Social Science of the Energy-Environment-Food NexusNetwork Plus Town Meeting

An introduction to Social Science of the ‘Nexus’Andy Gibbs, ESRC

What are the future Social Science challenges that cut across the

Energy-Environment-Food Nexus?

Resilience and Conflict

What national capabilities are required for a resilient

society/economy and environment?

Risk, uncertainty, complexity

Interdependencies, trade-offs, values and decisions

What WorksPublic policy

shaping/framingLearning (evaluation and

knowledge sharing)

Understanding the dynamics of the nexus at

different spatial scales – or, geography matters

Trade

Business(diverse group)

Bioeconomy:New connections:

New trade-offs

Population dynamics: Demographic and location

scales and trends

Consumption is the major issue (we

consume too many resources)

Behaviour and socio-cultural change

Health Human Rights

Rethinking growth for a sustainable future

Methodological issues

PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCESYSTEMS, TOOLS, ORGANISATIONS THAT CAN HELP

RESILIENCE (COPING WITH SHOCKS, AND PREPAREDNESS)

SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOURS AND SOCIAL TRENDS (SYSTEM LEVEL) STUDIES OF INNOVATION

UNDERPINNING

SOCIAL INNOVATIONS

CAN’T IGN

ORE

WHAT’S HAPPEN

ING

RESOLVING RESOURCE

CONFLICT

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE

INEQUALITY

ONE FACILITATES THE OTHER

Governance arrangements for sustainable and

efficient overall resource use

A flavour of the emergent questions:▶ How can we build a richer picture of value systems across the nexus?

▶ How do we grow without consuming more?

▶ Is GDP the right measure of prosperity?

▶ What is and where is the green economy?

▶ What new sectors would grow if policy was implemented?

▶ What policy works in the interconnected space of nexus?

▶ What new governance arrangements are necessary for sustainable overall resource use?

▶ What does resilience look like through a nexus lens?

▶ What are the new research questions around coping with shocks and preparedness?

▶ What does current understanding of behaviour and socio-cultural change look like in the nexus space and where are the gaps?

▶ What training, skills, data, methods and capacity is needed to support this research?

▶ How can we continue the conversation?

Nexus thinking: Interdependencies, trade-offs, values,

decisions…

What is and Where is the

Green Economy?

Re-thinking growth for a sustainable

future

Scale and context: spatial, political, demographic…

Methodological Issues

Consumption,

behaviour and socio-

cultural change

Resilience, coping with shocks and preparedne

ss

Governance arrangements for

sustainable overall resource

use

Public policy shaping,

framing and learning

Social Science of the Energy-Environment-Food Nexus:What Next?

Our Vision for this Network PlusHannah Collins, ESRC

Nexus thinking: Interdependencies, trade-offs, values,

decisions…

What is and Where is the

Green Economy?

Re-thinking growth for a sustainable

future

Scale and context: spatial, political, demographic…

Methodological Issues

Consumption,

behaviour and socio-

cultural change

Resilience, coping with shocks and preparedne

ss

Governance arrangements for

sustainable overall resource

use

Public policy shaping,

framing and learning

Social Science of the Energy-Environment-Food Nexus:What Next?

‘Social Science of the Nexus’ Network Plus

▶ Create a space for ‘Nexus thinking’ to happen;

▶ Foster linkages between research activities that can contribute to addressing the challenges of the Social Science of the Nexus;

▶ Engage the research community with business and other users of research;

▶ Encourage interdisciplinary conversations and perspectives;

▶ Develop richer thinking across the nexus through establishment of a well-resourced networking capacity and leadership;

▶ Unearth future research challenges.

‘Social Science of the Nexus’ Network Plus

Characteristics of the NW+

▶ Open, interdisciplinary membership;

▶ Engage a wide range of relevant stakeholders, from academia, business, policy and other sectors;

▶ engage, build and support a new research community, drawing on existing and future investments;

▶ be led by a strong, interdisciplinary team who can articulate a clear shared vision for the NW+;

▶ Dedicated pot for pilot projects and placements to be administered by the NW+;

▶ Strong relationship with ESRC, working with us to unearth new challenges, inform our strategy and build capacity.

NW+ Leadership Team

▶A new grouping of researchers?

▶Draw on strong, existing leadership in the social sciences across related areas

▶Inspirational leaders! Credible figureheads! Advocates for the role of the social sciences in addressing the challenges of the nexus!

▶Experience of working with a range of partners

▶Novel approaches to emerging problem spaces

▶Unbiased and independent.

The call details

Up to £1.875M (100 per cent fEC), 3 year grant

Of which, £500,000 (100 per cent fEC) ring-fenced for:Pilot Projects and Placements

(Administered by the NW+ through open competition with robust selection process)

And the remainder:Employ an academic Network Coordinator

Principal Investigator 1-2 days per weekClear management structure for the NW+, events, publicity

etc.

Your Expression of Interest▶ The names and affiliations of the leadership team members and why this is the

right team;

▶ A clear articulation of the leadership team’s vision for the NW+;

▶ How the leadership team will build a community of practice (including user engagement) and facilitate emergent thinking around the challenges of the nexus.

▶ 2 pages: no other documentation will be accepted!

We will be assessing:

▶ Why you? Appropriateness, expertise and track record of the leadership team.

▶ Are we convinced? The power of the leadership team’s vision for the NW+, and alignment with ESRCs stated aims for the NW+.

▶ Is it exciting? Articulation and creativity in how the leadership team will build a community of practice and facilitate emergent thinking around the challenges of the nexus.

N.B. Please see the call document for full details.

Timetable

Closing date for Expressions of Interest:16.00 on 3 October 2013

Via email: esrcnexusnetworkplus@esrc.ac.uk

Decisions by mid-October (we hope Friday 18!)

Full proposals stage closes: 12 December 2013

Formal decisions: 31 January 2014

NW+ grant will commence by 1 April 2014

Some things to think about:▶How your Network Plus will drive forward ‘social

science of the nexus’;

Nexus thinking: Interdependencies, trade-offs, values, decisions…

What is and Where is the

Green Economy?

Re-thinking growth for a

sustainable future

Scale and context: spatial, political, demographic…

Methodological Issues

Consumption, behaviour and socio-

cultural change

Resilience, coping with shocks and

preparednessGovernance

arrangements for sustainable overall

resource use

Public policy shaping, framing

and learning

Some things to think about:

▶ Your vision for how you would position and embed this NW+ in the current landscape;

▶ The USP of your leadership team and their vision for this network in the context of the call;

▶ Strategies for how you will engage members and stakeholders;

▶ How you will unearth new research challenges in the nexus space;

▶ How you would administer the pilot projects and partnerships;

▶ Other creative approaches and ideas that we haven’t thought of!

Speaking of which…