Geography and Environment

The success of Geography and Environmental Studies research at BSU is showcased by our international portfolio, underpinned by major funding and extensive national and international partnership networks which facilitate significant contributions to global debates.

Our research deploys scientific, social-scientific, humanities and arts approaches to address societal and environmental challenges. We work across traditional boundaries to embrace and pioneer interdisciplinary research.

Our research centres and groups include:

1. The Research Centre for Environmental Humanities (RCEH)
2. The Global Citizenship and Identities’ Research Group (GCI)
3. The Climate, Hazards and Environmental Change Research Cluster.

Significant institutional investment has transformed the School, and its unit’s interdisciplinary ethos both transcends and bridges subject boundaries across the School of Sciences.

Our areas of research expertise are:

• Conservation ecology
• Environmental histories and heritages
• Environmental ethics and philosophy
• Environmental visual and performance arts
• Geographical pedagogy
• Global development
• Hazard processes and disaster/ resilience studies
• Palaeo-environmental reconstruction/climate change
• Sustainability and political ecology.

Operating within the context of University-wide research strategies, the unit delivers vitality and sustainability through core commitments to research leadership, and the development of all our people.

The Research Centre for Environmental Humanities draws together scholars from across the University, in pursuit of new insights and creative responses in the face of deepening socio-environmental concerns and crises.

The Climate, Hazards and Environmental Change Research Cluster grouping brings together understandings of earth system process dynamics and societal policy responses to environmental hazards and disaster risk reduction, particularly in DAC-listed countries. We have strengths in India, Kiribati and Mexico, and wider work in Guatemala and Ireland. 

The Global Citizenship and Identities group explores global interconnections surrounding the mobility of capital, people and ideas.

Research events

We host, co-host and support research events at BSU and internationally. Our research centre and group events are open to the Bath Spa community, external colleagues, as well as to the general public. Take part in real-time or access our recordings.

• 2020/21 Hazard, Risk and Disaster (HRD) Research Seminar Series
• RCEH public lectures and research seminars

Policy briefing/ working papers

We firmly believe in applying and translating our research for the benefit of society and environment; contributing to global challenges. Our policy briefings and working papers provide cross-sectorial connectivity and drive impactful policy-practice change.

• Hazard, Risk and Disaster (HRD): Pathways to Resilience
• RCEH: Future Pasts

Research films

Film, as a creative medium, provides a universal means of connecting people and fostering valuable bonds between research and societal stakeholders. We employ film in our research projects as a catalytic tool of engagement, to generate impactful outcomes.

• Pathways to Resilience (Vimeo)
• The Damara King's Festival (Vimeo).
  This film was short-listed for the AHRC’s Research in Film Awards (category ‘International Development: Mobilising Global Voices’).
• The Music Returns to Kai-as (Vimeo)
• Timeline
• Troubled Waters (Vimeo)