Driving change: how Birkbeck's environment and sustainability research stands out

Can you share how the idea for BRCES came about and its goals? 

We were working as Assistant Deans in Research (Becky) and External Engagement (Pam) in our Schools and between us we became aware of a lot of excellent work in environment and sustainability across all the disciplines at Birkbeck, as well as huge amounts of interest. We created the centre to showcase the great research already happening as well as to build interdisciplinary partnerships both within Birkbeck and with external partners. Our aims include: 

How does this approach of interdisciplinary collaboration contribute to tackling environmental and sustainability challenges? 

We believe that no single discipline can solve environmental challenges alone. Understanding scientific principles is crucial, but taking action requires us to understand society and human behaviour too – how are decisions are made and implemented? How is information communicated and miscommunicated? How do systems that we need to transform, such as energy and food, currently operate? Interdisciplinary consideration is hugely important.  

What makes Birkbeck’s research into environment and sustainability stand out? 

Many research centres tend to focus solely on science or policy. But here, we aim to integrate perspectives from the humanities. We go beyond answering questions to critically assessing whether the questions themselves are the right ones to ask. For example, Luciana Martins’ research with Kew Gardens incorporates indigenous knowledge into sustainability efforts, adding crucial cultural and historical dimensions. 

What role do arts, humanities, and social sciences play alongside scientific research in the centre’s activities? 

As an example, one colleague, Scott Rodgers, is researching the role of social media in spreading information or misinformation about low traffic neighbourhoods - which is a key sustainability action that could be harder to implement if the messaging is misdirected. We have other colleagues - Sophia Connell, Heike Bauer, Anna Richards, and Simon Pooley - researching human attitudes to animals from the classical period to the 19th century, to present-day human-wildlife conflict. Exploring and understanding these perspectives can shape how we approach sustainability challenges and policy decisions. 

Has the centre launched new projects since its formation? 

One key success has been a Bloomsbury Colleges PhD studentship co-supervised by Heike Bauer at Birkbeck and Karen Hiestand from the Royal Veterinary College, which examines the rise of veterinary specialist care in Britain within the field of human-animal studies. 

How does BRCES engage with external partners? 

We are currently amplifying and supporting existing partnerships, such as Anthony Brooms’ work with Wind Farm Analytics, Becky’s Fellowship with engineering consultancy Jacobs, and James Hammond’s science diplomacy initiatives. Moving forward, we’ll prioritise funding for pilot projects that involve external partners. We’re also collaborating with the Environmental Humanities Research Hub at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London. 

How can students and alumni get involved?  

Our primary outreach platform is LinkedIn—please follow us for updates. We also have a mailing list for those interested in ongoing developments and opportunities. It’s also worth attending our events to stay connected with the latest research and collaborations. 

How do you see BRCES shaping future solutions? 

PY: We provide a platform for collaboration between researchers and external partners. Solutions will only be viable if they come from collective expertise and shared knowledge. 

BB: Our focus on external partnerships is key. We envision a network of Birkbeck academics each working with external partners and training PhD students on applied sustainability topics. These students will form a cohort of visionaries, applying rigorous research to real-world challenges. 

Where do you see the centre in the next few years? 

PY: I see BRCES facilitating engagement between researchers, government agencies, businesses, and non-profits to address environmental and sustainability challenges from multiple angles – such as economic, technological, or social. 

BB: I expect to see new research collaborations, external funding success, and the development of our PhD training programme. 

What personally inspires you about leading Birkbeck’s sustainability research? 

PY: Environment and sustainability research will impact most of us at least once. Whether it’s to do with the quality and choice of food we consume, the location of where we live, the packaging we choose to bring our shopping home with us, or even the financial investments we choose to make. As it's so prevalent, I do this because I know we will all be impacted, and therefore, we should be the ones being impactful.  

BB: As a Christian, I believe the Earth that we live on and the resources we enjoy are a gift. I am committed, like Pam, to taking action in my personal life, but also through our research and teaching. The hope is that this work in environment and sustainability will also inspire and enable many more people to take action, so that we can all start to change some of the systems that currently make such individual action hard.