In September 2024, a group of researchers gathered in Moffat, Scotland, for an academic writing retreat focused the critical challenge of how to achieve social acceptance of low-carbon initiatives. The event was organised by EPRC’s Dr Liliana Fonseca along with colleagues from the University of Strathclyde and Robert Gordon University, and funded by the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN) Development Fund. In total, eleven early career researchers from the BA ECRN and from across the UK attended the retreat. Five distinct proposals were initiated and developed on the various aspects of low-carbon initiatives and their social acceptance. This included community engagement, building public awareness and trust, and fostering collective action for sustainable futures.
This writing retreat was part of a broader work programme, building on a previous BA-funded research project carried out in 2023, and from discussions from an online sandpit event held on 14 May 2024. The sandpit provided an opportunity for early-career researchers to explore research gaps, identify challenges, and develop innovative solutions in a relaxed environment. The insights gained during this initial gathering set the stage for creating a research programme centred on social acceptance, engagement, and benefits of low-carbon initiatives, which was further developed during the retreat.
The main aim of the writing retreat was to formulate at least one strong research proposal for an international funding call, thereby fostering collaboration and generating research outcomes.
- Wednesday, 11th September: Participants arrived and received a warm welcome. After settling in, an icebreaker session encouraged conversations and connections among attendees.
- Thursday, 12th September: Thursday focused on outlining shared objectives. The day began with a session revisiting key ideas from the sandpit, followed by a “researcher speed dating” activity to encourage new insights. Participants then formed teams based on different project proposals. In the afternoon, discussions turned to the technical aspects of research, including formulating questions, selecting methodologies, and identifying potential funding sources. The evening featured a “Dragon’s Den” pitch session, where each team presented their ideas and received feedback.
- Friday, 13th September: Friday was dedicated to writing. Most of the day was reserved for focused work, allowing teams to develop their drafts, refine methodologies, and plan for funding calls. The evening concluded with a farewell dinner, offering participants a chance to celebrate their progress.
- Saturday, 14th September: After several productive days, Saturday morning saw participants depart from Moffat, each taking with them new insights, connections, and the momentum to advance their proposals.
Ultimately, the retreat was a success, providing a platform for cross-disciplinary exchange and offered early-career researchers valuable opportunities to refine their ideas in a supportive setting.
The organising team extends its thanks to the BA ECRN network for making this event possible, as well as to the interest and participation of the attending researchers. Highlights included brainstorming sessions, researcher speed dating, Dragon’s Den pitches, and a trivia night that enriched the experience.
As these collaborations develop, we look forward to seeing these projects evolve into funded research that will contribute to sustainable, low-carbon transitions.
Organising team:
Dr Liliana Fonseca is a Research Associate in the European Policies Research Centre (University of Strathclyde & TUDelft). At EPRC she is project manager for the Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange (NICE) and the Interreg Europe COMMIT project on Low-Carbon SME Development and Transition.
Dr Tanja Mueller is a Lecturer at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences; and holds honorary contracts with an NHS Scotland Health Board as well as Public Health Scotland to facilitate collaborations between the University and the healthcare system in Scotland.
Dr Christian Calvillo is a Research Fellow at Centre for Energy Policy, University of Strathclyde, working on several projects in different energy areas, including electrification of transport and heat, energy efficiency, fuel poverty, hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation.
Dr Jacob A. E. Nielsen is a Research Fellow at the Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University. He has a broad interdisciplinary social science research background with a focus on sociological and anthropological approaches.