PhD Studentship: Systems Storytelling for Digital Decarbonisation: What Role Do Stories Play, and Which Need to be Told, for Change Across the Digital Ecosystem

Systems thinking and systems mapping are essential in unpacking tensions, trade-offs and dilemmas in the complex issues around digital decarbonisation and system change.

As identified by the Design Council (Beyond Net Zero, 2021), effective transition to net zero and beyond requires system thinking to see how everything is interconnected in a bigger picture and zoom between the micro and macro and across silos; and, storytelling to create and tell great stories about what might be possible and why this is important, which is needed for buy-in from all levels and the tenacity to see change through.

Digital decarbonisation is complex involving competing goals, trade-offs and dilemmas. Using systems approaches can help unpack these tensions and interactions in the journey towards digital decarbonisation. Storytelling offers a powerful tool to communicate these complexities and facilitate system changes. In this PhD research, we aim to examine how combining systems thinking and storytelling can help individuals and companies understand these complexities and translate them into actionable insights for digital decarbonisation.  

We are seeking motivated individuals passionate about sustainability, systems thinking, innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including design, management, engineering, creative arts and beyond.

This studentship is a part of the Digital Decarbonisation Hub investigating ecosystem solutions for digital decarbonisation with four other PhD students.

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