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Environment group

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About Environment group

The Environment Group at PSI is an interdisciplinary research group which operates at the interface between policy and research. The Group was formed in 1998 by the then PSI director Professor Jim Skea. Since January 2008 it has been led by Ben Shaw.

The Group’s aim is to inform progress towards a more sustainable future, through the provision of robust, independent, policy-focused research. The Group conducts applied research to analyse, investigate and understand:

• how a transition to environmentally sustainable development might come about;
• the environmental policies at all levels of government, and in other institutions, which might help to bring it about;
• the roles of science and technology and behaviours and attitudes in helping to bring about environmentally sustainable development;
• the linkages between environmental policy and economic and social concerns which need to be taken into account if the environmental policies are to be both implemented and effective.

The Group works on a wide range of policy-relevant themes using diverse qualitative and quantitative research methods.

In addition to its research activities, the group manages and coordinates research networks and conducts activities to communicate and debate research insights with the policy community. For example the Group coordinates the Defra/Department for Transport-funded Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRN) and has provided the secretariat to the Green Fiscal Commission.

The Group receives funding for its research and consultancy activities from sources including government departments and agencies, research councils, grant-making trusts and European funders.

The Group’s main current research themes include:

• Innovation and sustainability;
• Climate change impacts and adaptation – focusing on social justice issues;
• Research translation and the evaluation of research impacts on environmental policy;
• Understanding, influencing and communicating sustainable behaviours;
• Energy-environment-economy modelling and policy;
• Environmental policy and economic performance.

The Group brings together a team of researchers with diverse disciplinary backgrounds – including economics, earth and life sciences, maths, history, geography, regional studies, and psychology. Given the nature of the challenges posed by environmental and sustainable development policies we consider the interdisciplinary approach this results in to be one of the strengths of the group. The Group also possesses expertise covering a wide range of policy issues and methodological approaches. Since January 2008 the Group has been led by Ben Shaw, succeeding Professor Paul Ekins, who had led the Group since 2000. The Group is augmented in project development and delivery by a number of visiting research fellows.

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News

Concerns expressed about support for people who need more help in Provider-led Pathways to Work

[added 23/02/2010]

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Lecture on innovation policy and the challenge of climate change

[added 09/02/2010]

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More support needed for low-skilled workers to progress into better jobs

[added 09/02/2010]

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Understanding social cohesion during
and following recession

[added 19/01/2010]

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PSI professor gives evidence to new US committee

[added 15/12/2009]

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PSI hosts green education book launch

[added 04/01/2010]

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Workshop examines new methods of evaluating public programmes

[added 11/11/2009]

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PSI welcomes professor of innovation and sustainability

[added 10/11/2009]

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