The proposed research will develop new understandings by integrating perspectives from human geography and social psychology, drawing on core concepts of geographical differentiation, spatial proximity and place attachment.
The project will:
(1) produce a comprehensive map of UK public attitudes to shale gas, charting differences between geographical areas.
(2) provide a comprehensive analysis of the effect of spatial proximity on UK public attitudes using georeferenced datasets.
(3) capture how public attitudes and community responses unfold over time, using a combination of methods including longitudinal national surveys, social media analyses and local ethnography in case study locations.
(4) critically investigate the rationales and practices of stakeholder engagement with shale gas communities, extending frameworks devised in previous research to go beyond ‘NIMBY’ (Not In My Back Yard) understandings of community responses.
The project will have multiple benefits and impacts, including capacity building of less experienced researchers, engagement with national and local stakeholders from public, private and NGO sectors and the sharing of research findings that are expected to attract local, national and international interest.
The research will begin on 1st September, last for 3 years, and is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.
https://nerc.ukri.org/research/funded/programmes/unconventional-hydrocarbons/news/ao-unconventional/