CCRG (with IHDP) Postgraduate Workshop

University of Leeds, 29th-30th March 2007

View Guest Speaker Presentations:

    Dr Joern Birkmann
    Prof Michael Redclift
    Prof John Thornes
    Prof Nigel Arnell
    Dr Rizwan Nawaz
    Dr Alan Grainger

Download FINAL PROGRAMME

WORKSHOP REPORT

The two-day ESRC-funded IHDP/CCRG Postgraduate Workshop proved to be a highly successful event receiving excellent feedback from participants. The Leeds event was originally proposed by Dr Mark Pelling (Chair of the RGS Climate Change Research Group Committee) and subsequently organised by Dr Rizwan Nawaz, Ms Sara Alexander and Mrs Suada Khan of the Leeds University School of Geography.  Dr Pelling also provided invaluable support by arranging high quality guest speakers to present their work.

The event attracted over 70 students from across the UK with wide ranging research backgrounds, who gathered to interact with one another and to also hear the views of eminent guest speakers on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change.  Both days comprised a combination of plenary and break-out sessions in addition to poster displays. The event retained a strong international dimension with many of the UK-based students involved in international work.  Updates on the CCRG website ensured participants were kept well informed of workshop details prior to the event.

The opening keynote on the first day was delivered by Dr Jörn Birkmann of the United Nations University who spoke about climate change and its implications for disaster prevention.  Dr Birkmann focused primarily on coping and adaptation mechanisms within coupled human-environmental systems with special reference to the Asian tsunami.  This was then followed by break-out sessions where students delivered 15 minute presentations in smaller, less intimidating surroundings than the large lecture theatre reserved for plenary sessions.  Other Guest speakers on the first day included Prof Michael Redclift from Kings College London and Prof John Thornes from the University of Birmingham.  The organisers were particularly grateful to Prof Redclift for willing to stand in for Prof Liverman (Oxford) who had to withdraw at the last minute.  Prof Redclift spoke about the political economy of global environmental change and suggested that from a political economy position the underlying, if not proximate, causes of environmental degradation and conflict are economic and political.  Prof Thornes offered an interesting insight to the way the atmosphere is increasingly being seen as a commodity.  A total of 24 students delivered presentations on day one in between the plenary sessions on wide ranging topics.   Lunch and tea breaks were arranged near poster displays to allow participants to browse them at their own leisure.

On the second day, Prof Nigel Arnell from Southampton University spoke about characterising dangerous climate change and highlighted some key climate challenges.  The final guest speakers on day two, both from the host institute included Dr Rizwan Nawaz and Dr Alan Grainger.  Dr Nawaz spoke about his experiences of communicating climate change impacts information to policymakers whilst Dr Alan Grainger talked about comparing the roles of science and politics in the conventions on desertification and climate change.  Strict timekeeping by Session Chairs enabled up to 36 students to present their work on day two. 

 The generous funding of £7,340 provided by the ESRC, is gratefully acknowledged, ensured that all participants attending the event were fully funded.  The smaller fund provided by the Royal Geographical Society is also acknowledged.  The ESRC funding went a long way in making the event such as success.