I Joined DICE in 2011 as a Research Associate following two years  as a researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the  University of Manchester. My research interests focus on human-environment relations, environmental citizenship and public perceptions of the environment.   

My first degree was in Sociology, Criminology and Social Anthropology, this was followed by an MA in Development Studies and a PhD exploring public perceptions of community partnerships as a tool for managing marine protected areas.   My research utilises a range of qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, citizen panels and observation, to explore public understanding and perceptions of environmental interventions.  I am currently engaged in a number of projects collating and writing up previous research and applying for funds for new projects including:

• Editing and contributing to a book on public perceptions and understanding of low carbon energy technologies
• Editing and contributing to a special addition of Marine Policy on community involvement with marine protected area management
• Applying for grants to explore public perceptions of the marine environment and their impact on conservation policy

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Selected Publications

Upham, P and Roberts, T (2011).  Public perceptions of CCS: emergent themes in pan-European focus groups and implications for communications. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 5. 5. 1359-1367  

Roberts T. (2011) North East Kent European Marine Site – governance analysis. Pages 31-39 in PJS Jones, W Qiu and EM De Santo (Eds) Governing Marine Protected Areas: getting the balance right - Volume 2. Technical Report to Marine & Coastal Ecosystems Branch, UNEP, Nairobi.

Roberts, T. and Jones P.J.S. (2009). Shellfishing, eider ducks and nature conservation on the Wash: questions raised by a fractured partnership. Society & Natural Resources, 22, 6, 538-553

 

Full publication list here.

 

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This year I will be teaching on the following Masters modules:

DI878 (Convenor) Social Science perspectives on Conservation

SA806 (Contributor) Social Science Perspectives on Environmental

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Research Interests

Public understanding and perceptions of Climate Change and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Technology

For the last two years my research has predominately focused on exploring public perceptions of climate change and carbon capture and storage technology. The research has examined how the public may respond to proposals to introduce CCS technology in the UK and Europe. In particular it has looked at how people perceive the risks associated with both climate change and CCS, whether they trust scientists, engineers and politicians to develop CCS safely and what questions they would want answering before they were willing to support the technology. This research has been funded by the EPSRC and European Union. 

In addition I am currently working with colleagues from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester on a project for the IEA which is exploring ethical concerns about the implementation of CCS.

Participatory approaches to natural resource management

My thesis examined current approaches to the governance of common pool resources (CPRs) and in particular the impacts of the recent emergence of the partnership paradigm on CPR management. The research draws heavily on CPR theory and social capital literature to develop an understanding of the way governance structures and institutional arrangements can influence the development of partnership capacity and consequently improve the management of protected areas. These issues are explored within the framework of the 1994 Habitats Regulations which stipulates the creation of partnerships to manage European Marine Sites.

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PhD student 

Chloe Inskip: The Socio-economics of Human-Tiger Conflict: Patterns, Perceptions and Impacts

MA (Research): Evaluating the impact of Marine Protected Areas on local communities. Nah Trang Bay Marine Protected Area, Vietnam: a case study.

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