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Loughborough University London
Fixed-Term for 12 Months (term length to be reduced if candidate commences role post March 2021 due to funding restrictions)
Job Purpose: To undertake research and administrative duties, under the direct line management of the PI, to meet the deliverables of the ‘Fair Energy Campaign Olympic Park Pilot’ project, funded by the London Legacy Development Corporation. The aim of the project is to tackle fuel poverty and climate emergency through strategic mobilisation of local communities of trust within the Olympic Park and legacy boroughs.
Fast-paced development at the Olympic Park offers immense opportunities for residents and businesses alike, but it also presents the challenge of rising carbon emissions. One way of countering this inevitable effect is by encouraging residents, businesses and tenants to adopt innovative, more efficient ways to source and consume energy.
The Fair Energy Campaign is a grassroots initiative that champions best practices and principles in the energy sector, supports informed decisions for energy procurement and encourages customer-centric service innovation in the energy sector. The R&D project is delivered in partnership with Citizens UK and combines elements of design innovation, strategic communication and citizen mobilisation for social change.
This pilot campaign action research project will take place with the Olympic Park communities during 2021 and has the potential for significant impact at city-wide and national level in subsequent phases. The project consists of co-creating and implementing resources and strategies to enable 16,000 vulnerable households within the park and legacy boroughs access to 100% renewable and affordable energy.
We are seeking a research assistant who will join us at the Institute for Design Innovation (IDI) at Loughborough University London, based in the borough of Hackney. Candidates will be encouraged to participate in IDI’s wider academic and public engagement activities. Training opportunities appropriate to the needs of the project will be provided.
This research builds on social innovation, social movement, critical and communication theories to investigate the strategic role of design in the context of citizen-led strategic action. Working with community-led mobilisation, the aim is to co-create participatory and inclusive frameworks and methodologies for enabling, activating, empowering and legitimising emergent forms of citizen-driven democratic innovation. The investigation will expand current understandings on the role of design in shaping collective identities, mediating cultural and symbolic meanings in socio-political contexts, and enhancing creative leadership capacity in activism practices.
We are particularly interested in applicants with strong research and project management experience, and an interest in strategic design, communicative action and mobilisation methods. We are seeking interdisciplinary thinkers who have experience in practice-based research with communities, at the intersection between design, grassroots movements and climate action. Fields of specialisation may include participatory design, design activism, design anthropology, strategic communications, social movements studies, cultural and media studies or other areas deemed relevant.
Application Closing Date: 11.59pm (GMT) 28 February 2021
Interviews will take place on 5 March 2021
Please follow this link for details