainable resource management. - Learning from **Past Civilizations**: How the lessons of the Mayans, Sumerians, and other ancient societies can inform modern sustainability practices. - Gaining insights into **Climate Change**: Understanding the historical and current impacts of climate change on ecosystems and societies. - Recognizing the importance of **Sustainable Development**: Creating solutions and technologies that minimize environmental impact while ensuring long-term viability.

Sometimes, taking a step back from your everyday work as a researcher and regaining an overview of the bigger picture can be crucial. The annually School of Integrated Climate and Earth System Sciences SICSS, Universität Hamburg retreat offers exactly that. This year, over 40 PhD students came together in the Nordheide to talk about science, but also to network, to connect and to have fun together. Scientific focus was the topic of biodiversity. Read more on the three day meeting here 👇 #Science #Climateresearch #SICSS

Looking back on the 4th year of my Geography & Environmental Science degree with The Open University 📝 Here’s me with the books I read for the course last academic year 📚 it was all about the cultural, social, political, and economic aspects of our relationship with the natural world 🌍 Some of my favourites: The Death of Nature - Carolyn Merchant - a searing account of how a mechanistic world view "laid open a new and brutal exploitation" of the natural world, other species, and women. It's a fascinating cultural exploration, charting the change from seeing Earth as a living mother to a dead, inanimate object. The Great Derangement, Amitav Ghosh - why do we keep doing dangerous things in the climate crisis? Ghosh explores the lies we tell ourselves. Water Always Wins, Erica Gies - an engaging exploration of our broken relationship with water. Silent Spring, Rachel Carson - a devastating classic exploring the decline of nature. The Value of a Whale, Adrienne Buller - is green capitalism all it’s cracked it up to be? Can it help, or is it a dangerous distraction? The Intersectional Environmentalist, Leah Thomas - a brilliant explanation of the importance of intersectionality for a just transition. Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer - need I say more about this book? Incredible. If you haven’t read it, you should. & many others. Looking forward to year 5 🙂 #climatecrisis #climatereading #bookrecommendations

As we enter a new review of the curriculum in England, there is an opportunity to examine the structure and learning philosophy of the current curriculum to better support young people in navigating the nexus between oceans and climate. 🌊 The ocean covers 70% of the world’s surface. 🌊 The ocean currently absorbs 40% of the carbon emissions from human activities, 🌊 The ocean has absorbed 90% of the excess heat caused by human carbon emissions. 🌊 The ocean stores 60 times more carbon than the atmosphere and 16 times more carbon than the terrestrial biosphere. And despite this - the ocean is largely absent from Science and Geography teaching. As we enter the last half of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development- NOW is surely the time to acknowledge and celebrate the ocean’s critical role throughout the curriculum. #NationalCurriculum #CurriculumReview #OceanLiteracy #CarbonLiteracy Department for Education Convex Seascape Survey Blue Marine Foundation University of Exeter Oceanographic Magazine