Researcher Acceptability of low energy demand scenarios (1.0 FTE)

The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen invites applications for a researcher position (9 months). The aim of the project is to investigate the acceptability of low energy demand scenarios, and to determine the conditions under which different low energy demand scenarios are acceptable and likely to be adopted by individuals, households and communities.

Environmental Psychology at the University of Groningen has a national and international reputation for excellence. Research within the Environmental Psychology group focuses on a wide range of topics, including understanding which factors influence sustainable behaviours (such as energy use, car use, food consumption); understanding how people cope with environmental and climate risks; understanding the effectiveness of strategies to promote sustainable behaviour; understanding the acceptability of environmental policies; and the effects of sustainable behaviour on wellbeing. The research contributes to theory development and to practice. The Environmental Psychology group collaborates with scholars from different disciplines within and outside the University of Groningen, as well as with governments, NGOs, businesses, and organisations.

The project
To effectively mitigate climate change, reductions in energy demand are needed. The project aims to identify how people evaluate low energy demand scenarios, which factors affect the likelihood that people accept low energy demand scenarios, and which factors affect the likelihood that reductions in energy demand are achieved. The research aims to identify under which conditions low energy demand scenarios will be acceptable, and which strategies and policies can promote acceptability of low energy demand scenarios.

You will work in an interdisciplinary team, including climate and energy modellers. You are able to develop low energy demand scenarios based on the input of and discussions with the climate and energy modellers, and develop and apply methods to evaluate these scenarios. You will publish the results in a final report, and present the results to the project partners.