Dr Jennifer Dickie

I started my lectureship in Environmental Geography at the University of Stirling in June 2015, where I specialise in energy geographies.     Prior to moving to Stirling, I completed my PhD in Physical Geography at the University of Leicester, where I stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher working on a number of interdisciplinary research projects that spanned the social and natural sciences. My first role was as a researcher and teaching developer in the HEFCE-funded Spatial Literacy in Learning and Teaching CETL, investigating the pedagogies of mobile Geographical Information Science (GIS) and Virtual Reality with particular focus on human/environmental applications. Recognising the value of interdisciplinary approaches, I then diversified and engaged with more social sciences projects where I developed my qualitative research skills.    Before moving to Stirling, some of the larger projects I’ve worked on are: ‘Adaptations to Rural Communities through Living with Climate Change’ (RCUK Rural Economy and Land Use Programme); ‘New Urbanisms, New Citizens: Children and Young People’s Everyday Life and Participation in Sustainable Communities’ (ESRC), Affective Digital Histories: Recreating De-Industrial Places, 1970s to the Present’ (AHRC) and ‘Rural Hybrid Energy Enterprise Systems’ (EPSRC Bridging the Urban Rural Divide programme).

Please see my 'Research Interests' page for details of current projects and opportunities.

I am an interdisciplinary researcher whose work focuses on the socio-environmental interactions of the energy landscape. Community engagement and creative co-creation is playing an increasingly important role in my research, which broadly focuses on energy access and vulnerability, public perceptions and reaction to energy technologies, sustainable housing and behaviours, and a just transition to a low carbon economy. I specialise in using mixed method approaches in my research, including GIS, participatory mapping, mobile and social data collection techniques to explore the complex relationships among climate change, energy and sustainability.

PhD Opportunities:

I would be keen to supervise students on a range of topics that take interdisciplinary approaches to better our understanding and support a just transition to a low carbon future. The geographical focus of my research is currently South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK. I am particularly interested in supervising projects on the following topics:

• Socio-technical assemblages of renewable and sub-surface energy systems
• Issues of energy access, poverty and justice
• The role of biogas in supporting sustainable livelihoods
• The water-energy-food-health nexus
• Exploring energy futures through innovative and participatory research methods.

My recent research activities include:

Water and Fire: Understanding and reducing risk with 15 “Best Bets” for enhancing capacity for transformative adaptation with vulnerable township residents on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. (GCRF-ESRC). 2019-2022 Collaborators: Universities of Stirling (Lead), Cape Town, Western Cape. Total award size: £900k

Re-energising Clackmannanshire: engaging communities around energy for a healthier, wealthier and greener future. (UKRI). 2019-2020. Collaborators: Glasgow School of Art, Hawkhill Community Association, British Geological Survey, Clackmannanshire Council, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI). Total award size: £39k.

Evaluating the relationship between public perception, engagement and attitudes towards underground energy technologies and UK Geoenergy Observatory science. (British Geological Survey) 2019. Total award size: £10k.

Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of public attitudes and community responses to shale gas: an integrated approach. (NERC Unconventional Hydrocarbons Programmer) 2018-2021. Collaborators: Universities of Exeter (Lead), Cardiff, Edinburgh, Heriot Watt. Total award size: £512k.

Beyond the ‘energy silo’: exploring energy challenges and their interactions with food, water and health in rural India and Scotland (Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment & Society PECRE award). 2016. Total award size: £3.6k

An Ecosystem Analysis of Food Production and Security. (Stirling Crucible seed funding. Collaborators: Dr Anthony O’Hare, Susan Murray) 2016. Total award: £1.3k

Getting the right spatial mix: methods for robust spatial planning for renewable energy. (SECURE feasibility project) 2015 Collaborators: University of Leeds (Lead), Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland. Total award size: £25k