School of Social and Political Science

Research interests

My research interests focus on all things “energy” and particularly, on the social justice issues created by its production and use. In the context of the energy transitions, I am interested in knowing how we can make ethically sound energy decisions that: (1) locate energy infrastructure equitably, where possible, (2) recognise the correct people and their needs, and (3) uses appropriate decision-making techniques. I believe that we should ask these questions across the energy system to ensure that no social groups are disadvantaged by our energy choices. To illustrate what I mean, do we acknowledge the rights of uranium mining and the impacts of it on foreign landscapes when we make the decision to proceed with nuclear energy in the UK? And given the comparatively high price for nuclear energy gained from the new Hinkley Point C reactor and others that will follow, have we considered how this will affect consumer affordability?

In order to ascertain the potential answers to these questions, I undertake both empirical and conceptual work looking at a range of case studies, including nuclear energy in the UK, Scottish wind energy and going forward, the implementation of smart technologies.

Recent Projects

Fuel and transport poverty in the UK’s energy transition (FAIR) (1/01/20 → 31/12/22): Through equity and justice investigations, this project examined the intersections between fuel and transport poverty, and low carbon energy transitions, in the United Kingdom.

Project team:

• Dr Mari Martiskainen, University of Sussex (PI)
• Professor Stefan Bouzarovski, University of Manchester
• Dr Debbie Hopkins, University of Oxford
• Dr Kirsten Jenkins, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Paul McKenzie, University of Ulster
• Dr Neil Simcock, Liverpool John Moores University
• Professor Benjamin Sovacool, University of Sussex

INCLUsive Decarbonization and Energy transition (INCLUDE) (Starting 31/01/20): The goal of INCLUDE aims to develop knowledge-based solutions that can facilitate a just and socially inclusive low-carbon energy transition. Participatory processes involving municipalities, citizens and energy corporations – 23 different user-partners in total - will be a key part of the centre’s work. The centre will be led by Professor Tanja Winther of the University of Oslo (UiO), with six main research partners: The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), CICERO Center for International Climate Research, The Institute of Transport Economics (TØI), OsloMet and Durham University, UK. I will be working with the Durham team.

Oil and Gas Transition: Building evidence for policy action in the UK, Norway and Denmark (15/01/21 → 15/04/23)

The grant aims to develop a better understanding of oil and gas transition scenarios for the North Sea region (Denmark, Norway and the UK), establish buy-in from key stakeholders and enable collaboration to scale up innovation and early-stage just transition efforts in the oil and gas sector.

Project team:

• Dr Kirsten Jenkins, University of Edinburgh
• Mr Navraj Ghaleigh Singh, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Stuart Haszeldine, University of Edinburgh

PhD Topics

I am interested in supervising PhD applicants on topics related to energy justice, the Just Transition, energy policy and energy transitions, especially from a STIS (Science, Technology and Innovation Studies) analytical perspective.

Find out more about the programmes that I am involved with: (opening in new windows)

• PhD in Science and Technology Studies
• MSc (R) Science and Technology Studies

Current PhD Students

• Lara Santos Ayllon, Ph.D. candidate. 'Justice and responsible research and innovation: Informing marine renewable and hydrogen innovation and deployment in island communities’ (First supervisor).

• Rebecca Grant, Ph.D. candidate. ‘The geographies of energy justice: assessing the implications of social update in Kenya’. ESRC 1+3 Studentship (Second supervisor).

• Yujia Ji, PhD. Candidate. “The impact of the energy transition on poverty alleviation in developing countries in Asia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic” (Second supervisor).

• Nicolas Silva, PhD. Candidate. “Participative and Collaborative Governance in Chile and Peru: An Energy Perspective”. Chilean Government (Second supervisor).

• Kaja Horn, PhD. Candidate. “Transformative Skills in the Energy Just Transition: Mixed-methods Pathways for Upskilling, Reskilling and Engaging New Entrants in Scotland”. ESRC and Skills Development Scotland collaborative studentship (First supervisor).

• Mathilde Rainard, PhD. Candidate. "Fairness implications of low carbon energy policies in the UK and France, an intersectional approach". Centre for Research in Energy Demand Solutions (External Supervisor for University of Leeds).

• Dr Lillian Sol Cueva, completed. ‘Women's imaginaries: Futuring energy in Mexico City's Public Markets' (External Supervisor for Erasmus University of Rotterdam) (Completed).

  Dr. Lee Towers, completed. “Energy justice, energy democracy and low-carbon transitions: a governmentality analysis of community energy in the UK”. (2nd supervisor, University of Brighton) (Completed).

• Dr Adolfo Mejia-Montero, Ph.D. candidate. 'Energy justice and utility-scale wind power in the Isthmus: Context, Resistance and Identity' (Completed).