Support for 1in5

  • "Young people are very concerned about climate change, and feel dispirited about the prospect of politicians addressing the root causes. The 1in5 project offers not just a platform for tackling environmental issues but also an opportunity for students to take the reins and transform their concerns into active contributions. By committing to this project, we do more than just research; we cultivate a generation of professionals who are attuned to the realities of our world and equipped to shape it for the better. I am fully in support of the 1in5 project and the transformative impact it promises."

    Dr Marc Williams, Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer, University of Cardiff

  • “I’m pleased to see my colleagues in Psychology leading the way on this and I hope that other disciplines will join them. The 1in5 project is a superb idea, providing the perfect opportunity for academic colleagues, post-graduate researchers, and undergraduate students to engage in this incredibly important topic”

    Prof Andrew Stewart, Head of Computer Science, University of Manchester

  • "The carbon labeling project was incredibly interesting and inspiring as I was not previously aware of the application of psychology to mitigating climate change. I learned a lot and the project allowed me to be part of important research that can help to mitigate climate change, which was empowering.”

    Emily, Year 3 BSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Manchester

  • “The Applied Vision Association (AVA) strongly supports the 1in5 Initiative and sees clear potential for the UK vision science community to contribute by developing climate-relevant projects."

    Prof. Isabelle Mareschal, Chair of the AVA

  • “1in5 is a fantastic idea for students and staff. My final-year project students last year were really enthusiastic about doing a 1in5 project and they were clearly passionate about trying to tackle climate change. From my perspective, by engaging with climate research I learned far more than I knew previously about how Psychology might address such issues. I’ll definitely be offering more 1in5 projects in future.”

    Dr Rebecca Champion, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, University of Manchester

  • “The Psychonomic Society recognizes the seriousness of climate change and is therefore supportive of all initiatives that harness the power of the cognitive and behavioral sciences to work towards a more healthy and more sustainable future. The 1 in 5 initiative is one creative initiative that helps contribute to those goals.”

    Prof Stephan Lewandowsky Chair-elect, Governing Board, Psychonomic Society

  • “This is a really valuable initiative which I hope will flourish in many disciplines - arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, health sciences and engineering disciplines. We will certainly be encouraging uptake throughout the University of Bristol.”

    Prof Chris Preist, Academic Director of Sustainability, University of Bristol

  • “being part of the 1in5 was a no-brainer, it required relatively little effort from staff and, because the model is fully open and run by academics, ideas can be shared and even supervisors with very little expertise in sustainability can run projects that students are excited about and find fulfilling. Critically, it’s not just a badge, but it directs a substantial resource in a joined-up way to build the evidence-base around action on the climate.”

    Dr Christopher Kent, University of Bristol

  • “I have worked on climate change for fifteen years and in that time have been fortunate to collaborate with musicians, theatre producers, artists, writers and climate activists – as well as ocean scientists, business innovators, health professionals, sociologists, engineers and many more. What I’ve learned from this is that the climate crisis needs energy, ideas and inspiration from people across the academic spectrum and from all backgrounds. The 1in5 initiative recognises the cross-cutting nature of this globally important issue, providing practical support that helps academics and students apply their own concerns and skills to the defining issue of our time.”

    Dr Stuart Capstick, Climate Scientist and Activist, Deputy Director of CAST Centre

  • "The 1-in-5 project is an initiative that takes seriously the threat posed by climate change and environmental degradation. This action aligns well with the University of Bath’s Climate Action Framework through its potential to mobilise the enormous amount of data generated through dissertations to create more knowledge and progress in this critical area. By giving students opportunities to explore the challenges faced in sustainable development aims, we can expand the reach of climate research into areas where it hasn’t previously existed, while helping students and staff to feel they are constructively joining an enormous community of peers and colleagues all working towards the same goal.”

    Prof Greg Maio, Head of Department of Psychology, University of Bath

  • “We know that students care about environmental change and wish to cover it as part of their degree. The 1in5 project allows our undergraduates to do a substantial piece of work that combines the study of environmental change and traditional psychological research.”

    Prof Katherine Shelton, Head of School, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

  • “The societal challenges presented by climate crisis require innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions. The 1in5 project gives the university community an opportunity to play our part in developing these solutions and, more generally, to feel engaged and empowered. We encourage colleagues in Psychology and other disciplines to embrace this excellent initiative.”

    Prof Anna Theakston, Head of Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience & Prof Richard Brown Head of Division of Psychology & Mental Health, University of Manchester

  • “My research specialism is how our brains support memory and how these processes can break down in the cases of amnesia and dementia. I ran a 1in5 project this year. It was looking at the effects on increased anxiety on memory but the anxiety was brought about by watching a video on climate change. So it didn’t take much to change it from what we normally do, but the student definitely got more out of it this way.”

    Prof Seralynne Vann, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

  • “Climate science is a long way away from my area of expertise but this year I was happy to offer to supervise a climate focussed final year project.”

    Dr Aline Bompas, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Cardiff University

  • “This is a fab concept, and one doesn’t need to be limited to final year dissertation projects. We’re currently thinking about how we can take one of the study ideas and shape it into a second year lab practical. Watch this space!”

    Dr Peter Allen, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol

  • “Working in a biology department, many of my colleagues’ research is directly or indirectly to do with anthropogenic change. However, climate change affects all of us, and what the 1in5 initiative does is empower those of us who are not ecologists or earth scientists to make a contribution towards saving the planet. 1in5 tilts the balance from helplessness and despair to positive action. Every little helps.”

    Prof Innes Cuthill, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol

  • “The Cardiff University Planetary Health Network supports the 1-in-5 project. Our members - represented by all disciplines across the university - have identified a need for protected time, space and resource to think, research and inform about our connections between people and the planet. Staff and students need space and opportunity together to create urgent necessary solutions for human and nonhuman thriving that are just and fair. We are not only affected by climate change, we are the cause of climate change. For the same reason, our institutions must become the solutions for the future.”

    Dr Sara MacBride-Stewart (SocSci) and Dr Jo Lello (BioSci), Planetary Health Network, Cardiff University

  • “1in5 gives our staff and students an opportunity to both think about and actively engage with climate issues. It also aligns with our wider social responsibility goals at programme level and also in terms of the wider university. I strongly support this initiative.”

    Dr Doron Cohen, Programme Director, BSc. Psychology, University of Manchester

  • "The 1in5 project is an initiative that's very easy to implement, and very important in the field of healthcare. What I really like is that it allows the opportunity for academic staff to become more involved in the impact and effect of environmental change (linked to their own expertise), whilst offering students (our future healthcare professionals) the opportunity to explore and become more informed about the science alongside the link to professional clinical practice. By adopting the 1in5 project, we can make a small, impactful change that contributes to a brighter future."

    Dr Samantha Strong, Head of Year 1, School of Optometry, Aston University

  • “It has been argued (by Lynn White Jr.) that religion – specifically Christianity – bears much of the blame for the environmental crises. Whatever the truth of that, religious communities can certainly be a key part of the response. Much work is being done marshalling the motivational and analytical resources of the world’s religions to address the problem. This project has significant potential both to extend and help disseminate that crucial work more deeply into the life of the faith communities themselves.”

    Revd Dr Stephen Roberts, Honorary Lecturer, School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University

  • “I’m excited by the 1in5 project. It offers a route to gather momentum on thinking about environmental change. Every academic supervisor can develop ideas with interested students to focus their intellectual interests on topics in this area. I’m inviting my 4th year project students to develop ideas for 2023-24, and hope to create a group within the School of Psychology and Neuroscience to join the 1in5 project.”

    Prof. Julie Harris, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews

  • “I think the 1in5 project is a fantastic initiative. As a perception and motor-control scientist it’s easy to have a knee-jerk, ‘this is outside my wheelhouse’ reaction. But the process of thinking about how my work might contribute to climate-related research has been both surprising and interesting, revealing many more opportunities than anticipated (helped by the Psychology project examples on the 1in5 website). I will be offering the opportunity to develop a climate-related piece of research to my upcoming undergraduate Psychology project students. I’ll also be giving my best sales pitch to my colleagues, in hope of a critical mass of researchers in our School joining 1in5.”

    Dr Simon Watt, School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University

  • “I just learnt about 1in5 while visiting the UK. The project is so important and timely. I will share the idea with colleagues in Canada to see if there is any scope to adapt the idea to the degrees at York University in Toronto.”

    Professor Laurence Harris, Professor of Psychology, Kinesiology and Health Sciences, and Biology, York University, Toronto, Canada

  • “As a PhD student in air quality, I find that working on hyper-narrow fields seems to do little to address the broad spectrum issues surrounding climate and nature. The siloed nature of traditional research has led to an epidemic of closed-thinking, but the 1in5 initiative appears to champion the breadth and embrace joining the dots. Students trained in this way will contribute significantly to academia. I believe that the barriers against climate action are not related to a lack of knowledge, but instead partly related to joined up thinking. With more understanding of complexity and connections, more climate action will follow.”

    Pete Knapp, Air Quality PhD candidate, Imperial College London

  • “Speeding up the green transition means supporting students to feel engaged, empowered and armed with a sense of agency that positive change is possible. The 1in5 initiative can help to achieve this by providing a framework within which students can not only explore their own potential contribution to solving the climate crisis, but experience a sense of collective momentum in the knowledge that thousands of others have made the same choice too.”

    Dr Adam Corner, Affiliate, Centre for Climate Change & Social Transformations Climate//Communication//Culture

  • "As someone who has been designing low carbon products, services, and policies across various sectors for 15 years, I wholeheartedly endorse the 1in5 project. It not only addresses urgent issues of climate and biodiversity but also provides organizations with a unique advantage. By redirecting academic efforts towards environmental change, the 1in5 project creates an opportunity for organizations to tap into a vast talent pool of smart, passionate individuals—both students and academics. This initiative empowers organizations to easily access these bright minds, fostering innovation and collaboration while addressing pressing environmental challenges. With the 1in5 project, organizations can seize the chance to work alongside the nation's top talent, contributing to a sustainable future and creating lasting positive change."

    Dr Matt Lipson, Low Carbon Product Designer, Director Carbon Free Future