Research Themes

As a programme, our research focuses on how societies and ecosystems might better respond to extremes, which can range from those affecting individuals to those affecting populations. Some examples are bereavement, disease and social isolation (individuals) versus flooding, social unrest and socioeconomic inequality (populations). These can either be in the form of relatively rare, extreme events (like a once in-a-generation flood or a factory closure) or can be the extreme circumstances in which we regularly live (like annual floods or living in a deprived area). We are most interested in how people and places respond to, adapt to and potentially thrive in the face of these extremes. By understanding and building on this resilience and adaptation we hope to inform policy and practice that supports communities faced with extremes now and in the future. Originally when we formed we were focused on extreme events (and were known as the Extreme Events programme), but in October 2019 we changed our name and developed these themes below to better reflect the work we were (and are) doing.

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1. Responses to Extreme Events – includes effects of fire, droughts etc. on people and ecosystems and responses to these extremes with a focus on community resilience

2. Social-Ecological Justice and Sustainability – includes food-energy nexus, climate justice, ecogrief and inequalities

3. Health, Society and the Environment – includes social-biological interactions, environmental pollution and human health