CCCbiz meeting

The European Centre for Environment and Human Health hosted an interdisciplinary business/academic event at the end of January 2012. The aim was to bring together creative and environmentally-focussed businesses in Cornwall with academics from across the Peninsula, to network and share ideas. The focus was to explore how enhanced communication methods and academic expertise could impact on organisations where climate change is a driver for their business (e.g. renewables, sustainable transport, waste treatment).

40 delegates attended, representing a great breadth of sectors and specialities. These people largely fitted into one of three areas:

1) Message - Organisations with a product or service related to sustainability or low carbon

2) Transmit - Organisations expert in communication – such as marketing, media, design agencies

3) Study - Researchers and academics from across the Peninsula with knowledge related to climate change communication

Many attendees provided examples of their work to assist with introducing them. These are provided below, by category:




Ella Westland
Community energy group (Transition St Goran)
transitionstgoran.wordpress.com

Ella Westland was introduced using the above image, showing the first wind turbine installed by the community energy group (Transition St Goran), which she has been involved with. Links to two videos related to this are available here:
http://www.cep.org.uk/info-for-you/info-for-communities/current-projects/low-carbon-living-ladock-and-grampound-road/
http://kernowkabin.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/community-power-cornwall-gorran-high-lanes/




Mark Hatwood
CoBRA (Community Battery Recycling Alliance)
www.cobrascheme.com

Mark Hatwood was introduced with the above image, showing the way that the CoBRA scheme gives volunteers the opportunity to assist in collecting batteries (and fluorescent light bulbs) from their community for recycling.




Hannah Bullock
Eden Project
www.edenproject.com

Hannah Bullock chose to be introduced with the above image, from a Clear About Carbon project. This web tool can show the carbon dioxide impact behind everyday items and lifestyle choices. The tool is available here: What's Your Carbon Footprint?




Tom James
Senior Research and Evaluation Officer
Clear About Carbon
www.clearaboutcarbon.com

Tom James presented us with this image of the Carbon Literacy exhibit at the Eden Project. This has a brilliantly simple premise of showing the amount of CO2 produced by a range of objects and activities, relative to a journey in a Smart car. The objects within the car are all labelled with different quantities, making it easy to compare different amounts.




Michael Westley
Westley Design
www.westleydesign.co.uk

Michael Westley asked to be introduced with this image - showing an impression of the Barton Orchard development in South Devon. It features earth sheltered houses, with passive heating through optimal orientation, photovoltaic solar panels on partially green roofs, and many other sustainable innovations.




Abraham Cambridge
Technical and Commercial Director
Renewable Energy Co-operative (R-ECO)
www.r-eco.co.uk

This image shows the recently completed R-ECO 75kW roof integrated solar energy system at Heartlands in Poole. Heartlands is a social regeneration project for the Camborne-Pool-Redruth region, and the visitors centre for the newly appointed World Heritage status of Cornish Tin Mining.




Rachel Gaunt
Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects
www.pbwc.co.uk

Rachael sent in this image of the island of Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly. They wanted to highlight the need for communicating choices today on architectural designs that must last 50 years or more.




Terence Bourton
Ocean Housing
www.ocean-group.co.uk

Ocean Housing is a Registered Social Landlord with a stock of some 2700 general needs homes and 725 sheltered properties throughout Cornwall.




Robert Woolf
Director
Sea Communications
www.sea-communications.co.uk

Robert Woolf provided this image showing their Stop The Traffik project. This allows users to post and share information about potential traffiking incidents that they have witnessed - allowing evidence from different geographical locations to be brought together to monitor and control illegal human traffiking.



Andrew Clappison
Communications Manager
CommsConsult
commsconsult.org

Comms Consult were introduced with the above image, showing the wide range of communication-related services that the business offers - including communication strategies, information management, training and workshops, multimedia and monitoring/evaluation.




Caroline Robinson
Cartographer & Designer
Clear Mapping Company
clearmapping.co.uk

Clear Mapping specialise in locational, directional and route maps for businesses in the South-West of England.



Matt Hollands
Sam White
MPAD
www.mpad.co.uk

MPAD offers a range of marketing, public relations, advertising and design services to a variety of clients with the aim of helping them communicate effectively with their customers. They also have a commitment to reducing their impact on the environment.




Martin Jackson
Journalist and Copywriter
martinjackson.writersresidence.com

Martin sent this image for his introduction - the cover of a book he was commissioned to write about the design and build of the Eden Project to mark its opening. He describes his professional interest - and personal pleasure - to be storytelling.




Matt Hocking
Director
Design for Change (LEAP)
www.leap.uk.net

Leap are a graphic design agency with strong environmental and social commitments. Matt spent 3 years as the head of graphics for Eden, and since 2004 has been running Leap - where the mission is no less than "changing the world through design".




Robert Rush
Managing Director
PFA Research Ltd
www.pfa-research.com

PFA supply market intelligence to allow their clients to evaluate, quantify and address their market and customers. The services they provide include interviews, focus groups, mystery shopping, and postal, online or telephone surveys.




Dr Will Stahl-Timmins
Associate Research Fellow
European Centre for Environment and Human Health
www.ecehh.org/staff/dr-will-stahl-timmins

Will's research involves the presentation of environment and human health data using information graphics. One current project involves the presentation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) impacts report in different formats (graphical and textual) to assess the effects on public understanding of climate science.





Amy Nettley
PhD student
University of Exeter
geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/pgrstudents/index.php?web_id=Amy_Nettley

Amy Nettley's doctoral research explores how 3D animations can help local communities understand the effects of climatic change on the landscape of the Tamar Valley.




Shukru Esmene
PhD Student
European Centre for Environment and Human Health
www.ecehh.org/staff/shukru-esmene

Shukru's doctoral project explores 'knowledge waste' between different stakeholders involved with electric cars. The project is a collaboration between the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and a Cornish business, Eco-drive.




Prof Mike Wilson
Sarah Chapman
Francesca Booker
Project ASPECT
University College Falmouth
www.projectaspect.org

ASPECT uses digital video recording technology to gather stories from across the UK - putting climate change into the context of our everyday lives.




Dr Nick Bearman
Associate Research Fellow
European Centre for Environment and Human Health
www.ecehh.org/staff/dr-nick-bearman

Nick's research interests include communication through mapping techniques such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS). He has also used sound and cartograms to communicate particular aspects of spatial data.




Katharina Kaesehage
PhD student
University of Exeter
geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/pgrstudents/index.php?web_id=Katharina_Kaesehage

Katharina's doctoral research aims to help businesses understand the cultural and physical context of climate change. Her project is supported by the European Social Fund, focussing on the maritime business sector.




Dr Daro Montag
Associate Professor of Art & Environment
University College Falmouth
www.rane-research.org

As an artist and lecturer, Dr Montag tries to raise awareness of environmental issues, in particular the combined impacts of climate change and peak oil. He leads a research group, RANE, and an MA in Art & Environment. The image he showed was of a biochar furnace - a method of carbon sequestering, related to one of his art projects.




Carolyn Arnold
PhD Student
University College Falmouth
http://air.falmouth.ac.uk/users/ca144384

Carolyn's doctoral project investigates storytelling as a paradigm for promoting pro-environmental behaviour, exploring the effects of perceived social norms on business attitudes towards sustainability.