We spoke to four academics from across the College of Arts and Law about how their research is linked to climate change and what they hope to see out of COP28.
Dr Jeremy Kidwell, Senior Lecturer in Theological Ethics in the Department of Theology and Religion speaks on the importance of inclusion and climate change. His recent research focuses on how we must change our perception’s that climate change is not a key concern for people of colour. The project uncovers that this is not the case and that people of colour are deeply engaged with the climate crisis as an issue.
Dr Nathan Cardon, Associate Professor in United States History in the Department of History explains the importance of keeping innovative technologies inclusive. He emphasises how Historians are vital to show the perspective of how structural inequalities can become embedded in technologies in ways that are not so apparent on new innovations. His recent research looks into the bicycle as a form of technology.
Professor John Holmes, Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture in the Department of English Literature delves into his work on John Ruskin and the value of forests. He touches on his work with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) and how literary texts can get people engaged with forests and natural environments. There is an importance placed on imagination and how it can help us think of the world we would like to build.
Dr Lovleen Bhullar, Assistant Professor in the Birmingham Law School explores the three main strands of her research relating to Climate Change. The first strand focuses on how individuals communities and corporations being increasingly asked to think of themselves as environmental citizens and how they respond to this conception of what an ‘environmental citizen’ is in terms of environmental duties. The second, is water security and human rights of individuals and communities at the local level within countries. Exploring rights to water, sanitation, and sustainable agriculture to understand to the multi-level dimensions of climate change. To conclude, the third focuses on the regulation of antimicrobial resistance in the environment, like climate change, it is viewed as global problem and the project explores the similarities between climate change and the way we regulate it.
The Arts and Humanities evidently offers a range of interdisciplinary research linked to climate change. With there being an overarching theme of equality and inclusion that runs through the work that the academics in the College of Arts and Law are undertaking.
Senior Lecturer in Theological Ethics
Biographical and contact information for Dr Jeremy Kidwell, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor in United States History
Biographical details of Dr Nathan Cardon, Department of History, University of Birmingham.
Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture
Biographical and contact information for Professor John Holmes, Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture at the University of Birmingham.
