Applications open for PhD: Empowering climate action through participatory filmmaking

A new PhD opportunity, in partnership between CAT, Aberystwyth University and Cardiff University, will explore how collaborative filmmaking can nurture new forms of environmental awareness and engagement.

Recent years have seen an increase in documentaries covering the climate crisis, but it is currently unclear to what extent knowledge gained from these productions leads to meaningful action and significant changes in attitude and behaviour. This interdisciplinary research project is aimed at filling some of the knowledge gaps to help understand how filmmaking can be used to create positive change.

It will explore how community involvement in the visualisation of climate issues can play a role in enhancing engagement and action on climate change, and will look at how collective storytelling can empower meaningful and lasting change, both among those people involved in its creation and for wider audiences.

Dr Cathy Cole, a senior lecturer in the Graduate School of the Environment will be one of three supervisors on the project and brings extensive knowledge and experience in climate change and science communication to the supervisory team.

“It’s wonderful that the project in partnership with Aberystwyth University and Cardiff University was selected as one of the Collaborative Doctoral Awards by the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership scheme. Few studies have tested the impact that working with audiences on creative projects has on long-term engagement and behaviour change, so we hope the unique opportunity to work across art and science in this project can showcase the importance of collaborating with local communities to empower climate action.“

The PhD is fully funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership scheme, including tuition fees and a maintenance stipend. Students will have a passion for working with members of the community, with whom they will co-create either a feature film or a series of short films using different approaches to documentary. Applications are open until 16 January, and the project will begin in September 2023.

For more information, visit https://www.sww-ahdtp.ac.uk/cda-projects-2022-2023/cda2-empowering-climate-action-through-participatory-filmmaking/ or contact Dr Cathy Cole – cathy.cole@cat.org.uk