CSSN Research Support/Fellowships announced, deadline 30 June
Roberts, J. Timmons
The Climate Social Science Network (CSSN) announces three new funding applications for research and journalism:
Call for CSSN Research grant proposals
Dear Colleague Letter: Social Science Research into the Structural, Political, and Institutional Dynamics of Climate Change Politics
Dear Colleague:
The Climate Social Science Network headquartered at Brown University announces its interest in fostering research and other activities to enhance our understanding of the cultural, institutional, and political dimensions of climate change politics. This research is part of a two-year project with the aim of closing the gap between knowledge and action on climate change.
Proposals for the following types of projects are solicited:
- Research to determine the historical activities of institutions to oppose action on climate change. This includes historical and archival research, as well as time series analyses of organizational data.
- Examination of specific regional, state, or local political activities related to the obstruction of action on climate change or renewable energy.
- Empirical analysis of organized political action related to climate change action opposition, including public relations activities, lobbying, and political contributions.
- Investigation of funding flows involving the major actors opposed to action on climate change at the national level of the U.S. or specific regional, state, or local political arenas.
- Analysis of the roles and relationships between organizational actors in climate change politics, including think tanks, advocacy organizations, foundations, corporations, public relations and lobbying firms, and trade associations.
- Evaluation of the dynamics of media coverage of climate change, including an analysis of the role of public relations firms, media outlets, and other promotional activities in fostering different perspectives on climate change.
- Exploration of the role of universities and/or secondary and elementary education institutions in the development and promulgation of differing political perceptions of climate change, and the role that funding by foundations or corporations plays in this process.
- Investigation of the role of the agricultural, forestry or real estate sectors in opposing action on climate change.
This letter solicits proposals from scholars in sociology, political science, public policy, geography, communications, or other interdisciplinary social science areas. It does not solicit research into discourse analysis, individual or psychological perspectives on climate change, or public opinion polling.
Successful proposals will have scientifically sound research plans that are explicitly rooted in relevant social science theory and literature. Proposals will be evaluated using criteria of intellectual merit and their potential contribution to informing pragmatic and timely actions to address climate change.
Funding of $10,000-$60,000 is available for a two-year research project. Applicants should submit a maximum five-page research proposal containing the following items:
A. Abstract describing the overall project, timeframe and budgetary requirements
B. Research Objectives
C. Intellectual Merit of the Proposed Research
D. Broader Political Impacts
E. Proposed Budget and Schedule, including intermediate outputs
This call for proposals is open to all members of the Climate Social Science Network. The application must be received by June 30, 2021. Apply online.
Please contact Dr. Timmons Roberts directly with any questions (tim...@brown.edu).
Sincerely,
Dr. Timmons Roberts
Executive Director
Climate Social Science Network
Call for applications: CSSN Visiting Fellowship applications
Position Title: Visiting Research Fellow in Environment and Society, Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
Position Description:
The Climate Social Science Network at Brown University is seeking two Visiting Research Fellows to conduct research and lead team-based research on the political and social dynamics related to the obstruction or opposition to action to address climate change in the United States. Sabbatical appointments can be for one or two semesters. Stipends will be negotiated depending upon needs for topping up home university salaries.
The research project could be in a number of areas, including:
- Empirical analysis of organized political action related to climate change, including public relations activities, lobbying, and political contributions.
- Investigation of funding flows involving the major actors in climate change politics at the national level of the U.S. or specific regional, state, or local political arenas.
- Analysis of the roles and relationships between organizational actors in climate change politics, including think tanks, advocacy organizations, foundations, corporations, public relations and lobbying firms, and trade associations.
- Evaluation of the dynamics of media coverage of climate change, including an analysis of the role of public relations firms, media outlets, and other promotional activities in fostering different perspectives on climate change.
- Research to determine the historical activities of institutions to advance or oppose action on climate change. This includes historical and archival research, as well as time series analysis of organizational data.
- Examination of specific regional, state, or local political activities related to climate change or energy issues.
- Exploration of the role of universities and/or secondary and elementary education institutions in the development and promulgation of differing political perceptions of climate change, and the role that funding by foundations or corporations plays in this process.
- Investigation of the role of the agricultural, forestry or real estate sectors in opposing action on climate change.
The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society is home to a diverse community of scholars and world-class scientific resources.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a recent Ph.D. and relevant experience in sociology, political science, geography, communications or a related environmental social science interdisciplinary field. Prior research and communications experience is a plus. Responsibilities include: helping develop and coordinate research activities; data management; analysis of data; publication of manuscripts and dissemination of results. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively with groups from diverse backgrounds.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit: (1) a cover letter describing research interests, qualifications, and motivations, (2) a two-page tentative research plan in this area, (3) a current CV, and (4) contact information for three references that can be contacted and provide letters on short notice. Applications will be reviewed starting June 30, 2021, and accepted until the position is filled. The ideal start date is September 2021, but is flexible. Please contact Dr. Timmons Roberts directly with any questions (tim...@brown.edu). Apply online.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community; as an EEO/AA employer, Brown considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
These grants are open to all members of the Climate Social Science Network. Applications must be received by June 30, 2021.
Climate Social Science Network Reporting Fellowship
The Climate Social Science Network (CSSN), a global network of hundreds of social scientists studying obstruction on climate change based at Brown University, is accepting applications for an in-residence journalist at the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) for fall 2021 or winter 2022. The journalists-in-residence will advance their reporting career with access to a leading institution working at the intersection of climate change policy and the study of organizations, social movements, ideology and discourses, with opportunities for collaboration on investigative research with local and global teams of social scientists. CSSN’s working groups are developing collaborative research defining the direction of our understanding of climate obstruction. Brown’s Climate and Development Lab (CDL) supports four to six teams conducting original research. Details of the program include:
- 6-12 week visiting fellowship at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island
- Up to US$15,000 stipend to cover travel, housing and living expenses ($1250/week)
- Office space in the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
- Opportunity to collaborate with an existing team from CSSN and the Climate and Development Lab as “embedded” researcher
- Potentially develop a joint project with CDL or CSSN working group members
- Exclusive access to CDL faculty and students’s research prior to publication, and opportunities to collaborate on journalistic stories with Brown undergraduates
- Option to audit 1-2 classes at the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
Participants of the program are expected to:
- Attend CDL and CSSN meetings, lectures and panel discussions
- Collaborate in an existing CDL or CSSN research project
- Propose a new collaborative investigative research project on climate obstruction
- Publish 1-2 news stories based on CSSN scholarly research
- Present to CSSN
The fellowship is open to freelance journalists and staff reporters. Please submit a cover letter and resume, including a couple published clips, to Stephanie Hanson Damassa (stephani...@gmail.com ) and Timmons Roberts (tim...@brown.edu) by June 30th, 2021. Please include a description of an initial idea for an original collaborative investigative story (one paragraph is adequate) and one existing CSSN/CDL research project of interest, and what you find valuable or what role you might take in it.
Brown University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.