Vacancy Details

Description

MSc by Research Studentship OPPORTUNITY – Embedding citizen science within landscape-scale nature-based recovery initiatives: impact of different citizen science techniques

This opportunity is funded through a collaboration with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT), Royal Agricultural University (RAU), Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI – University of Gloucestershire), and Beowulf Rewilding LLP . The combination of partners involved with this project provides an excellent opportunity to be both innovative and productive. GWT offers guidance and active management support to the partners. Supervision of the MSc studentship will be offered by the University of Gloucestershire, in particular the Countryside and Community Research Institute working with colleagues in the School of Natural and Social Sciences who have particular expertise in Citizen Science and Science Communication. Additional input, notably on agronomic aspects will be provided by staff at the Royal Agricultural University. Beowulf Rewilding LLP is a registered company set up to manage a project targeting land use change on c.380 acres of arable land surrounding the small village of Sapperton, Gloucestershire.

AIMS

The intention is to evaluate a range of tools and technologies, including mobile devices, satellite imaginary, remote access trap cameras and digital communication channels in a citizen science setting. The objectives are to:

- Consider the transformative potential of citizen science to influence and alter related normative behaviour among participants and recipients of the data.

- Develop a citizen science ‘how to’ best practice guide specifically for landscape scale nature-based recovery projects. This guide will be disseminated through the Wildlife Trusts and other networks, in order to achieve high reach across the UK among farmers, land managers and advisers with the potential for international relevance.

The overarching aim is:

- to generate best practice for impactful citizen science monitoring and evaluation approaches for landscape-scale nature-based recovery projects.

 

KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS

- What citizen science approaches are best suited to the long-term citizen science engagement needs of landscape-scale nature recovery projects?

- How can citizen science initiatives on landscape-scale nature recovery projects impact other areas of environmental behaviour change?

 

Closing date: 12 August 2022

Interview date to be confirmed

HOW TO APPLY

 

Send a completed application pack to ccri@glos.ac.uk by the deadline of 12 noon on Friday 12th August 2022.

Incomplete applications or applications received after this specified time will not be accepted.

The application pack must contain the following three documents:

 

1. Curriculum Vitae: It should be no longer than four pages.

2. Research Proposal: The proposal should be up to a maximum of 1000 words, not including references.

We suggest that you use the following five headings in your research proposal:

• Your reflections on the title, aims and purpose of the research;

• An overview of some key research literature relevant to the study;

• Your proposals for developing the design and methods of the study;

• A description of potential outcomes of the project for understanding, knowledge, policy and practice (as

appropriate to the topic);

• References

 

CONTACTS:

Supervisors: Associate Professor Matt Reed (mreed@glos.ac.uk); Professor Adam Hart (ahart@glos.ac.uk);

Dr Felicity Crotty (Felicity.Crotty@rau.ac.uk).