ESRC IAA National Showcase - Communities Driving Sustainable Futures

Community-led innovation for climate resilience and sustainable transitions.

This session showcases innovative approaches to climate action and sustainability that place people and communities at their heart. From supporting clean energy transitions in Rwanda and engaging generations in climate action, to improving understanding of fire management practices around the world, these projects demonstrate how social science research can help communities navigate complex environmental challenges and build more sustainable futures.

The event will start with a presentation from colleagues at ESRC, followed by three inspiring talks from IAA funded projects. We'll wrap up with time for discussion and questions. 

You’ll hear from:

‘Set to Cook’: Advancing inclusive clean cooking transitions

Dr Alison Halford’s research explores how digital and data-driven technologies can better serve underserved and minoritised communities. With IAA funding, she built on the Solar Energy Transitions (SET) project in Rwanda, which worked with rural off-grid households to co-design solar e-cooking solutions around their needs and lived experiences.

Working with Rwanda Energy Group and MESH Power, the project developed the SET to COOK guidebook, a policy tool that brings the voices of low-income households, particularly women, into industry and government decision-making around investment in affordable, reliable and sustainable clean cooking.

Speaker and partners: Alison Halford (Coventry University), Rwanda Energy Group and MESH Power

Co-creating the Climate Comic Intergenerational Activity Pack to Advance Climate Action in South Wales

The Climate Comic Intergenerational Activity Pack was co-created with schools, care homes and local government to bring different generations together and give voice and agency in positive climate action. The pack was developed in alignment with the ambitions of Curriculum for Wales (2022).

The project lead has since submitted written evidence for communicating Long-term climate threats to the National Infrastructure Commission and Cynnal Cymru.

Speakers and partners: Merryn Thomas & Carol Maddock (Swansea University); Partneriaeth Cymru; Oystermouth Primary School and Bishopston Comprehensive School (Swansea), Coedcae School (Llanelli), Pennar School (Pembrokeshire); ENRICH Cymru network of care homes (across Wales); Newton Grange Care Home (Swansea); partners in Swansea Council and Amgueddfa Cymru

Giving crofters space to talk about common grazings and fire

Research shows how declining communal management of common grazing land is driving increasing wildfire risk in crofting areas in Scotland. 
Through a 3-day workshop and visits to grazing land, this project created space for crofters, policy experts, fire researchers, and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service participants to connect and share knowledge. It also enabled the project team to co-develop a narrative and collect footage and photographs to produce a short documentary film and photoessay to highlight to policymakers and the public, the challenges crofters face in maintaining communal land management. 

Speaker and partners: Cathy Smith, Will Hayes, Jay Mistry (Royal Holloway University of London), Adriana Ford (Imperial College London), The Scottish Crofting Federation (Donna Smith) & Documentary photographer Graeme Chesters

Sign up now to secure your place!