Exploring the role and potential of experiential learning in environmental education for enhancing wellbeing, Geography - PhD funding (CLES/Field Studies Council’s)

Supervisors: Dr Ewan Woodley, Dr Jonathan Cinnamon and Prof. Stewart Barr (Geography)
Visit the Geography website at: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk

The Department of Geography in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter has a 3.5-year, full-time PhD studentship available in collaboration with the Field Studies Council’s (FSC) Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre.

The studentship aims to explore the role and potential that environmental education can play in enhancing wellbeing, particularly through residential educational experiences and social learning. In particular, the student will explore the role of different pedagogic practices in promoting wellbeing and will examine the sustainability of such impacts. Using Slapton Ley Field Centre and National Nature Reserve (South Devon) as a case study, the research will explore the underlying pedagogic discourses of ‘field experiences’ and their connections to evolving forms of social practice developed by visitors to field studies centres, and through experiential learning more generally. The project will address the following objectives:

To explore the ways in which the concept of well-being is manifested within experiential learning practices at the FSC through primary empirical research, using volunteer ethnography and in-depth interviews.
To explore the types of well-being associated with experiential learning at FSC Slapton through visitor surveys and follow-up interviews.
To understand the role and impact of experiential learning in promoting practical strategies for enhancing well-being within environmental education.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the FSC team and partners Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, Natural England and South Hams District Council in a collaborative capacity. The successful candidate will be expected to spend part of the studentship (approximately 4 days per month) based at and working with the team at Slapton Ley (to be agreed and on a flexible basis) as part of their research and professional development, which will involve:

• Organising the Annual Research Seminar, including recording & disseminating proceedings;

• Co-ordinating & sharing ongoing research & monitoring through the Research Library & website;

• Working with FSC tutors to develop resources for visiting universities;

• Developing relationships and further links with Exeter & other universities;

• Contributing to wider FSC initiatives.

In addition to the benefits of working collaboratively with the FSC, PhD students in Geography at the University of Exeter have the opportunity to develop their professional skills through applying to undertake teaching support work, which is remunerated on an hourly basis (subject to right to work checks being undertaken by the University). PhD students are encouraged to develop their expertise in this area by participating in the University’s Learning and Teaching in Higher Education qualification (stages 1 and 2). The University also offers a wide range of professional development courses for research students, which complement the dynamic research culture within the Geography Department.

Eligibility: Students applying for this project should have a 2.1 degree in Geography or a related discipline and should be willing and able to travel independently at their own expense between the University in Exeter and Slapton. The FSC is able to provide on-site accommodation for the student when they are based at Slapton. Applicants should be aware that they will require a Disclosure and Debarring check before starting work at the centre, although this can be arranged after the studentship has commenced.

For further information please follow this link http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=2660

We expect to hold interviews for shortlisted candidates at Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre on Tuesday 8th August 2017