Children influence in household food waste in UK-Bringing schools, food redistribution charities and families together

Household food waste is a major contributor to the food waste problem in developed countries. In the UK 7.1 million tons of total food waste originates in households (Wrap,2018). The Wrap report also states that apart from other factors, families with children waste more food compared to families without children. However, will the presence of children in families is one of the key drivers of household food waste? Conversely children and young people have been acknowledged as a catalyst of change by United Nations. The importance and relevance of young people in achieving sustainable development goals is widely articulated by the United Nations. The Global Action Programme for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by UNESCO have recognised young people as central agents of change and included empowering and mobilizing young people as one of its five priority areas (UNESCO, 2019). This contradiction in the waste produced in family practices and policy makers vested trust in children as change agents motivates this research project.
Further, as part of reducing food waste, in the UK, several charity organisations and NGOs working in the surplus food redistribution are working closely with schools by offering surplus food as means of raising awareness about food waste among children and aiming to influence their families through that as well.
Hence this PhD project aims to bring these three aspects together to evaluate the interventions of the food redistribution projects through schools in raising awareness and knowledge about food waste among school children and to study whether children take that knowledge home and influence their families food provisioning and management behaviour to reduce food waste at family level. The project will take socialisation and reverse socialisation perspective and also will include practice theory to detangle the phenomenon which links the three aspects.
Eligibility
To apply for a self-funded PhD, you will need to meet our entry requirements and provide:
1. fully completed Sheffield Hallam University application form
2. research proposal (4-6 sides of A4 in length).
3. transcript of marks from your highest qualification (we require a dissertation mark of 60+).
4. copy of your award certificates
5. two references, one ideally from an academic source. References must be supplied as recent letters on headed notepaper or on the reference section on the University’s application form.
6. Where English is not your first language, we require evidence of your English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency. An IELTS score of 7.0 overall (with all component marks of 6.5 or higher), a TOEFL test with an overall score of 100 internet based (minimum component score of 23 in listening and reading, 26 in writing and 22 in speaking) or SHU TESOL English Language qualification (final overall grade of A with all components graded at B or higher) or a recognised equivalent testing system. Your test score must be within the last two years.
Information on entry requirements, tuition fees and other costs can be found here https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/business-and-management/phd-sheffield-business-school-management-finance-service-sector/full-time

How to apply
Please submit your application to [Email Address Removed]
Please do not submit a CV