Generating Social Value and Improving Community Well-being through Circular Economy Hubs - CDA studentship on behalf of ESRC Grand union DTP

Community well-being and planetary health are pressing societal challenges that have gained increased attention over the past decades, operating in tandem and requiring innovative, agile, collaborative, and shared responses. The engagement of community members in the co-delivery of community-facing, evidence-based initiatives aimed at improving the natural environment, creating economic benefits and shared social values amongst community members, is known to make a significant contribution to community well-being and planetary health.

Circular economy (CE) hubs that promote ‘reuse’ and ‘repair’ of wasted or no longer-wanted materials, components and products have the potential to help address these important societal needs. Circularity not only prolongs the life of these items, but provides access to them to those who might otherwise find them out of reach and reduces waste, promoting well-being and sustainability. Reuse invariably requires repair/refurbishment, and redistribution tailored to local context-specific needs, providing opportunities for community involvement in the transformation processes, upskilling and employment, and wider social value generation. However, growth in repair/reuse is largely yet to happen despite calls from the waste and resource sector and policymakers for its direct contribution to addressing resource efficiency, overconsumption, carbon intensification, economic disparities, and community-based inertia. A hitherto limited understanding of CE model design as it applies to reuse, is compounded by a paucity of insight into community co-design and stakeholder engagement approaches in this context.

West London Waste Authority (WLWA) is committed to creating a CE-Hub in Acton West London to catalyse repair/reuse for the benefit of the environment and the community's well-being. The site and satellite activities will be developed incrementally and organically with delivery partners and community representatives. In collaboration with WLWA and with special relevance to the CE Hub at Acton, this original research project will address the urgent need to rigorously establish the factors influencing the effective co-design of circular economy hubs with a repair/reuse focus, as pathways for improving environmental protection and community well-being, and the generation of social value.

Eligibility

The PhD studentship will be funded by the Grand Union DTP for an expected 3 years (or part-time equivalent) from October 2024. The award length offered may differ depending on the candidate’s prior training and how they meet ESRC training requirements.

Information about Grand Union DTP ESRC studentships and eligibility can be found on the Grand Union DTP website.

Any academic queries should be emailed to Prof David Gallear - david.gallear@brunel.ac.uk

Any other queries should be to emma.smith@brunel.ac.uk

How to apply

To apply for the studentship you must submit:

A Grand Union DTP Application form, downloadable from: https://www.granduniondtp.ac.uk/how-apply#tab-1440826
2000 word research proposal including references. Your proposal can draw on the description of the research detailed above.
Two written references, they should have a good knowledge of your academic record to date and your plans for the research project. They should be in a position to judge your suitability and preparedness for doctoral study. Only one of your two referees can be a member of your proposed (or actual) supervisory team. You may ask the supervisor of your Masters dissertation to be one of your referees.

References must include: The referee’s name and their relationship to you and comment on your previous performance/achievements

Your up-to-date CV;
Your single A4 page, single-spaced personal statement setting out why you are interested in undertaking this project;
Your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language capability to IELTS 7.0 or equivalent, if appropriate;
Completed Equal Opportunities form

Please email all completed documents to Emma.Smith@brunel.ac.uk (Post Award Officer) with the subject header –Wellbeing ESRC Studentship application by Midday on 12^th January 2024

The admissions process is in two parts: applications will be assessed by the institution and the selected candidate will then be assessed as part of the applicant pool for ESRC Grand Union DTP funding.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Eleni Iacovidou - My research focuses on environmental management, with emphasis on resource and waste management systems. Specifically, I develop methods for performing holistic and integrated environmental, economic, social and technical assessments of resource recovery systems based on a systems thinking approach. Using this approach, I combine environmental science and engineering with an understanding of the political, organisational, structural and cultural aspects that act synergistically in a resource recovery system to highlight areas of intervention for promoting sustainability. My research is predominantly desktop based and focuses on four key areas: food waste prevention and management plastic and plastic packaging system assessment construction components reuse and modular structures waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) repair and reuse I am also interested in the implications of technological and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, the impact of informal recycling systems on environment and society, in waste infrastructure availability and adaptation based on area-specific characteristics, the use of smart technologies for tracking components and products across the value chain, and in circular economy.

Louise Mansfield - Career History Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Vice Dean for Research in the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences. She is Director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Louise's expertise are in partnership and community approaches in sport and physical activity and issues of health, wellbeing, inequality and diversity. She has led research projects for the Department of Health, Youth Sport Trust, sportscotland, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Public Health England and Sport England. She sits on the editorial boards for Leisure Studies, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health and the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and is Managing Editor of Annals of Leisure Research. Louise is known for developing evidence to inform policy and practice.