4th ESRC Seminar: The everyday politics of sustainability transitions

[Gavin]

Seminar Four in the ESRC Sustainability Transitions Seminar Series

http://sustainabilitytransitions.info/
on June 22nd 2012 (9.30am-5pm) at Nottingham Conference Centre
organised by Dr Amanda Smith, Nottingham Trent University

Aim – to explore the ways in which various forms of politics, power
and resistance inspire, shape and constrain everyday sustainability
transitions.

Overview- A well-established critique of transitions research,
particular as developed in the Netherlands, is that it neglects the
vital role of social actors and movements in making transitions happen
and thus tends to downplay the role of social innovation in socio-
technical transitions. Consequently, this workshop addresses the role
and strategies of social movements, such as the Transition Towns
network and Climate Camps in advocating changes in everyday life, as
well as challenging the breaks imposed on these transitions by formal
political processes. Speakers will have experience of not only
researching in this area but also being actively involved in the
social movements. The workshop poses questions about:
• the role of different political actors in creating new spaces for
discourse on social change;
• the role of difference, diversity and social justice in transitions,
and how this creates different contexts and possibilities for social
change across different locations; and;
• the role of scale and the goal of localization in social movements
and how this relates to the sustainability transitions framework

Preparation – bring with you a photo of an object that represents the
everyday politics of transition

Format- to facilitate dialogue between all participants there will be
a range of activities including speakers, a panel discussion and open
space discussion.

Confirmed Speakers- Kerry Burton (Exeter University), Gerald Aitken
(Durham University), John Barry (Queens Belfast), Peter North
(University of Liverpool)
Confirmed Panelists- Alan Simpson (former MP), Kelvin Mason (Climate
Camp)

To attend- if you are interested in attending please email :
amanda....@ntu.ac.uk to reserve a place, please note any dietary
requirements.

Further Information:
Accommodation-
Those looking for accommodation might try these reasonably priced
hotels that are near the venue:
Premier Inn- http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/NOTMTI/nottingham-city-centre-goldsmith-street
Travel Lodge- http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/290/Nottingham-Central-hotel
Ramada Hotel- http://www.ramadanottinghamcitycentre.co.uk/
Holiday Inn Express-
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/gb/en/nottingham/notmm/hoteldetail?destination=%2CUnited+Kingdom&cm_mmc=mdpr-_-googlemapsUK-_-ex-_-notmm

Travel-
the venue can is very near the city centre and can easily be accessed
from the train station by foot, bus or tram (closest tram stop is
Royal Centre). The venue has no specific parking but you can use the
council run secure car parks, costs and locations can be found on
their web site (http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?
articleid=4028#TrinitySquare)

Bursaries-
We have a very limited number of travel/accommodation bursaries
available for postgraduate / unwaged participants or people without
access to funding for such activity. These will be decided according
to your best fit with the purpose of the workshop/ seminar. To request
a bursary please contact Jenny Pickerill (j.pic...@le.ac.uk)
specifying your status and (briefly) the reasons for your request.
Decisions will be made after 28th May. So please ensure that your
request arrives before that date. We will not be able to consider late
applications.