Overview
This studentship will support a full time PhD student undertaking research to assess and enhance strategies for translating and communicating, to diverse non-academic audiences, the findings from research on risks to human populations.
The study will draw on social science theories of communication, learning and response to information about risk, and the focus will be on the question: "What makes innovative research communication strategies most effective, in enabling academic researchers to engage with non academic partners and translate research findings in ways that meet society's information needs".
The research will examine case studies of research being conducted at Durham University, which concentrate on presentation of social and economic aspects of risk for human populations. There will be a particular (though not exclusive) focus on evaluation of techniques including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and use of virtual imaging techniques, as well as innovative use of the written and spoken word.
An interdisciplinary approach will be central to the project, which will involve assessment of case studies from different disciplines in the university that are producing both new knowledge about risk, and new techniques for presenting information on risks to human populations. We anticipate, for example, case studies drawn from geography, applied social sciences, computer science, biology or earth sciences.
The studentship will aim to attract a suitably qualified student from any part of the world to undertake a 3 year postgraduate training programme. We expect to recruit a student from a relevant branch of social science, possibly with specific training/experience in communication of science/knowledge exchange.
The project would be supported through a collaboration between several partners. Lead partners are the Geography Department and the GeoInfo Centre, Durham University.
The Geography Dept. (http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography/) will provide ESRC recognized PhD training, expertise in knowledge exchange, risk research and GIS, as well as theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of area socio-economic conditions.
The GeoInfo Centre operates NOMIS, which provides labour market and related statistics for the Office for National Statistics (https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/about.asp).
First launched in 1981, Nomis houses an extensive range of government statistical information on the UK labour market and has expertise in liaison with non-academic users of data on socio-demographic and socio-economic conditions, and in data management and GIS).
Additional partnerships will be formed with the School of Applied Social Sciences (which will provide expertise in risk for human populations, engagement with users of information in this field, and social dynamics of communicating research) and with the multi-disciplinary Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience (IHRR) (providing links to several relevant research projects and users of research in this field). NOMIS and IHRR are housed in the same building, next to the Geography Department on the University's South Road, Durham campus. This will facilitate collaboration and will also allow the student to participate in the postgraduate community in the geography department.
Value of this studentship
The studentship will cover fees and a maintenance grant of £13290 per annum over 3 years, as wells as modest fieldwork costs.
How to apply
Applications should be made by 18th April 2010, following the procedure outlined at http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/ .
Potential candidates are advised to contact Prof Sarah Curtis sending their curriculum vitae with details of their academic qualifications and experience and a 1 page draft proposal for research to address the question of 'what makes innovative research communication strategies most effective''. This should outline preliminary ideas for research, including a conceptual framework suitable for the research and make suggestions about an appropriate methodological approach.
Details about this studentship
For further information contact: Professor Sarah Curtis, Geography Dept, Durham University (s.e.curtis@durham.ac.uk) or Sinclair Sutherland, GeoInfo Centre (Sinclair.sutherland@durham.ac.uk).
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this opportunity
This studentship will support a full time PhD student undertaking research to assess and enhance strategies for translating and communicating, to diverse non-academic audiences, the findings from research on risks to human populations.
The study will draw on social science theories of communication, learning and response to information about risk, and the focus will be on the question: "What makes innovative research communication strategies most effective, in enabling academic researchers to engage with non academic partners and translate research findings in ways that meet society's information needs".
The research will examine case studies of research being conducted at Durham University, which concentrate on presentation of social and economic aspects of risk for human populations. There will be a particular (though not exclusive) focus on evaluation of techniques including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and use of virtual imaging techniques, as well as innovative use of the written and spoken word.
An interdisciplinary approach will be central to the project, which will involve assessment of case studies from different disciplines in the university that are producing both new knowledge about risk, and new techniques for presenting information on risks to human populations. We anticipate, for example, case studies drawn from geography, applied social sciences, computer science, biology or earth sciences.
The studentship will aim to attract a suitably qualified student from any part of the world to undertake a 3 year postgraduate training programme. We expect to recruit a student from a relevant branch of social science, possibly with specific training/experience in communication of science/knowledge exchange.
The project would be supported through a collaboration between several partners. Lead partners are the Geography Department and the GeoInfo Centre, Durham University.
The Geography Dept. (http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography/) will provide ESRC recognized PhD training, expertise in knowledge exchange, risk research and GIS, as well as theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of area socio-economic conditions.
The GeoInfo Centre operates NOMIS, which provides labour market and related statistics for the Office for National Statistics (https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/about.asp).
First launched in 1981, Nomis houses an extensive range of government statistical information on the UK labour market and has expertise in liaison with non-academic users of data on socio-demographic and socio-economic conditions, and in data management and GIS).
Additional partnerships will be formed with the School of Applied Social Sciences (which will provide expertise in risk for human populations, engagement with users of information in this field, and social dynamics of communicating research) and with the multi-disciplinary Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience (IHRR) (providing links to several relevant research projects and users of research in this field). NOMIS and IHRR are housed in the same building, next to the Geography Department on the University's South Road, Durham campus. This will facilitate collaboration and will also allow the student to participate in the postgraduate community in the geography department.
Value of this studentship
The studentship will cover fees and a maintenance grant of £13290 per annum over 3 years, as wells as modest fieldwork costs.
How to apply
Applications should be made by 18th April 2010, following the procedure outlined at http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/ .
Potential candidates are advised to contact Prof Sarah Curtis sending their curriculum vitae with details of their academic qualifications and experience and a 1 page draft proposal for research to address the question of 'what makes innovative research communication strategies most effective''. This should outline preliminary ideas for research, including a conceptual framework suitable for the research and make suggestions about an appropriate methodological approach.
Details about this studentship
For further information contact: Professor Sarah Curtis, Geography Dept, Durham University (s.e.curtis@durham.ac.uk) or Sinclair Sutherland, GeoInfo Centre (Sinclair.sutherland@durham.ac.uk).
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this opportunity
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