Postdoc Environmental Communication, opening up polarization in forests

The Department of Urban and Rural Development at SLU offers a strong social science research environment in the subjects of rural development, environmental communication, landscape architecture and agrarian history. The Division of Environmental Communication is growing, and we are now recruiting two new colleagues to contribute to both our research and education. At the division, we investigate the communicative aspects of environmental and sustainability issues. We consider communication as the joint construction of meaning rather than as the transmission of information, and conduct primarily qualitative social science research concerned with themes such as legitimacy, gender, participation, power, resistance, conflict and learning in decision-making and change processes from a communication perspective. Our research spans a wide range of contexts such as nature conservation, forestry, food production, climate change, game management, mining and the built environment.

About the position

The forestry debate is polarized, and arenas for constructive communication between involved parties are impaired. Discussions about forestry in relation to questions of climate change and biodiversity conservation have come to resemble a “ping-pong match” where arguments bounce back and forth, creating dead-locked positions in a time when urgent action is needed. At the same time, actors at both ends of the production - conservation spectrum agree that polarization is destructive, and that they want more constructive conversations on forestry-related issues.

This post doc project aims to explore, using cases from both Sweden and Finland, if, where and how constructive conversations can and do come about in a time when the demands on forests are many, and in a context where there are plural knowledge claims and expertises to draw on when making claims. The project has a particular focus on what we call the space ‘in-between’, i.e. a space where claims are less rigid, more diverse, and perhaps more solution-oriented.
The post doc is funded by Stora Enso.


Tasks:
Based on qualitative research methods, specific objectives of the project are to:


• examine selected communication processes to identify characteristics that render them constructive, or conversely, that make communication polarizing or destructive;
• investigate how actors with different stakes in forests (e.g., NGOs, researchers from various academic disciplines, representatives from authorities and municipalities, civil society and industry) describe and problematize forest communication, how they conceptualize constructive and respectful communication processes, including their own role, responsibility and capacity to contribute in such direction
• based on (1) and (2), develop recommendations for respectful conversations on forestry-related issues.

Research-related tasks include, for example, data collection, analysis and write-up, and sharing of the findings. 

Qualifications:
We are looking for a highly motivated, proactive and creative postdoc with a PhD degree and a strong background in environmental communication or another relevant social science (such as sociology, political sciences, human geography or communication science), as well as experience in theoretically grounded, qualitative empirical research. As most of the empirical work will take place in Sweden and Finland, Finnish or Swedish language skills are required. We also expect the candidate to be strong in both written and spoken English.

Requirements are also experience in exploratory qualitative research methods and experience of collaborative research with actors outside the academy. Further, very good analytical ability is required as is experience of working with forest contexts, particularly from the Nordic countries is a merit.

Emphasis is placed on personal qualities such as being creative and independent and experienced in working in project teams with both more junior and senior colleagues.

The position is intended for a junior researcher and we are primarily looking for someone who has completed their doctorate no more than three years ago.

 

Working at SLU:

https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/

Placement:

Uppsala

Fixed term employment of 24 months at 100%

 

Application:
Welcome with your application no later than 2022-05-15.

Union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se