[Themaintainers] PhD Opportunity: citizen and community-led re-use and repair, Cambridge, UK

[lara at larahouston.co.uk]

Hello Maintainers

This is a rather UK-centric email, but I have a PhD position open 
exploring how informal re-use and repair groups can be considered in the 
design of new 'circular economy' digital tools (as CE digitalization 
continues).

I'm concerned that policy and practice are catering to business without 
considering the citizen and civil society actors that play a crucial 
role in keeping our stuff working for longer. There are a lot of data 
justice issues emerging here. Maintenance, repair, and critical 
approaches to the 'circular economy' are most welcome.

Further information below and don't hesitate to get in touch on 
lara.houston at aru.ac.uk.

Warmest wishes, Lara

📢 Including community re-use and repair groups in circular economy 
digitalisation.

  	* Application deadline: 15 December, 2024
  	* Fully-funded 3.5 year PhD, based at the CAM-DTP [1] (University of 
Cambridge/Anglia Ruskin University), sitting in the Global 
Sustainability Institute [2] at Anglia Ruskin University.

The PhD's focus:

🔧 Community re-use and repair groups (e.g. informal freecycling groups, 
pop-up repair or re-use events) help citizens to extend the lifetimes of 
their products, fostering an inclusive 'circular economy' by slowing 
cycles of consumption, and therefore reducing emissions and waste.

📲 New digital tools introduced by policymakers, such as Digital Product 
Passports, are designed primarily for businesses. Policy documents 
suggest that due to their informal or non-profit status, community 
re-use and repair groups will be excluded from full circular economy 
data. Their needs have been overlooked in research and policy on 
emerging circular economy tech - including platforms, and AI.

🤝🏼 The PhD project seeks to address this gap, e.g. by undertaking 
participatory research with re-use and repair groups to bring their 
unique needs and novel insights into design and policy.

Additional headlines:

  	* To be based at ARU's Global Sustainability Institute (Cambridge 
campus), which has an international reputation for interdisciplinary, 
action-focussed Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research for 
sustainable societies.
  	* Part of a wider cohort of Social Science PhDs across the University 
of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University, with access to training 
across institutions.
  	* Open to applicants from a wide range of disciplinary/professional 
backgrounds (e.g. colleagues in HCI, participatory design, STS, media 
and comms.).
  	* 3.5 year tax-free annual stipend at the UKRI rate of £19,237, plus 
fees paid for UK-based applicants. Those applying from elsewhere will 
need to secure additional funding to cover fees (further info. 
available).
  	* Can be taken up full-time (3.5 yr) or part-time over a longer 
period. Emphasis on widening participation: applicants can flag up 
relevant considerations (e.g. caring responsibilities, or health needs).
  	* Direct links to international policy, with opportunities to have 
impact through linked networks.
  	* Candidates are supported to undertake a 3-month Innovation 
Fellowship as part of the studentship.
  	* More information at: 
https://www.aru.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research/cam-doctoral-training-partnership-phd-studentships

For further information:

  	* This PhD Scholarship will be supervised by Lara Houston and Chris 
Foulds. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact us on 
lara.houston at aru.ac.uk and chris.foulds at aru.ac.uk for an informal chat.
  	* We will also be holding a MS Teams online drop-in session on Monday 
November 4, at 12-1pm UK time; please email us to register for this. We 
will have guidance documents available to help you put your application 
together.

Lara Houston

Research Fellow [3]

Global Sustainability Institute [4]

Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge, UK

Links:
------
[1] https://www.esrcdtp.group.cam.ac.uk/about/
[2] https://www.aru.ac.uk/global-sustainability-institute-gsi
[3] https://aru.ac.uk/people/lara-houston
[4] https://aru.ac.uk/global-sustainability-institute-gsi
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