Departmental Events

Sustainability Seminar

Date / Time: Wednesday 10th April at 12:05

Location: Zoom - Zoom link

Speaker: James Shipley

Title: Insights on building the UK's first net zero prison

In this talk, James will discuss the work being done to build the UK’s first all-electric prison, his struggles at finding work following the completion of his master’s, and how every piece of experience is valuable when it comes to building up a CV.

James is an Environment and Social Value Coordinator for Kier Construction working on the construction of HMP Millsike – the UKs first ever all electric prison. James has long had a passion for the environment and as such has always wanted a career that pursues its protection and restoration. He graduated with First class honours in sociology at the University of Westminster in 2017, and then completed a MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex in 2020. Within his undergraduate degree, James focused on environmental sociology and carried out a discourse analysis of two cities and their sustainability policies for his dissertation (London, UK, and Vancouver, Canada). It was this which led James into moving to Vancouver for 18 months (between his degrees).

Upon his return to the UK in 2018, James began his masters studying into the role of technological innovation in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Due to his health, James was unable to find work upon completion of his master’s and so set up an at home bakery in 2020. After being given all clear, James started searching for jobs but struggled to find exactly what he wanted career wise. He worked in a call centre and then a local charity in fundraising. His community experience and master’s degree are what gave him the level of experience needed to put himself forward for his current role and he began on the 26th September. Since starting at Kier, James has rapidly increased his knowledge of environmental management and reporting and looks forward to continuing this.

Good News and Media Engagement

New research paper published by Tabitha Kabora, Daryl Stump, Chris D. Thomas and Colin M. Beal (through the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity): Kabora et al. 2024. Assessing inconsistencies in historical land-use reconstructions for Africa at 1800. Reg Environ Change.

MTD Award Nominations are now OPEN!

The Making the Difference Awards are back so it's time to get nominating!

The University recognises and values the hard work, commitment and achievements of all staff. The 'Making the Difference' awards are intended to provide recognition to any member of staff whose contribution on a one-off or short-term basis has been exceptional or outstanding and is worthy of particular note. The scheme provides staff, managers and colleagues with the opportunity to nominate an individual or a team for a recognition payment worth up to £250 per person (subject to normal pay deductions, e.g. PAYE). (The university also recognises and values outstanding contribution of a sustained nature. Staff should refer to details of the 'Rewarding Excellence' scheme for information about awards of that kind.)

For more information about MTD awards, including the criteria, all past nominations and winners, please visit our Making the Difference Wiki Page. Please note that nominees must have been in post for a minimum of 6 months to be eligible to win an award. 

If you would like to nominate someone for a Making the Difference Award, do click here to fill in the form. 

Deadline for nominations: Wednesday 17th April at 17:00.

We look forward to receiving your nominations

Research Opportunities and Updates

Explore Interdisciplinary Excellence and Equity in Environmental Sustainability Research!

Our new Interdisciplinary Research Training Programme is designed to equip participants with the expertise and experience to tackle environmental challenges through equitable, collaborative research across disciplines.

Aim: Our programme aims to provide participants with hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research collaboration to address pressing environmental sustainability issues.

Outcomes: By participating in our workshops and team-building sessions, you will:

• Gain a deep understanding of the challenges inherent in interdisciplinary work and learn effective strategies to overcome them.

• Acquire invaluable experience working alongside peers from diverse backgrounds to develop innovative solutions to real-world research challenges.

Programme Details:

Join us for a team-building overnight stay followed by a full-day workshop and then a series of four half-day workshops. Throughout these sessions, you'll engage in interactive exercises, discussions, and collaborative projects aimed at fostering interdisciplinary excellence.

• Session 1: 9 and 10 May, coach from University 9 May at 17.00, 10 May full day training session, 09:00 - 16:30, coach return to University

• Session 2: 22 May, University of York, 09:00 - 13.30

• Session 3, 4 June, University of York, 09:00 - 13.30

• Session 4, 12 June, University of York, 09:00 - 13.30

• Session 5, 26 June, The Guildhall, York, 09:00 - 13.30: “Dragons’ Den” style pitching session with special guest Dragons to secure priming funds for your proposal .

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your horizons, network with like-minded individuals, and make a meaningful impact on environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary research.

Who Should Attend?

Researchers across all Faculties, will benefit from this programme, while the entire University of York community also stands to gain indirectly from the enriched research culture fostered by this initiative.

We particularly target researchers who:

• hold a PhD or equivalent qualification

• have a track record of published work

• are eligible to lead research grants according to their contractual arrangements 

Click here for further information.

Application Deadline: 19 April 2024 17:00

🔬 LCAB Research Forum - Thursday 11 April, 11:00

Invited speaker - chaired by Chris Lyon 

Dr Jenny Hodbod is a Lecturer in Environment and Development in the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, where she studies food systems through a social-ecological resilience lens. Jenny presents findings from her long-term work in the Lower Omo, SW Ethiopia, where she’s co-leading an interdisciplinary team studying impacts of state-led mega projects and development interventions such as the Gibe III dam and associated large-scale sugar cultivation on indigenous populations. She will discuss the participatory approach taken to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with social and ecological data, and outline some key results regarding the dynamics of ecosystem services (specifically biodiversity), wealth, and resilience.

🔬 Ethics Roundtable - Public Event - Thursday 11th April - 17:00 Start

The Governing Research Ethics Project team are hosting a free public roundtable event on Thursday 11th April at 17:00pm in ENV/005 Lecture Room as part of a joint effort between the Department of Politics and International Relations, SATSU and Governing Research Ethics.

In 2004, a team of academics based at York's Science and Technology Studies Unit (SATSU) held an ESRC grant to develop guidance on ethical review in the social sciences. Twenty years on, this roundtable convenes investigators from that project with scholars of research regulation to reflect on where we are today.

We will discuss the evolution of opportunities and challenges related to research ethics and its regulation, situating these insights in relation to the broader evolution of the research landscape in the UK and the world. Register now to secure your spot. The Roundtable will be followed by a drinks reception.

Invitation to Conference 'The Crisis in Youth Mental Health: adapting to a changing world'

🔬 The Crisis in Youth Mental Health: adapting to a changing world

Monday 22 April 2024, 1:45pm - 5.45pm (followed by drinks reception till 6.15pm)

The King’s Manor, University of York, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EP

The 21st century has brought many new additional challenges for our children and young people, mental health difficulties are soaring, whilst service provision remains challenging. This conference brings together the Institute of Mental Health Research at the University of York, the Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and the Centre for Mental Health to discuss key challenges, such as inequalities and digital harms, as well as potential solutions. The conference will also provide an opportunity for the audience to learn about the policy work of the CMH, and the launch of the new ACAMH free online educational platform for researchers and practitioners. The day will end with the inaugural lecture by Prof Bernadka Dubicka, editor in chief at ACAMH, who will reflect on her three decades working as a clinician, academic, and work in media and policy.

Please come and join us if you are a CAMHS clinician or researcher interested in the current drivers of mental health difficulties in young people, and hear from experts working in policy and evidence based practice. Attendance is free - please register here by Wednesday 17 April.

🔬 Maximising UK adaptation to climate change call - YESI Workshop

UKRI has released a call for research projects as part of its Maximising UK adaptation to climate change programme, co-funded by Defra. The aim of the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change programme is to build capacity, knowledge, and skills that will offer practical and scalable solutions to meet the UK’s challenges in the face of a changing climate and put the UK at the forefront of climate adaptation strategies at both local and national scales.

All applications should include NERC remit researchers and at least another research council remit; wider breadths of expertise are welcomed as appropriate to the challenge. Projects can apply for up to £2m funding over 2.5 years. The research projects must be transdisciplinary, integrating all relevant disciplines, and closely involving policymakers and other stakeholders in co-design and co-delivery through a systems approach.

Join YESI for a session to bring together York researchers developing ideas for this call to discuss their ideas and identify potential partners. The session will be held online on Thursday 11th April 2.30-4pm

Please register via this page - on completion of the google form, this will send you a calendar invite to accept, along with the zoom details for the session.

If you are developing an idea for this call and cannot attend the session but would like to be connected to other researchers, please complete the form and decline the calendar invite - we will draw on these in discussions and circulate the details of researchers and their interests to all who register.

🔬 Do you work on or with trees in any form or discipline?

Join us to meet others from across the University of York who may look at trees in a way you didn’t expect.

YESI, together with Stockholm Environment Institute, Environment and Geography, LCAB/Biology, Archaeology, English & Related Literature and Arts and Creative Technologies, are organising a creative and engaging event to bring together researchers from all faculties and explore the multitude of ways in which tree studies cut across diverse disciplines.

Tree Researchers Assemble - workshop details

Date and time: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 9:15 am to 12:00 noon

Location: YH/001b , Research Centre for Social Sciences (Map)

Audience: Open to staff, students (postgraduate researchers only)

Please register here to attend.

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