Cabot Institute for the Environment blog

  Dr Alix Dietzel In conversation with Dr Alix Dietzel, co-theme lead at the Cabot Institute Why did you choose to become a theme leader at Cabot Institute? It is important to me to have diverse voices within the Cabot Institute, which has typically been focused around the work of scientists. It has become increasingly clear that although the science around environmental change is definitive, policy makers are not taking radical enough action. Social scientists and those from the Arts faculty specialise in areas like justice, policy making, social change, creative engagement, and history of activism. These areas are critical for tackling environmental change – and it is my mission to ensure their voices are heard. I have already invited three more people from these disciplines onto the steering group. I am also keen to work with the city of Bristol - for the Cabot Institute to have a role to play in local environmental policy making, but also to elevate the voices of those ...

Amanda Woodman-Hardy (third from left) with Cabot Institute volunteers In conversation with Amanda Woodman-Hardy, Communications and Engagement Officer at the Cabot Institute for the Environment. What is your role at Cabot Institute? Hi there! I'm responsible for all our communications and running our biggest events and public engagement activities. I’m in a job share with the lovely and wonderful Adele Hulin . How long have you been part of Cabot? I’ve been part of Cabot since the very beginning, 10 years ago! It’s been my baby for sure. I’ve watched the Institute grow, learn valuable lessons, and mature into a beautiful thing. I’d say we’re at the young adult stage now but thankfully past the awkward teenage stage where we were learning who we were and what our purpose was. Now we are moving forward with our awesome tagline - Many Minds, one mission – protecting our environment and identifying ways of living better with our changing planet. What is your background? ...

  Adele Hulin In conversation with Adele Hulin, Communications and Engagement Officer at the Cabot Institute for the Environment. What is your role at Cabot? I’m a Communications and Engagement Officer, so I create communications campaigns and organise events and public engagement to share the amazing and important research that takes place across the Cabot Institute and to draw attention to the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing global environmental challenges.  My role involves connecting and collaborating with people in the University, the city, and wider networks to increase Cabot’s impact and raise the profile of the Institute and it's members (Caboteers!). I create content and find new ways to promote Cabot’s Institutes profile, interdisciplinary research, achievements, partnerships, and educational opportunities, and this year I am delighted to have worked with over ten artists to make the Institute's work more accessible to a wide audience.  It...

  Jo Norris In conversation with Joanne Norris, PGR Coordinator at the Cabot Institute. What is your role at Cabot Institute ? I am the Postgraduate Research Coordinator for our Master’s by Research in Global Environmental Challenges . My role works with both current and prospective master’s students, but also involves communicating with academics and the Professional Services teams across the University’s Faculties. How long have you been part of Cabot? I joined Cabot in January 2019, just as the master’s had been approved and was beginning to be put together. It has been a busy but exciting couple of years since then! What is your background? I have a degree in English Literature and had never expected to find myself in an environmental research institute but am delighted that life has brought me here! I spent much of my working career in marketing agencies but left that world to find something more fulfilling. I had always believed that an environmental career wouldn...

  In conversation with Dr Taro Takahashi, Theme Leader, and Dr Vicky Jones, Development Associate at the Cabot Institute Dr Taro Takahashi and Dr Vicky Jones Why did you choose to become a theme leader at Cabot Institute?  T.T: While working for Cabot in my previous role (Director for the Cabot Master’s programme), I saw first-hand the breadth of food-related research across the university. This made me wonder — wouldn’t it be rewarding to work more with these talented colleagues and help develop a research community that can transform the agri-food landscape in Bristol and beyond? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest global challenges associated with your theme?  V.J: The biggest and very broad challenge is how to feed a growing population sustainably. We know that the food system is a major driver of climate change through changes in land use and production of greenhouse gases – as well as the depletion of freshwater resources and pollution of ecosystems. To...

  Angus Morrice In conversation with Angus Morrice, Administrator and PA to the Director at the Cabot Institute What is your role at Cabot Institute ? I am the Administrator and PA to the Director of the Cabot Institute for the Environment. I work primarily with the core Cabot Team and our academics who are in leadership positions to keep the Institute running. I also wok with members of the academic and non-academic community at the University to organize events, arrange and provide support and I operate as a first port of call for incoming enquiries into the institute. How long have you been part of Cabot? I joined Cabot near the beginning of 2019, so I’ve been here for over two years now. What is your background? I studied Geography at the University of Bristol. This of course meant that the works of the Institute and many of its members were familiar and the job seemed to be a good fit for my interests and skills. I have almost a decade’s experience working in the a...

  Dr Ryerson Christie In conversation with Dr Ryerson Christie, theme lead at the Cabot Institute Why did you choose to become a theme leader at Cabot Institute? Obviously with a decision such as this, there are numerous reasons informing our choices.   However, there are three specific factors that were central to my agreeing to take this on.   First, and foremost, I am passionate about the theme.   Secondly, I have personally benefited from the work of the Cabot Institute, and as such I feel a responsibility to contribute back to the research institute.   Finally, while I have always seen value in interdisciplinarity, my own research on disasters has convinced me of the fundamental importance in increasing the ties between academic disciplines.   I should add as well that I would not have agreed to take on this role if I didn’t enjoy the people I am able to work with.   In your opinion, what is one of the biggest global challenges associated with...

  Dr Vicky Jones In conversation with Dr Vicky Jones, Development Associate at the Cabot Institute What is your role at Cabot Institute ? My overall role is to support the Cabot community in making new interdisciplinary research connections, both within and outside the University. This could be by making direct links between individuals or running meetings and events that provide the space for interdisciplinary discussions to take place.   I also run our Innovation Fund, which is an annual call that provides small amounts of funding to pump-prime new interdisciplinary research ideas or support impact and engagement focused activities. My role means I get to work with researchers from right across the University and particularly with our theme leads. How long have you been part of Cabot? I joined Cabot in 2016, so I’ve been here almost five years now. What is your background? I studied for my PhD here at the University of Bristol, in the School of Chemistry. After t...