Prof. Katy Roelich
- Position: Professor
- Areas of expertise: sustainability transformations; decision making; public perceptions; participation; uncertainty; infrastructure
- Email: K.E.Roelich@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 343 2656
- Location: 10.25 Priestley Building
- Website: Research website | LinkedIn | Googlescholar
Profile
My research and teaching are shaped by an intense interest in change and in the institutional factors and processes that might drive (or constrain) sustainability transformations. This leads me to analyse how organisations might drive transformation, to understand why they don’t and to search for solutions. I apply this approach internally, to drive change within the University of Leeds, and externally to support public sector organisations in delivering sustainability transformations. My research also highlights the importance of participation in sustainability transformation, so I embed participation across my research from exploring public perceptions, to researching approaches to public engagement in policy making. My interest in change means that my research is impact oriented and has influenced the work of multiple public sector actors. I balance this impact with critical work on methodological approaches and on conceptualising the systems I study to ensure that the complexity of these systems is fully represented in recommendations I make.I joined Leeds from the Stockholm Environment Insitute (SEI), where I worked in the field of sustainable consumption and production and led the Rethinking Development Theme. Prior to joining academia in 2010 I had nine years' experience in environmental and engineering consulting in the UK and overseas. I provided environmental and sustainability advice on issues ranging from waste management to climate change mitigation for the private sector, government agencies and utilty companies.
Current research projects include:
Transformations Experience Research Network Sustainability (TransformERS): COST Action to inform research, policy and practice for transformations that deliver justice oin a changing global context by bringing together and postioning research relevant to societal transformations. I co-lead Working Group 1 addressing the integration of knowledge and justice.
Leeds Model of Citizen Power and Engagement: exploring how to engage a broad range of citizens in complex issues of change and building towards a Leeds Model for Citizen Power and Engagement, which will build deliberative capacity in LCC, citizens and communities, improve the effectiveness of LCC’s decision-making processes and stimulate change across the democratic system in Leeds.
Adaptive decision making for urban energy transformations: my EPSRC fellowship began in 2017 and will explore how we can make better decisions to transform infrastructure systems, taking into account deep physical and social uncertainties and crucially the fact that multiple actors must make decisions and interact to deliver system transformation.
Research interests
- The role of institutions and decision making in driving sustainability transformations
- Citizen engagement in sustainability transformations
- Democracy and social justice in sustainable transformations
Qualifications
- PhD Sustainability Research, University of Leeds
- MSc, Environmental Engineering, Newcastle University
- BSc (Hons), Chemistry, University of Durham
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Student education
I teach in the School of Earth and Environment on stakeholder engagement, participatory methods and justice
Research groups and institutes
- Energy and Climate Change Mitigation
- Sustainability Research Institute