Author Archives: gesafacilitator
Keeping the buzz on – interdisciplinary reflection on the protection of bees The controversial path: the prohibition of neonicotinoids
In 1994, French beekeepers started to blow the whistle on the abnormal behaviour and disappearance of their bee colonies foraging on sunflowers and maize. Quickly, beekeepers considered “Gaucho”, a new neonicotinoid authorised the same year for the treatment of sunflower … Continue reading
Keeping the Buzz on – Interdisciplinary Reflections on the Protection of Bees
We care about bees. Bees are unusual insects in that we humans find them so appealing. The publicity about the decline of bee populations has led to people donning bee costumes and lobbying parliaments about pesticides, the planting of … Continue reading
Urbanization of the Oceans – Blue Growth?
Dr Meriwether Wilson Over 100 years ago, a fierce philosophical debate circled the salons, cafes, balls and bars of intellectuals and pioneers alike – often known as the ‘American wilderness’ debate. The legendary icons of this debate included: John Muir … Continue reading
Controversies surrounding mega Marine Protected Area
Dr Laura Jeffery Until the end of the 20th century, most Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were relatively small-scale conservation zones in coastal waters. The past decade has seen a proliferation in the designation of ever larger MPAs. Mega MPAs measuring … Continue reading
Towards Commercial Seabed Mining – Sustainable or Sacrilege?
Dr James Harrison The presence of minerals on the deep seabed was first discovered by the HMS Challenger expedition in 1873. Polymetallic nodules and other seabed resources (polymetallic sulphides and crusts) offer abundant supplies of valuable minerals, including manganese, cobalt, … Continue reading
Meeting with Professor Sir John Beddington
Last Wednesday along with six other PhD students, I met Sir John Beddington former chief scientific adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government. Sir John was a very pleasant and down to earth academic who showed genuine enthusiasm for … Continue reading
Thinking about impact
I was recently asked to consider the question “What will be the impact of your research in 2025?” As a second year PhD student, the focus of my research is very much on the present (How are my interviews going? … Continue reading
The climate negotiations process: getting nowhere?
The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been ratified by virtually all states in the world. The Convention acknowledges that the adverse effects of global climate change are a common concern of humankind, and undertakes to … Continue reading
MASTERS NETWORK – Global Environment & Society Academy Welcomes You!
Who are we? The Global Environment and Society Academy (GESA) is a network of experts collaborating to develop innovative solutions for the world’s most challenging problems.