Well done to @luciemidd.bsky.social and @profmarkdavis.bsky.social, who were awarded Best Paper by Energy Research & Social Science! 👏 Their paper investigates how social relations impact public decision-making and action around energy use. Read more: environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Sustainability research team wins Best Paper Award

Professors Lucie Middlemiss and Mark Davis have been honoured with the Best Paper Award by Energy Research & Social Science for their groundbreaking research.

environment.leeds.ac.uk

Big milestone in citizen-led climate finance! Co-created through research by Prof. Mark Davis (@profmarkdavis.bsky.social), Community Municipal Investments (CMIs)—also known as Local Climate Bonds—have now mobilised £30 million for green projects across the UK.

Following the announcement of @profmarkdavis.bsky.social as 2025 President of Sociology by the British Science Association, we are pleased to share our latest news article 📰 We had the chance to sit down with Prof. Davis to learn of his past achievements, current initiatives, and future vision 🎙️

This paper was mainly written at my kitchen table with @profmarkdavis.bsky.social, but with a stellar list of co-authors from the Whole Person Whole Place team: @drdonalbrown.bsky.social‪ @ruthbookbinder.bsky.social Iain Cairns, @giuliamininni.bsky.social @mcbrisbois.bsky.social ...

Prof. Mark Davis (@profmarkdavis.bsky.social) and Prof. Lucie Middlemiss have been awarded 'Best Paper' from Energy Research & Social Science 🎉 Their winning paper is entitled 'Developing a relational approach to energy demand: A methodological and conceptual guide'.

We are thrilled to share that @profmarkdavis.bsky.social has been named the 2025 President of Sociology by the British Science Association. Mark will give a Presidential Keynote at the British Science Festival, taking place from 10-14 September in Liverpool. More information in the coming months.

As part of the @universityofleeds.bsky.social Climate Week 2025, take a look at how colleagues in the School of Sociology and Social Policy (SSP) are contributing to this field of research! 🌍 #climateweek #climatechange #climatecrisis #research essl.leeds.ac.uk/sociology/ne...

Sociology and Social Policy researchers work to find solutions to the climate crisis

As the University of Leeds hosts Climate Week, we look at how researchers in the School of Sociology and Social Policy are helping find solutions to the challenges caused by climate change.

essl.leeds.ac.uk

✍🏻 NEW PAPER ✍🏻 Should we govern the energy transition through bold ‘Mission Led’ government or pragmatic ‘Radical Incrementalism’? This question frames our latest paper, published by @britishacademy.bsky.social in a collection using SHAPE disciplines to improve governance for rapid decarbonisation.

🚨 NEW: GB Energy will install rooftop solar panels on around 400 schools & hospitals in a new £200 mn investment. This could lower energy bills for these crucial public services while giving communities a real stake in the UK’s clean energy future. But why stop there? 🧵

Yeah so, last Thursday… this happened! A sincere and very heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who made the time to come along to my inaugural professorial lecture @universityofleeds.bsky.social, entitled: “If liquid modern life is rubbish, what should we do about it? Sociological fragments”

The School of SSP would like to congratulate @profmarkdavis.bsky.social on his lecture ‘If liquid modern life is rubbish, what should we do about it? Sociological fragments’ delivered at the ‘Faculty Inaugural Lecture Series’ on Thursday 13th March. Read more here: essl.leeds.ac.uk/education-so...

Professor Mark Davis delivers seventh Faculty Inaugural Lecture

The Faculty was delighted to host Professor Davis' lecture in celebration of his impressive research career.

essl.leeds.ac.uk

Faculty of Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture happens today at 5pm with @profmarkdavis.bsky.social #research #socialsciences #uol

Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds@sspatleeds.bsky.social · 2y ago

We are delighted to announce that @profmarkdavis.bsky.social will deliver the next Faculty of Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture! 🗓️Thursday 13 March 🕔5pm 🏫University of Leeds Find out more and reserve your place: essl.leeds.ac.uk/education-so...

Back in 2018, I led a project that co-created Community Municipal Investments (CMIs), the model behind local climate bonds for UK councils. This week, one of the project’s original case studies, Bristol City Council, launched its first CMI offer 🎉 More below: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bristol council's green investment scheme to fund climate action

The council plans to utilise community investment to fund green projects across the city.

bbc.co.uk

Better get writing this then… Very honoured to have been asked to give an inaugural lecture as part of this series to celebrate social science expertise @universityofleeds.bsky.social Further details on my lecture and how to register a place via the link below:

Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds@sspatleeds.bsky.social · 2y ago

We are delighted to announce that @profmarkdavis.bsky.social will deliver the next Faculty of Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture! 🗓️Thursday 13 March 🕔5pm 🏫University of Leeds Find out more and reserve your place: essl.leeds.ac.uk/education-so...

Thanks to all @lssi.bsky.social for the invitation to contribute to this event, a window into some really inspiring research by social scientists in collaboration with a range of impact partners. See below:

Leeds Institute for Societal Futures@societal.bsky.social · 2y ago

The LSSI and RIS IAA Showcase highlighted the impact of IAA funding on diverse research projects from all faculties. Presentations by Research Council funding recipients showcased innovation & collaboration. Find out if you could benefit from IAA funding & read our write up here! bit.ly/42GtTfU #IAA

Wishing our followers a restful and restorative break. We will be back online in the second week of January. Please see below for a range of services available for those on campus over the holidays.

University of Leeds@universityofleeds.bsky.social · 2y ago

Rocking around our campus Christmas tree🕺🎄💃 We are closed from 5pm today until 2 January, but we are still here if you need us!💚 Check out library opening times, support, and activities that will be available to those in Leeds over the winter break. Find out more⬇️ students.leeds.ac.uk/holidayinfo

Our @ukerc.bsky.social Social Relations of Energy Retrofit team, led by @drdonalbrown.bsky.social, have published a paper arguing that by paying attention to relational dynamics, we can better design retrofit policies that work with the grain of existing household practices and social relations.

Prof Lucie Middlemiss@luciemidd.bsky.social · 2y ago

Here is a brilliant Christmas gift for you, from @drdonalbrown.bsky.social. The next instalment in our #relational approach to #retrofit story. In this new paper Donal looks specifically at the way in which relational approaches can be used to craft policy. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Here is a brilliant Christmas gift for you, from @drdonalbrown.bsky.social. The next instalment in our #relational approach to #retrofit story. In this new paper Donal looks specifically at the way in which relational approaches can be used to craft policy. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Rethinking retrofit: Relational insights for the design of residential energy efficiency policy

The ‘retrofit’ of energy efficiency, low carbon heating and renewable microgeneration measures in homes is a major focus for energy and climate policy…

sciencedirect.com

Ever received an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home and thought “well that looks real expensive and a lot of hassle: where do I start?” There’s a sociological solution to this major challenge of domestic retrofit in the UK. New paper out today: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Rethinking retrofit: Relational insights for the design of residential energy efficiency policy

The ‘retrofit’ of energy efficiency, low carbon heating and renewable microgeneration measures in homes is a major focus for energy and climate policy…

sciencedirect.com

Love this! I’ve benefitted hugely from the support of LSSI and Policy Leeds in working with Leeds City Council and a range of other local government partners, and this is exactly the kind of framework to accelerate that vital civic collaboration. My congrats to all involved 🙌

Leeds Institute for Societal Futures@societal.bsky.social · 2y ago

📢Exciting news! The University of Leeds and Leeds City Council, with insights from LSSI, launch a new Collaborative Research Framework to tackle evidence challenges. Discover how this partnership is shaping policy in Leeds. #ResearchImpact #CivicCollaboration 📰 read more here bit.ly/3D0m0qO

Weekend Goals…

Our next School Research Seminar will be a hybrid event on Weds 4 December at 12:30. With @cdsleeds.bsky.social, we'll be celebrating the launch of Dr Claudia Coveney's "Collective Action and Civil Society". Save the date - we'll share all details next week! emerald.com/insight/publ... #DHM2024

Come along and hear some distinguished guests discuss the latest book of our three-volume series on Zygmunt Bauman’s Selected Writings, hosted by Prof Matt Dawson (Glasgow) on behalf of @bsatheory.bsky.social All details below:

BSA Theory Study Group (British Sociological Association)@bsatheory.bsky.social · 2y ago

Just before the end of Term One (for many universities in the UK), we will be holding our final event of 2024 - co-organised with The Bauman Institute! Theory & Society: Zygmunt Bauman - Book Launch 13 Dec 2024 (2:00-3:30pm GMT) Online Register now: www.britsoc.co.uk/events/key-b... #SocialTheory

My work on local climate bonds and retrofit is driven by insights from sociological theory, in particular the work of Zygmunt Bauman. I established the Bauman Institute @sspatleeds.bsky.social in 2010, writing and editing several books and articles on this vital approach to understanding our world

I'm second author on this theory paper led by @profmarkdavis.bsky.social out today, after many hours round my kitchen table eating leftovers, and an epic review process. Very proud to have worked with you on this Mark! Read it for our full sociological take on a #relational approach to #retrofit.

Mark Davis@profmarkdavis.bsky.social · 2y ago

✍🏻 New Paper 📄 My first post to the bluesky community… ‘Towards a Relational Sociology of Retrofit’, published Online First today in Sociology: doi.org/10.1177/0038... #sociology #retrofit #energypolicy #netzero #trust #socialrelations

This paper was a labour of love/relentless drive to make sure the world knows that it's social relationships that make home energy retrofits happen and not (just) the right economic incentives. #retrofit #energy #energypolicy

Mark Davis@profmarkdavis.bsky.social · 2y ago

✍🏻 New Paper 📄 My first post to the bluesky community… ‘Towards a Relational Sociology of Retrofit’, published Online First today in Sociology: doi.org/10.1177/0038... #sociology #retrofit #energypolicy #netzero #trust #socialrelations

Elsewhere, I’ve done the theoretical work to interpret data from empirical projects on green finance innovations and energy efficiency interventions. My latest book is Crowdfunding and the Democratization of Finance (2021, Bristol UP): bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/crowdfunding...

✍🏻 New Paper 📄 My first post to the bluesky community… ‘Towards a Relational Sociology of Retrofit’, published Online First today in Sociology: doi.org/10.1177/0038... #sociology #retrofit #energypolicy #netzero #trust #socialrelations