Energy-SHIFTS is a new 2-year Horizon 2020 project, working to feed Social Science & Humanities (SSH) insights into EU energy policy, in particular the SET-Plan and Energy Union programmes. The project began on 1 April 2019 and will run for 2 years.
As part of Energy-SHIFTS, we are running a programme for SSH PhD students to be involved in key activities. This is our first call out as part of that programmme, with a set of opportunities to attend and support three workshops in the second half of June 2019 (in Brussels and Prague). Travel, accommodation and subsistence will be covered. Further details and the application process are set out below.
The workshops:
1) ‘The role of evidence in energy research & innovation policy’, led by ARU and co-hosted by the European University Association, 18 June in Brussels. This workshop will explore questions such as: How is SSH currently used in (energy) policymaking? What type(s) of evidence are regarded as ‘credible’, ‘robust’, etc.? What recommendations should we give to energy researchers, energy policyworkers, and indeed the EC to help drive this agenda forward?
2) ‘Social justice and just transition in fossil-fuel intensive regions’, led by E3G with the collaboration of Jagiellonian University and co-hosted by Bankwatch, second half of June in Prague. The workshop will bring together policyworkers, civil society and academics to discuss and tease out key issues to achieve and ensure social justice in processes of transition to carbon neutral economies. We are keen to encourage candidates from Central and Eastern European countries for this workshop.
3) ‘Creating inclusive engagement in low carbon transport solutions’, led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in collaboration with Jagiellonian University on 25 June in Brussels. During the workshop, policyworkers, civil society representatives and academics will discuss issues related to inclusive and gender balanced research and innovation of low carbon transport solutions.
What’s involved?: One or two PhD students working in the energy-related Social Sciences & Humanities will be selected to support each workshop. They will attend, undertake video interviews with attendees, support social media, and write up a blogpost afterwards (therefore do highlight any experience in these areas in applications). There may be scope to feed into the workshop report which will make recommendations for both policy and the wider Energy-SHIFTS project. You would be part of the official Energy-SHIFTS PhD programme involving e.g. virtual meetings across the network, invitations to other events, and links into the project.
Application process: These opportunities are open to those undertaking a Social Science/Humanities PhD at a European institution, and who started their PhD within the last 4 years. Please send your CV, together with a cover letter (where you outline which workshop you would like to support, and your motivations/relevant experience to do so), and an estimated travel budget to/from the workshop, to rosie.robison@anglia.ac.uk and chris.foulds@anglia.ac.uk.
