PhD Studentship investigating the Interconnections Between Land Management, Nature and Culture

About CCRI

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is one of the largest specialist rural research centres in the UK, working at the interface of agriculture, society and the environment on issues relevant to rural and urban development, in the UK, Europe and further afield.

The CCRI works with colleagues and partners in natural as well as social sciences, covering a wide range of topics which include agriculture, forestry, food, soil science, fisheries, climate change and net zero, communities, and health and well-being. We engage with the human, technological and environmental challenges faced by society and policy makers, carrying out research in rigorous, dynamic and inclusive ways to deepen our shared understanding.

About Satoconn

In partnership with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, Japan, the CCRI invites applications for a funded PhD position. This studentship is part of the Satoconn project, which involves six countries and experts in nine disciplines spanning natural and social sciences, humanities and creative arts. The studentship will commence in February 2025. 

About the PhD

This PhD is based in the UK with a particular focus on Dartmoor, but it represents one of six Satoconn cases, to be mobilised within a process of comparative development and analysis over the next 4 years.

The student will work as part of a team focused on investigating the interconnections between land management, nature and culture, including the social capital among commoners and other groups; the sustainable economic regeneration of farming businesses and communities; and decision-making and governance of the rich cultural landscape of Dartmoor, which has seen significant conflict and tension in recent years. They will situate their PhD within this wider research context, contributing to all Satoconn work packages. They will interact closely with Dartmoor National Park Authority, which has agreed to be a key partner in the living lab, along with Dartmoor Commoners and other stakeholders. The lab will co-develop experiments and ideas around shifts in policy and practice, such as more farmer-led environmental management working in partnership to enable better understanding of the traditional system and respect for local knowledge. Commons’ governance structures are in significant need of reform, with many inactive former graziers and non-farming newcomers who may hinder effective commons management for a variety of reasons: this could also be a key focus of activity.

Overall, the PhD provides an excellent opportunity for the student to upskill in transdisciplinary methods and comparative work with a research community that spans continents, enabling some international travel to Europe and Japan as the project develops. In this way the student will increase their knowledge about local, national and international environmental, land use and climate policy and governance.

Candidates may contact Janet Dwyer (jdwyer@glos.ac.uk) or Chris Short (cshort@glos.ac.uk) to discuss the role.

Application

Applications are welcome from graduates trained within a range of social and/or ecological science disciplines, such as: rural studies, environmental management, agricultural economics, regional planning, political science and human geography. 

Applicants should submit the following documents to Chris Short by email (cshort@glos.ac.uk) before midnight on the closing date:

• Full and detailed CV
• Cover letter
• A research proposal (no more than two sides of A4) summarising the particular research that you would like to pursue for your thesis, based around your work in Satoconn, including suggested research question(s) and approach.

Advert information