Partner
Karen Holtmaat - FGB
Description
Climate change challenges go beyond environmental damage, it also poses threats to psychological and emotional well-being that are starting to be recognized. Currently, climate change anxiety is associated with perceptions about climate change. Identifying different aspects of people’s perceptions (emotions, cognition, somatic expressions, etc.) regarding climate change, can help to identify factors that encourage change beyond ecological action (i.e., community building, education, promotion of human rights, etc.).
Climate change challenges go beyond environmental damage, it also poses threats to psychological and emotional well-being that are starting to be recognized. Currently, climate change anxiety is defined as anxiety associated with perceptions about climate change (Clayton, S., 2020). For this project there are datasets available, and you can use them to explore different research questions.
Assignment
Through the Green Action Lab, you will collaborate with VU’s research and staff and help them by:
To identify the levels of climate change anxiety within the Vrije Universiteit community.
To describe factors influencing climate change anxiety within the Vrije Universiteit community.
To analyze the facilitators/obstacles that influence climate change anxiety within the Vrije Universiteit community.
To provide recommendations on opportunity actions to reduce the impact of climate change on well-being of the members of the Vrije Universiteit community.
Throughout your assignment, you can tap on the knowledge of VU’s experienced researchers. Furthermore, through the Green Action Lab, you will have access to a network of sustainability practitioners in Amsterdam and elsewhere, who you can contact for e.g. expert interviews. The intended outcome for the case is a set of recommendations/further social-innovation on campus that benefits all the people on campus.
Depending on your academic background and personal interests, you can choose to focus on physical, behavioural or other aspects.
Requirements:
- You are interested in the people aspect of Sustainability and
- You are a bachelor/master student at VU Amsterdam for the duration of the appointment
- You can come to VU on a regular basis
- You have good oral and written command of the English language
- You are open towards interdisciplinary collaboration and show a welcoming and tolerant work attitude.
- Desired background: Psychology, Social sciences, Life sciences, Humanities, Ecology and Evolution, Global health or other sustainability/people-related fields.
What are we offering?:
By joining the project team, you will gain experience in:
*Sustainability consulting experience
*Professional & personal skills workshops with certificate for your CV
*Flexible desk and a study spot at the Green Office-VU
*Peer reviewed publication in “Science for sustainability” open access academic journal (when thesis is graded above 7.5)
*Certificate on climate action (SDGs agent)
Duration: From 1 February until 30 June 2023 (flexible)
Working hours: 8 hours per week of practical work, research possible for the rest of the week
Place: VU Amsterdam and remote
Supervision: Karen Holtmaat
Application process:
Are you interested in this position? Apply until 1st February 2023 (THESIS) OR anytime before the end of the academic year 2022-2023 (VOLUNTEER) by filling your information below and the Green Action Lab coordinator will contact you in 2-3 business days.
We are looking forward to receiving our application!
Closed for applications
You cannot apply for this project because it's closed.