PhD student presents Just Transitions research for the first time at internationally recognised sustainability conference
A PhD student has had the opportunity to share her research on an international stage at her first ever conference, both as an attendee and as a presenter.
PhD researcher Sage Kuhens is leading a study on climate justice and co-designing a Just Transition to Net Zero emissions strategy, in collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council.
Now moving into the final year of the PhD, Sage was given the opportunity to share her research as part of the ‘Tensions and Trade - Offs in Structural Changes for Sustainability Transitions’ conference in Lisbon, from June 24 to June 26.
The conference, which was organised by DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte, Centre for the Study of Socioeconomic Change and the Territory, invited researchers to discuss the complexities of sustainability transitions.
Having not attended or presented at a conference before, Sage realised that it would be an opportunity that she could not miss to share her work on an international stage.
Starting her PhD at GCU
“I was a Masters student before joining the PhD and I was part of the MSc Climate Justice programme. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay for the PhD!
I found a wonderful supervisor who’s been really supportive of me and it’s been really nice to grow into this role with someone who has seen me decide that I wanted to pursue research long-term. It’s been a really rewarding experience and I’ve now entered my last year and I’m really excited to see the results of the research that I’ve been doing for the last couple of years.”
Just Transitions work with South Lanarkshire Council
“My research covers Just Transitions in Scotland, specifically in South Lanarkshire. I’m working with South Lanarkshire Council to help them develop climate policies to help them reach Net Zero in a way that’s equitable for all of their constituents.
That entails me going around and speaking to people, especially those that are marginalised or vulnerable and asking what they want out of that transition to Net Zero. I also asked them about the ways that they can be better supported by the council and that’s what lead me to the conference that I attended.”
Attending the ‘Tensions and Trade - Offs in Structural Changes for Sustainability Transitions’ Conference
“All of the research that I presented at the conference came from this research. The title of the conference is ‘Tensions and Trade - Offs in Structural Changes for Sustainability Transitions’ which is also the 16th international sustainability transitions conference.
Sometimes I just stumble upon things when I'm doing research and I stumbled upon this conference by accident; the day of the abstracts being due actually! I should say that I was better prepared for it but to be totally honest, I had it come across my desk and turned around and asked my supervisor “Hey, don't you think this sounds really relevant to what I'm doing?”.
This conference in particular doesn't necessarily focus on Just Transitions, but some of the pathways that they had for this edition of the conference was specifically around justice. So, I decided to whip up an abstract about what I've been working on so far and reflecting on the findings that I've had in my focus groups and interviews up until this point and they were kind enough to let me join them.
This was the first time I had presented my research to anyone outside of the University or the council. It was also my first conference ever, so it was really exciting to be able to talk about what I've been doing with people who really know their stuff. We’re open to learning about the Scottish aspect of the Just Transition; what that experience is like here and how it may differ or be similar to what's happening in other countries who are pursuing similar goals.”
The importance of peer support in the field of research
“I got to present alongside Flor Avelino and she was the chair of my session. She's an incredible researcher and I look up to her a lot. She was very supportive of me coming in as an early career researcher; first conference, first presentation and I could not have felt more supported in that session. The other people who presented in the session, Eline Boersma and Marina Novikova, were excellent as well.
They were all fantastic and to be in the Justice section with them, I think was incredibly inspiring to see what kind of work people are doing at all stages of their careers and the exciting ways that we overlap.”
Being selected to attend the Paper Development Workshop
“It is somewhat built into the conference, but it's kind of a bonus day that they do. I believe, every time they have the conference, it's a small event with the just early career researchers. They are assigned to people who have more experience in their field and some specialised knowledge in the area that you're writing in. They're able to give you feedback that is highly relevant, highly personal to you and. In my experience, it was very constructive and helpful to have a senior researcher look through what I've done and see the ways that I can improve.
I've really taken that advice and applied it to my research, so I found that incredibly helpful and we were also assigned a peer to review our paper as well. It wasn't just the senior researcher, you sit in a group with two to four other people who whose paper you review as well. It’s a very collaborative experience and in no way did it feel like an attack or anything like that. It feels like there was a really constructive energy in that room and I'm very grateful to have been included in that event.”
Reflecting on the experience
“I leapt at the opportunity because it could not have been better timed. I'm very grateful for the feedback that I received, especially from Eduardo Urias who was the person who was reviewing my work. I found his thoughts to be incredibly helpful as someone who writes very similar research to what I'm doing at the moment.
It's definitely changed my perspectives on some things and I’ve grown more interested in areas that I hadn't really considered writing about up until this point. It's also given me some conviction around what I study because I think that's something that a lot of researchers struggled with and it's a topic of conversation that came up a lot during the conference.
When I was talking to early career researchers, this sense of imposter syndrome, especially when you're around people who are really in the field and well known, can make difficult to talk in the same platform as them and present your ideas on equal footing. I found that really rewarding and equally rewarding to hear about what other people are doing and to open my mind up to other possibilities and opportunities that I hadn't considered before.”
Conducting a research study with South Lanarkshire constituents
“I'm continuing the research that I've been doing, but I have released a survey that covers some of the topics that have been brought up during interviews and focus groups that I've led over the course of the past year. The survey highlights the issues that residents of South Lanarkshire have identified in their communities, and in their daily lives, especially with regard to the transition to Net Zero. The survey asks more about that and will help me map the vulnerabilities in South Lanarkshire with more detail.
I'm inviting any South Lanarkshire residents over the age of eighteen to participate. You do not have to self-identify as vulnerable, everybody's voice is needed in this transition. I wanted to amplify that as much as I can, so that I can get many responses and that the results are representative of the population there.
I'm so happy. I wouldn't change this experience for the world. It's been the most difficult thing I've ever done, but it's made me who I am.”
By Rachael McAlonan
Got a SCEBE or GSBS story? Email me at Rachael.McAlonan@gcu.ac.uk or connect with me on social media here