Energy Cultures – a multi-scalar framework to support interdisciplinary research on energy behaviour

Dr Janet Stephenson is a social scientist with a particular interest in societal responses to environmental challenges. She is the Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago, which carries out interdisciplinary collaborative research in agriculture, food, energy and environment. Janet’s research interests are in three main areas – energy and society, perceptions of landscapes, and indigenous resource management.

In the energy field, Janet leads the 4-year interdisciplinary research programme Energy Cultures 2 which examines opportunities to support energy-related behaviour change in households, businesses and transport. She is also actively involved in the GREEN Grid research programme, which is looking at the future of New Zealand’s electricity system.Janet has also carried out research on the social acceptance of renewable electricity developments in New Zealand. She is a member of the Trust Board of New Zealand’s National Energy Research Institute.

CEDS International Guest Speaker Series 2014