This page describes how we can best support your research and how you can help the Transition model to evolve. We increasingly receive enquiries from students wanting to make various aspects of Transition work the subject of their studies, and from academics who are interested in collaboration.

We are delighted to assist and to work with both, especially where people are seeking to do interesting and novel research on this emerging model and its diverse aspects. In order for us to be able to offer people our best support while at the same time making sure we don’t get overstretched or overly distracted in our used of scarce resources, we have decided to become more proactive, and to set out some hopefully useful guidelines and suggestions for would-be Transition researchers. In order to save everyone time, please ensure that you read these guidelines before you contact us for further discussion.

A report on a recent workshop on linking academic research and the transition movement can be read here.

 

General Principles

At the Transition Network and in individual Transition Initiatives, we place a high value on the role of thorough and well designed research in deepening and strengthening our work. Our overall philosophy is that any research project should be mutually beneficial. We are not very keen on research proposals which just consist of individual Transition Initiatives just being ‘researched’, unless you can convince us of the importance of your proposal. There are many possible areas of research which could link in with the TT process. These could include:

• Best practice in local currencies, and experience learnt from successes and failures of local currency schemes in the UK
• Case studies of successful engagement of people in social change processes and their relevance to TT
• Research into the obstacles to and the benefits of decentralised energy systems
• Local food logistics – case studies of how can a vibrant local food system be created and sustained
• The relocalisation of business: at what point do import substitution and localised manufacturing become economically viable, and what will always only be feasible only on a nation/global scale?
• Similarities / differences between TT and other models of community development and Community Economic Development
• Local medicine: exploring the capacity for replacing mainstream medicines with local alternatives: species, processing, logistics, legalities etc.
• The potential role of community land trusts and land reform potentials in the Transition model
• Exploring the potential for different models of transition cities – particularly drawing on the international experience
• Examples of best practice & lessons from Sustainable Community Economic Development / local sustainability literature which could inform the Transition movement
• Economics: how might the rising oil price begin to drive the moves towards relocalisation, and at what point does the Transition being to accelerate?
• Textiles: the scope for local production and processing
• Local investment models, mechanisms for local funding: Credit Unions, ESCOs, Land Trusts, etc.
• Analysis of local lifecycle manufacturing, one company’s waste material is another company’s raw materials, closing the loops.
• The role of soils in the move to a resilient, carbon negative economy: soil replenishment strategies using human waste, carbon locking in soils through composting and no dig systems, Terra Preta etc.
• How processes of individual behavioural change can be combined with community based movements

For all of these topics it could be that research is focused on exploring the existing literature and exploring how it is relevant for the TT movement. Equally, it could be research into the potential of a new idea or innovation. We would value either type of input. There is a wide range of other subjects and areas that would make fascinating research which would also be very useful to the evolving Transition Network. We are very open to your ideas and suggestions. We can offer guidance and contacts, and some assistance with shaping the scope of the research project. In exchange we ask that your final document and its findings be made available across the Transition Network so that your findings can be best disseminated.

Students

Our preference is to work with MSc and PhD students, but we are also open to suggestions from BSc students as well. We have a number of specific research projects that might be suitable for Masters Dissertations. Details of these can be found here, the list will grow over time:

• Research opportunities on Oil Vulnerability Audits for Business project

We are able to connect your research with groups and projects across the Transition Network, but in making the best use of your time and ours, we would like to be sure that your proposed research generates data, insights or practical outcomes that are useful to the deepening of the Transition approach.

We are open to discussion regarding PhD students working alongside the Transition Town process.

Academics and Researchers

As well as for individual students who are looking for subjects for future research, we are also always open to discussing collaboration with academics and other researchers. This could entail securing research funding for engaging in deeper and longer term research initiatives or developing collaborative teaching materials. For example, you may like to design a module on the concepts of peak oil and Transition, or set your students projects on aspects of the model. We have already been working closely with Liverpool University, the University of Plymouth and Schumacher College. Again the principles of mutual benefit and sharing of the information produced is important to us.

Transition Towns JISCMAIL email group

A JISCMAIL email list has been set up for researchers interested in Transtion Towns. This enables members to post messages to all other list members on research related issues. To subscribe you need to email: jiscmail@jiscmail.ac.uk. In the message write 'join TRANSITION-TOWNS your_first_name_your_surname'. For owner and user documentation see the help page or the quick user guide. If you require further help please email paul@lqm.co.uk

Further information

To further discuss the above areas of collaboration, please contact Noel Longhurst on 07906 857259 or at Noel.Longhurst@liverpool.ac.uk