How do you persuade businesses to invest in nature? I went to Helsinki to find out.
On the 23rd and 24th of October the European Commission held its annual European Business and Nature Summit at the grand Finlandia Concert Hall in Helsinki, Finland. It brought together European politicians and policymakers with representatives of businesses from around Europe (including the UK) to discuss the transition to a sustainable economy in the EU, and how and why businesses should invest in nature and environmental protection.
I was there as Assistant Editor and Network Developer for the recently rebooted Science for Environment Policy (SfEP) news service, an environmental news outlet produced here at the Science Communication Unit on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment. I was lucky to be sent over to Helsinki to promote the service, make connections and get a taste of how the European Commission functions.
I started with the SfEP project back in April this year, though I wasn’t entirely new to the SCU, having completed the MSc Science Communication back in 2024. I guess I couldn’t stay away! I joined the Unit from a role at Bath Uni which was similar in that I was a journalist in an academic world, not always the easiest fit, but rewarding work. My previous project was investigating corporate influence in science, policy and public health, with a focus on Big Tobacco. For this reason, I approached a summit bringing together business and financial interests with policymakers with some caution, perhaps even cynicism. Would it be a greenwashing opportunity for business interests or a more authentic engagement in protecting nature?
I left pleasantly surprised on several counts. The businesses invited by the European Commission had for the most part been selected for their engagement with nature protection and restoration. So the big polluters were not in attendance, whilst various agricultural and financial interests were. There also seemed to be a sincere belief in the idea that “what’s bad for nature is bad for business”, as Director-General for Environment, Eric Mamer, put it in his opening remarks. It was interesting to see how familiar scientific and environmental advocacy talking points on nature restoration were skilfully presented to the audience of business people, framed in a way that was persuasive to their interests rather than threatening.
It was also a great opportunity to hand out brochures and talk to various researchers, non-profit groups, advocacy groups and policymakers about the work we do at UWE and SfEP. One great connection I made was with the Baltic Sea Action Group, a non-profit taking a broad approach to protecting the Baltic Sea and its biodiversity by working with “researchers, companies, decision-makers, authorities, and farmers.” They also led several sessions at the summit that touched on effective stakeholder collaboration on complex and controversial environmental protection projects.
The final pleasant surprise (though perhaps not really a surprise, but certainly pleasant) was Helsinki itself. The city is beautiful, very clean and has a pervasive sense of calm. Apparently, it recently went a full year without a single traffic death, which speaks to its orderly sensibility. Returning to Bristol coach station into the midst of full Saturday night revelry reinforced Helsinki’s serene atmosphere. Some put this down to the saunas, which I sampled, both at the hotel (they all have saunas) and at a public sauna which included a freezing dip in the Baltic sea, followed by baking in a large concrete room heated by a massive brick furnace. On the surface not the most relaxing sounding experience, but I left feeling pretty like I’d been rebooted.
It was a successful trip on several counts, not least because working virtually with a gigantic organisation like the European Commission has the potential to feel rather remote, so being able to meet people and feel like I had a role to play in a much, much larger project and its commendable environmental goals was a great opportunity.
By Louis Laurence, Assistant Editor and Network Developer, Science for Environment Policy
In May 2025 ten members of the Science Communication Unit (SCU) headed to Aberdeen, Scotland for the bi-annual Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST). PCST is an organisation that promotes discussion on the theory and practice of communicating science, and of public discourses about science and technology and their role in society. Every two years it hosts a conference gathering well over 600 science communication researchers, practitioners, and students from around the globe. Members of the team provided input to over 15 different conference sessions, poster presentations and pre-conference workshops. In this blog post I’ve aimed to capture a small flavour of the work that we presented, as well as share some of our reflections on the conference.
Dr Sarah Behenna stands with her first conference poster
Let’s start with Dr Sarah Behenna. Sarah shared work from the Science Hunters project, conducted with Dr Laura Hobbs, which was supported by a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Award to encourage children from under-represented backgrounds to discover the many facets of engineering involved in sustainable development, and provide them with opportunities to apply their newfound knowledge by creating their own model sustainable solutions and communities in Minecraft. For Sarah, PCST was an opportunity not only to present her first conference poster, but to learn more about the history of science communication as a field and to understand how challenges can be shared across countries, and how we can learn both from the past and each other. You can read more about Sarah and Laura’s work in this recent blog.
The Inspire Sustainability team showcased research from their public engagement work at PCST 2025. Two posters were presented from the team, featuring work from Dr Louisa Cockbill, Sophie Laggan and Dr Laura Fogg Rogers about their Inspire Green Futures project, and also on the MAKERS project by Dr Laura Fogg Rogers, Kat Corbett, and Dr Joe Butchers. PCST showcased similar themes to these projects, including around citizen engagement for sustainability, with keynotes discussing how science communicators can empower action in partnerships with universities. This was timely with the publication of a new article from Laura’s team, which explores science communication’s role as a knowledge broker between scientists, policymakers, and citizens to co-develop public decisions for sustainability. Evaluation is a strong component of this work and Karen Collins, who has recently started a PhD in the SCU was also in attendance at the conference. With a focus on exploring science communication evaluation in her work, Karen was able to join a number of relevant sessions and further develop her networks.
A conference keynote photo from Guidiana Landivar Paz
Dr David Judge’s presentation asked how a science centre became the heart of one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe. David has traced the development of one Millennium Project, Bristol 2000, which regenerated an area of long-derelict docklands in the heart of Bristol, UK, and included the science centre later known as At-Bristol (now We The Curious). David shared how this aimed to create a new city centre which brought together science, nature and the arts. As well as considering historical developments, my inputs to PCST aimed to provoke some ethical reflection in a workshop exploring tensions and transitions in ethics surrounding science communication and public engagement.. This drew on work undertaken and recently published as part of the INSIGHT project, kindly funded by the Leverhulme Trust. I also contributed to a session exploring citizen science, sharing thoughts from a recent project focused on citizen science in the context of death and dying, which was featured in an open access collection published by the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Dr Andy Ridgway featured throughout the conference programme. Andy contributed to a pre-conference workshop organised by the PCST Teaching Forum. The Teaching Forum is an international network of science communication lecturers who teach students at undergraduate, graduate and PhD level and the workshop considered use of AI in teaching contexts. During the conference Andy also facilitated a session drawing together work occurring on the European Competence Centre for Science Communication/COALESCE project for which the SCU is the UK Hub. This session posed the question ‘will we ever overcome the misinformation crisis in science communication?’ and explored national differences in problems generated by misinformation, as well as differences in approaches to tackling it. Andy said “for me the big take-away from PCST is the sense of connection it gives with the community and the positivity there is in any interactions. We’re lucky that in the SCU there are many of us who teach and research science communication. But many of those working in the field are working on their own in a similar role in their own institution. But even with the connections we have within the SCU, PCST really does help us feel part of a bigger community – and it’s always refreshing to not have to try to explain what you do when you start a conversation!”. The European Competence Centre for Science Communication featured in many events across the programme, and Dr Achintya Rao also joined the event, supporting communications and other activities associated to this project over the conference period.
Both Andy and Professor Emma Weitkamp also shared findings from research conducted in India and the UK, funded by the British Council, investigating science journalists’ working practices. These presentations examined data gathered from approximately 120 science journalists, including professionals from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and Non BRIC countries exploring how science journalism is changing and evolving with emerging technologies like AI, and considering training and ethical recommendations for the future. For Emma, PCST offered an opportunity to catch up with old friends, as well as meeting new colleagues and she shared that “the opportunity to discuss research with people from around the globe, helps shape ideas, new research and funding applications that will emerge from the connections made and strengthened”.
On the theme of science journalism, Ria Griffith had a poster included in the conference on her PhD research, which is investigating the perceived disconnect between academic research and practice in science journalism, contributing to discourses of professionalisation of the field. Henry Bennie also participated in his first PCST conference, allowing him to connect with researchers and projects that relate to his ESRC funded PhD research examining media representations of Quantum Computing. Henry said, “the session that keeps rumbling around my head is the parallel session, ‘Tensions in communicating discovery science – changes over time’. So much of science communication is focused on relevance to audiences and society so naturally applied science is heavily communicated, and it is the focus of much (if not all) of science communication research. This discussion has helped broaden my thinking about how we can talk about emerging technologies that often have unclear applications and delivery timeframes, and how research can help identify new modes to communicate discovery science”.
Dr Amanda Webber presented research undertaken at UWE Bristol with our MSc students. Amanda’s talk, ‘”Lecturers chose such weird papers”: supporting scicomm students’ learning transitions’, shared findings from a recent article we co-authored that demonstrated students develop critical awareness of science communication models and the need to recognise and engage with multiple publics through our teaching. Amanda also shared how our MSc empowers students by supporting the development of their own identity as a science communicator. For Amanda the highlight of PCST was also “the people” and having a chance to meet and engage with others working in and/or researching science communication. Amanda said, “PCST also reminded me what a privilege it is to be part of the UWE Science Communication Unit – the unit is very well known internationally and part of so many networks and projects, it is great to be part of that.”
Ana Vasconcelos, Dr Amanda Webber, Guidiana Landivar Paz, Beatriz Vieite, Dr David Judge and Henry Bennie at PCST 2025
On that note, we were delighted to be joined at PCST this year by three PhD students who have stayed at the SCU for sabbaticals in 2024/25. Beatriz Vieite (Universidade de Aveiro) presented her study on mapping Portuguese biological collections, where she is aiming to characterise collections in terms of science communication, the strategies that are currently being used by their staff (curators and coordinators) and the difficulties they face in these contexts. Ana Vasconcelos (Universidade D Coimbra) shared her PhD project, which is seeking to explore how to design information to promote effective communication, health literacy, and patient understanding of Autoimmune Encephalitis (AE), a relatively rare but treatable group of immune brain disorders.
Ana shared that what stood out to her during this PCST was how the field of science communication is becoming increasingly aware, not only of the importance of co-creation and participation, but also of the value of being more open to other knowledge systems. “There was a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for mutual learning between academic knowledge and lived, embodied knowledge, highlighting that this is what true participation should be. I think this message came through particularly strongly in the keynote sessions, and I found it particularly valuable for my PhD research”, said Ana. Guidiana Landívar Paz (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) used PCST as an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues she’d previously met in Rotterdam at PCST 2023, and sessions on policy and science communication, science journalism in the Global South, generative AI, as well as the closing keynote, proved particularly valuable to Guidiana’s research on science communication before and after the COVID-19 Crisis in Spain and Bolivia.
The University of Aberdeen captured by Dr Achintya Rao
I was delighted to not only see so many members of the team representing their work at PCST (also acknowledging our colleagues contributions that were not able to make it to the event), but to reunite with many of the graduates we have taught and former members of the SCU, who are now advancing their careers in a wide variety of different locations and organisations. Amongst the hard work, the team also fitted in some wildlife spotting, local history, ceilidh dancing and an infamous karaoke night! Thank you to the PCST conference organising team for hosting us in Aberdeen, next stop Shanghai in 2027.
In 2020, the long-running Science Hunters programme launched Building to Break Barriers, an engagement project to support children from under-represented groups to explore engineering through Minecraft.
Science Hunters has a well-established history of communicating environmental sciences through the popular computer game, and this was its first large project focusing specifically on engineering aspects, supported by a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Award. Despite facing significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected environmental engagement projects across the UK, the project rapidly adapted, moved the majority of delivery to online activities and met or exceeded all targets by January 2022.
In September 2020, Science Hunters partnered with the DETI Inspire Programme to design a new session – the West in Minecraft – through the Building to Break Barriers project. Minecraft Clubs for children with Special Educational Needs in collaboration with Lancaster University, and another for Looked After Children were supported to continue during the pandemic. Schools were engaged virtually and children were able to participate in a Summer Challenge. Additional funding via a Biochemical Society Diversity in Science grant saw the project further extended into 2022, to deliver an event for children Special Educational Needs in collaboration with Loughborough University.
Legacy resources resulting from the project include two practitioner guides, on engaging children with STEM using Minecraft and available editions of Minecraft, and 15 topic-based resources, one of which was developed in collaboration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Engineers participating in the project contributed to selection of topics and design of content, as well as delivery of sessions and analysis at the end of the project indicated that topics naturally aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Results were presented at the International Conference for Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society, winning a Chair’s Award.
Example of a solar crop dryer designed in Minecraft. The Building to Break Barriers Solar Crop Dryer session was developed with UWE engineer Ceri Morris (image: Daisy Bristow, UWE graduate engineer).
Expanding on these outcomes, Science Hunters: Engineering for Sustainable Societies launched in 2023 with further support from the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Ingenious Award scheme. In this project, the focus was explicitly on exploring the Sustainable Development Goals, again supporting children from under-represented groups and using Minecraft. Sessions were delivered in schools and communities, including setting up several new Minecraft Clubs in disadvantaged areas of Bristol, and at science festivals. Views of teachers on incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals into engineering and environmental engagement activities using Minecraft were gathered and analysed to support the project’s delivery (results can be found in Education Sciences) and we are currently exploring the perspectives of community group leaders.
The project produced a further 12 topic resources, and a supporting resource pack and resource guide produced as outcomes of the project. The topic resources can be used as standalone activities, or together as outlined in the resource pack and guide, to support children to design and develop their own sustainable future communities.
So far, these Science Hunters engineering projects have produced more than 30 resources, freely available on their SCU webpages. Feedback from both projects has been overwhelmingly positive. Engineers have gained training and experience, while children reported that they enjoyed the sessions, learnt about engineering and engineers and wanted to learn more about engineering. Minecraft Clubs reached multiple groups of children, with feedback reflecting how valuable this was to them and their parents/carers. Teachers responded enthusiastically to the projects, citing the efficacy of Minecraft in engaging children, the benefits of seeing women in STEM roles and accessibility for children with Special Educational Needs. In Engineering for Sustainable Societies in particular, they highlighted the need to engage them with the Sustainable Development Goals and positive impacts, both now and in their futures, on their understanding of engineers and engineering and the role they play in society.
As a child, I was fascinated by the world around me and knew from a young age that I was interested in science. Studying Biology for my BSc at the University of Sheffield introduced me to the complexity and beautiful diversity of the world’s ecosystems. I loved absorbing this fascinating information but had no desire to pursue my own research at the time. Rather, I wanted to share this knowledge with others, and decided to undertake an MSc in Science Communication. Home to the internationally recognised Science Communication Unit, UWE Bristol seemed the obvious place to do this.
Studying Science Communication at UWE opened my eyes to the world of science engagement, all the way from its history and theoretical background to its multifaceted practical applications worldwide. I particularly enjoyed my ‘Getting Science on Air and on Screen’ module where I recorded a radio show at BBC Bristol and filmed and produced a short science documentary at Films at 59, the post-production studios for the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
When it came to choosing my dissertation project, I was initially at a loss, however I remembered a book I had recently read, Bee Quest by Dave Goulson, and a chapter which particularly stood out to me, on bees in brownfields. I had become fascinated by the unique habitats of brownfields and their high levels of biodiversity, which are often overlooked in conservation. With the guidance of my supervisor, Dr Margarida Sardo, I wrote my dissertation on public engagement with brownfields sites. I loved working on this project, from interviewing the different stakeholders to writing up the findings. Margarida was a very supportive supervisor and encouraged me to publish this paper in an academic journal. After a couple of years of edits and one unsuccessful submission, this paper was eventually published in the Journal of Science Communication, JCOM, and was recently quoted in the Sunday Times. Publishing this paper planted the first seed of wanting to take my brownfield research further.
After my MSc, I spent a few years in London working in Communication Officer positions for medical and environmental charities. At this point I was hoping this would be a good entry point into the conservation sector and, whilst I enjoyed working with my colleagues, I felt a growing urge to be out in the field doing the conservation work the charities were funding, rather than being stuck at a desk.
Surveying swarming bats with Northumberland Bat Group
In 2021 I happened to see a posting for a PhD at UWE on citizen science, urban ecology and engaging underrepresented audiences with science. This seemed like the perfect combination of topics for me and, after discussing with my family and Margarida, I decided to apply. Although I wasn’t successful, this led me on the path to pursuing other PhDs. I was broadly searching for PhDs on the topic ‘biodiversity’, but was particularly interested in those that had a human-angle, whether this was through citizen science or urban environments. It took me a couple of years, two panel interviews, a number of selection interviews, and numerous applications before I got offered the PhD I am currently doing.
Presenting my poster at the Royal Entomological Society Annual Meeting 2024
Since September 2023 I have been undertaking a PhD on post-industrial land regeneration and Biodiversity Net Gain at Newcastle University. I was drawn to this project through its focus on human-impacted sites, particularly former mining sites, the implications for policy, and the potential to engage with different stakeholders. At the time of writing, I am now about 14 months into my 3.5 year studentship and loving every minute. I have a great team of supervisors, including a collaborative partner with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who help guide my research with their range of expertise. I have been encouraged to shape my PhD in the direction I want and, as I am particularly interested in ecology, I spent last summer carrying out fieldwork on nature reserves around Northumberland and Gateshead. It was wonderful to finally be out in the field, conducting my pollinator surveys, pitfall traps, soil sampling and vegetation quadrats, even if it was an awful summer for bees!
I have been able to make use of fascinating residential training courses, including on entomological research and remote sensing methods. I have also been to various conferences, presenting posters of my research and making useful contacts from across the world. Each day is unique, some days I will be creating digital habitat maps on GIS, some days I will be pinning and identifying my insect samples, and others I will be in ecology research group meetings or discussing ideas for papers with collaborators. I am still figuring out my specific research questions, but I am given a lot of room for learning and flexibility to adapt my research as I go along.
Even though I am now working in ecological research, I would not be here without my MSc Science Communication. Not only did having a published paper hugely benefit me in the application stages, my supervisors have also told me that they selected me in part for my skills and experience in communication, a vital part of any scientific research. My MSc supervisor, Margarida, has also played a crucial role in my journey to PhD. Her enthusiasm of my dissertation and encouragement to pursue publication, as well as her support with applications and interest in my academic career has enabled me to be doing what I so love now.
I would certainly encourage anyone who is even slightly considering it to look into PhDs and I offer some nuggets of advice below:
Having supportive supervisors and academic contacts is hugely important, for both checking work and applications as well as the moral support and suggesting opportunities.
Having a variety of skills is an asset, not a detriment. Don’t worry if you’re not specialised in one field or on a particular topic. Doing a PhD is about learning, not going into with the knowledge already!
Be prepared for rejections. It may take a few rounds of applying but the project you end up with will be the perfect one.
There are many routes into a PhD. It’s ok if you’ve taken a linear academic journey and it’s ok if you’ve had a few years of working, volunteering or even doing something completely different! What matters is your passion for the project.
By Rosie McCallum, former MSc Science Communication student at UWE Bristol.
The Science Communication Unit (SCU) Inspire Sustainability team welcomed over 900 people from across the city into UWE Engineering on Saturday 6th July 2024 to explore a range of different science and engineering activities. It was a wonderful day and the team received loads of great feedback. Watch the video to get an insight into the day.
Activities included:
Planetarium show called ‘We Make our Future‘ about how we can use human ingenuity and engineering skills to make a brighter future for our planet (the Inspire Sustainability team commissioned this show which Explorer Dome created and took to COP26 as well as into loads of local schools)
Flight and Driving Simulators – two very popular activities provided by UWE’s Digital Gallery
Robot building experience – was constantly surrounded by kids and adults alike building and coding Lego robots
Immersion in Bristol Minecraft worlds – everyone headed up the stairs to design changes to their city in the digital worlds
Physics in the Freezer – David Williams provided an awesome show with liquid nitrogen and magnets
Wind Turbine activity – some examples of wind turbine blade designs can be seen below – who could generate the most electricity?
Anibotics – families flocked to the animations and free giveaways David Smee and his team had on offer
Eco-House – Deborah Adkins had her wonderfully interactive Eco-houses on display
The Tinker Table – children loved getting hands on using tools to tear apart all the broken down electrical items donated as part of the UWE’s MAKERS repair cafe
Each year the Science Communication Unit (SCU) Inspire Sustainability team in UWE Engineering, supports the regional delivery of the Leaders Award competition – challenging children to think like an engineer and design a solution to a problem.
This year, at the regional celebration event for the competition on 5th June, UWE Engineers revealed early plans to turn a young person’s winning design into reality.
The Leaders Award is a nationwide engineering competition (run by Primary Engineer) for young people to design inventions to solve a problem. UWE Engineering is one of the Leaders Awards partners in the South West of England and hosted this year’s exhibition of distinction shortlisted, highly commended & winning designs.
During the Awards ceremony, Hollie Lewis, Lecturer in Sustainable Project Management, presented plans for a UWE team to build last year’s winner Elliot James’ design, the “Smart shower”. Hollie is heading up the “Proto team” which includes Electronics Mechatronics Technical Team Leader, Steve Regester and Engineering Students: Erika Aiwekhoe, Ruth Cockroft and Naing Tun.
120 people attended the celebration event to congratulate the winners and take part in the activities UWE Engineering’s Inspire Sustainability team had to offer. The exhibition remained up the following day for the Family Fun day, where over 900 people visited and took part in a whole range of hands-on activities.
Hollie Lewis, Proto-team lead, alongside Elliot James, inventorHollie presents at the awards ceremonyElliot James and his proud familyAward winners & their families viewed the competition exhibitionElliot James Leaders Award design won the Year 12 category in 2023
“Smart Shower”
Last year, Elliot James, pupil at St Katherine’s sixth form, won the prize for best Year 12 design – you can see his original “SMARTH” – SMART Bath – design below. The UWE proto-team have adapted this design and are starting to build the Smart shower.
More prototypes!
Engineers from GKN, headed up by Ian Gent, Research Engineer in Composites, also revealed a prototype machine that purifies water.
Dean of Engineering, Ramin Amali expressed at the Awards Ceremony how wonderful it is to have so many local young people participating in this Engineering competition and having their designs turned into a reality!
Like most people I spend a lot of time in my home; on average we spend 80% of our time in our homes, much more than they spend in any other environment. This makes our homes very important for our health but, despite this importance, relatively little is known about air pollution in the home. This is partly due to the huge range of different homes (I mean, what is a “typical home”?) and partly because it is rather obtrusive for researchers to collect data in homes where people are living! Citizen science offers a powerful solution to this problem; by empowering people to take measurements within their own homes, citizen science research projects can not only offer participants a new insight into their home environment, but also allow the collection of data across a wide range of home environments.
Homes under the Microscope is one such citizen science project in which participants measured the concentration of airborne microfibre pollution in their homes. Airborne microfibres are produced when we use the textiles in our homes, they are just tiny fragments of material that have broken off from e.g. carpets, curtains or clothes and passed in the air around us. Now that many of the textiles in our homes contain plastic, many of the microfibres in our homes are also microplastics, but very little is known either about the amount of microfibres or what they are made of.
The pilot phase of the project recently ran in Bristol; participants were each given 8 sample collection dishes that they placed in 4 rooms in their houses (2 dishes per room) for two weeks. These dishes are just petri dishes with a sticky section at the bottom of the dish, any microfibres that land on the sticky section stay attached, so after two weeks we can count the number of fibres deposited.
One of the biggest findings in the study is that the concentration of microfibres varies a lot between rooms – bedrooms had the highest number of microfibres, closely followed by bathrooms. Whereas kitchens and hallways had much lower numbers. Samples collected were analysed in a laboratory to understand what the fibres were made of, from the samples tested so far 41% were found to be microplastic (most commonly polyester) and 55% were natural (most commonly cellulose). One of the purposes of the pilot was to shape the design of the main project, feedback from the pilot showed that the very simple microfibre collection method worked (which was a relief!) and that two weeks was plenty of time to collect a range of microfibre concentrations. Finally the participants took the time to give extensive feedback on the instructions and methodology, which allowed us to refine them and to make them clearer so more people can participate in the next phase.
“We all really enjoyed it, and it has taught us more about our home!”
During the global pandemic, children’s lives were changed by both the presence of the virus and measures put in place to control it e.g., closure of schools and play spaces, move to online learning, and social distancing. The Voices in a Pandemic project (VIP-CLEAR) highlighted the importance of capturing children’s voices, which are often missed, about the impacts of these mitigations on their lives.
The interdisciplinary research team from UWE Bristol (which included 3 members of the Science Communication Unit) used arts-based methods to capture the experiences of children in six schools in socially disadvantaged areas of Bristol. The first of these activities asked them to ‘map their world’ as the country emerged from the third national lockdown. This process gave children the time and space to reflect on this period of their lives. Their drawings showed how diverse their experiences were; some children enjoyed spending time with their family, but others found it difficult being separated from key support networks, and friends and family members. It was particularly hard for those who were dealing with existing challenges around space, food, money and resources. It is likely that children will experience further social shocks (e.g., pandemics, climate change) and the mapping policy brief outlines ways in which schools, community services, local government and public health teams can support children to cope with these intangible threats. A primary book and teacher’s notes have also been co-created by the project artist in collaboration with the academic researcher team. ‘Learning to Live with Fog Monsters’ is available digitally and in hardcopy, and aims to engage children with these complex topics.
The Future Brief COVID-19 and the environment: links, impacts and lessons learned, meanwhile, brings together research that highlights how the risk of zoonotic disease and pandemics is increased through human activities such as industrialised agriculture and land-use change. The policy brief, produced by Science for Environment Policy (based in the Science Communication Unit) for the EU Directorate-General of the Environment, also highlights how climate change and the wildlife trade are increasing the risk of emerging infectious diseases that may jump from animals to humans.
The brief emphasises the importance of the One Health Approach, which recognises that environment, wildlife and human health are interdependent. Since the risk of zoonotic disease increases where humans encroach on wildlife habitat, global hotspots of high risk have been identified by researchers working in this field. Minimising the risk is another task; this will rely on actions that improve the sustainability of farming, land use and our interactions with wildlife.
The brief also offers an overview of findings on the environmental impacts of the pandemic – from changing air quality as the world locked down, to increased volumes of single-use plastic and PPE littering beaches. Mass action can change behaviour to be kinder to the environment – can we harness the shock wave of COVID to inspire a green recovery? The brief was produced before the war in Ukraine, which has of course had huge effects on the energy landscape in the EU, but the message stands that addressing climate change and environmental degradation should not be overshadowed by economics but be integral to a sustainable future.
Although national and world events in 2022 have turned our attention away from the pandemic and its effects, the VIP-CLEAR project and the Future Brief show that it is crucial we reflect on the events of the last three years, to learn lessons, to understand and support those affected, and look to a resilient future.
Homes Under the Microscope (HOMEs) is a multidisciplinary project that brings scientists, participants and the textile industry together to develop a new way to measure microplastics in the home. It is a collaboration between the University of West England, the University of Leeds and the University of Edinburgh. The researchers involved have a wide range of backgrounds including environmental research, laboratory analysis of microplastics and social science researchers who work to evaluate research projects. Led by Dr Ben Williams (Air Quality Management Resource Centre, UWE Bristol), HOMEs has the involvement of two Science Communication Unit members, Dr Margarida Sardo and Sophie Laggan.
About two thirds of the clothes we wear contain plastic, most commonly polyester, nylon or acrylic. These materials are cheap and extremely versatile. Plastics can help make fabrics stretchy and more breathable as well as making them long-lasting and durable. Other textiles also contain plastics – sofas, curtains and carpets often have plastics added to make them more hard wearing. When we use the textiles in our home, friction causes tiny fibres to break off and be released into the air. These small fragments are called microplastics. There have been very few studies about the amount of microplastics in the home, but what research has been done shows that every home sampled so far contains some airborne microplastics.
In this study researchers want to count how many airborne microplastic particles there are in a wide range of different houses. They also want to examine what they are made of, which will help us understand where they come from.
Citizen scientists will place passive samplers in their homes, using low-cost microscopes to see and take pictures of their samples. They will then use machine vision approaches to characterise their own samples by size/shape/colour etc., at home.
The research team will also undertake confirmatory analyses so citizens can see what types of plastic (if any) are present in their samples, allowing the team to build an understanding of airborne microplastic generation at home.
A Youth Climate Café that took place in St Marks Church in Easton in April 2022 invited young people across Bristol to come and share in climate discussions and activities. It was organised by UWE Bristol researchers, community members and charitable groups in Easton.
Audience engagement activities on the day included an immersive climate dome, seed pot making, presentations, conversations, an air pollution workshop and walk, and a fast fashion dance. The creative input was supported by Baggator Nexus, St Mark’s Baptist Church, Peace of Art, Easton Community Members, CCC-Catapult Youth Action partner group, Quartet Community Foundation, the UWE Community fund as well as the UWE Bristol Enterprise, Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement fund.
Apart from providing a much-needed opportunity for young people to hear, see and talk about climate change and what to do about it, three key insights emerged from the event that seem to indicate when community climate engagement works at its best – when it sees the local connection, listens to people disproportionally affected by climate change and builds a resilient community ready for action.
St Marks Road, Easton, Bristol. photograph by Josh Hart
See the local connection
The first plus of the climate café event was that it brought the focus back to local issues – the impact that can be directly felt. Air quality is an important issue for the Easton community. A talk and guided walk pointed out the problems in this area and how a community has come together to learn and influence change. Through a citizen science project, Easton residents are getting involved in air quality sensing, gathering data and interpreting what it means. They are making connections between the presence of particulate matter in the air with health issues experienced by friends and family.
To help bridge the digital gap between residents in Easton – one of the most deprived areas in Bristol- and air quality scientists, STEM ambassadors and UWE Bristol have been collaborating with BMCS and Baggator to use data on Air Pollution and Traffic data from Saaf Hava (‘clean air’). Stuart Phelps (Baggator) presented how this all connected at the Climate Café:
Saaf Hava is a Citizen Sensing project. Twenty sites across Easton will measure Air Pollution, Temperature, Humidity; with room for expansion. These twenty sites will make up over 1.6 square kilometres and may perhaps be the most comprehensive Citizen Sensing network in the UK. Telraam traffic counters have been added to this via UWE Bristol’s WE COUNT programme and introduced via STEM Ambassadors at Baggator.
Telraam site showing St Marks Road traffic data
According to Maryan Abdirahman, Baggator’s Data Analyst & User Researcher, gathering air quality data in Easton’s streets and communicating results to the people who live there is proving to be useful climate action. It has already led to greater awareness, change of habits and a better-informed lobbying of political decision-makers in Bristol.
Maryan Abdirahman
Communicate with everyone
A second insight that makes Easton community climate actions impactful is involving people not currently featuring prominently in public climate debates. Saaf Hava, the Citizen Sensing project mentioned before, is a joint initiative between RADE and the Council of Bristol Mosques and as such gives a voice to unheard BAME and working-class people in environmental debates.
Page 3 of the Muslim’s Guide the Climate Change, by Easton Jamia Masjid
The Easton climate café (hosted in St Marks Baptist church!) invited different audiences to contribute their views to an event and take note of each other, young Muslim women, families, older citizens, small business owners. Workshops held in preparation to the event connected young people living in Easton with university students and university researchers were facilitated by ‘Peace of Art’, a group of Muslim women creating Street Art.
Andalusia Academy creative work
Get ready to take climate action
Climate change is rooted in actions taken by the more affluent inhabitants of this planet, and the most disadvantaged groups are often far more affected by its negative impacts. Paradoxically, climate engagement tends to increase with education and income. To arrive at a more balanced debate and move things forward, a greater representation of disadvantaged and lower-income voices in climate debates seems crucial. We need to understand how race, ethnicity, class and gender issues can interact to influence/prevent climate change engagement. Perhaps the engagement formats we tend to use prevent access for many, and so we hear far less from people far earlier or far more affected by climate change.
Media coverage often ignores what takes place quietly in our communities. Under-represented groups may already have explored and implemented working solutions, quietly. ‘Green’ practices, passed on from generation to generation, may have originated in necessity, not idealism: living through hard times, periods of shortages, mending and making do, using as little resources as possible. Perhaps we can still learn a lot from each other.
Regarding climate change, most of us understand the urgency to act. The pressures of rising living costs in the UK are getting more real every day. But how we go about taking action seems as important as the fact that we do take action. This means to address social and political exclusion. Climate activism needs to be inclusive and from this perspective, Easton is a perfect place to start.
Dr Mic Palmer is Senior Lecturer in Digital Media at UWE Bristol
