The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, hosted by the UK and Italy, took place in November 2021. Since then, what was achieved? What were the outcomes? How do these reconcile with Tasmania’s role as the gateway of the Antarctic in economic, research and energy plans into the future?
These matters will be discussed by Director; Tasmanian Policy Exchange Professor Richard Eccleston, and current University of Tasmania PhD candidates / Centre of Marine Socioecology members Katie Marx and Michael Murunga.
Richard Eccleston is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange at the University of Tasmania. He is a specialist in domestic and comparative political economy whose academic research focuses on taxation policy and public finance.
Katie Marx has a background in community development, social and environmental advocacy, and cultural studies, and has drawn on this experience to investigate civic participation in the Antarctic gateway cities. Taking a particular focus on Hobart and Punta Arenas (Chile), Katie’s project uses a variety of social research methods, including rapid policy network analysis and in-depth interviewing, to examine the ways in which local residents’ benefit from and contribute to their city’s Antarctic activities.
Michael Murunga is interested in knowing why people work together. His current research examines interactive public engagement by researchers, particularly around global environmental change. He draws on different theories and primarily uses qualitative methods to learn how and why distinct actors in society engage with science and vice versa.