2024: A new chapter

2024 has been a year has been the start of  a new way of working for this scientist.

​Transitions  &  New  Experiments

By the end of 2023, I knew the time had come to close the academic research chapter of my working life.  For many years I had genuinely believed that generating knowledge was the best way I could contribute positively to a sustainable future…but over time I’ve realised it’s not a lack of available knowledge that’s blocking that path; broadly we already have the essential scientific information - what we urgently need is for those essentials to be widely known and acted upon. 

So, whilst wrapping up my research work (planting some seeds for change along the way), I set myself up as a freelance scientist open to any and all forms of climate and nature communication. By early February, my first ‘bookings’ were trickling in. My first was to run an interactive introduction to climate and nature science as part of a training day for Yorkshire’s NHS clinical psychologists. Subsequent highlights have included a keynote speech for environmental masters’ program graduates, workshops for various faith organisations, speaking as a panellist at several environmental documentary film screenings, and facilitating a discussion with an author and TV presenter about their recent book. 

On the very same day as my first freelance ‘gig’ I started a part-time position with the renewables team at York Community Energy. My job involves working with local organisations such as libraries, sports centres and health centres to determine whether they’d be suitable locations for community-owned renewable energy infrastructure. Over the next year or so we’re looking to install a number of solar panel arrays and use the income from the energy we supply to support people in York who are most disadvantaged by our energy system through measures such as energy advice, home insulation and debt reduction (all whilst also contributing to the decarbonisation of our city’s energy supply). My Fridays are now spent with the rest of the team creating models, refining plans, reporting and communicating our insights from our small office, else we’re out cycling to visit our sites around York, often catching some impressive views from the rooftops.

I was delighted to accept a new opportunity last Spring, a contractor role as a researcher and writer for AimHi Earth.  For a time a few years back when I was learning everything I could about the climate and nature crisis, I took part in multiple sustainability training programmes and AimHi Earth’s stood out as by far the most holistic, engaging and motivating; it was a communication approach I was excited by at the time and am even more enthusiastic about now I’m involved with updating, refining, expanding and tailoring their training materials. Since joining the team, my role and responsibilities within it have grown significantly, my main focus now being a comprehensive refresh of the core training content that will be used to activate millions of nature-first thinkers around the world. 

Perhaps the most surprising project I’ve been involved with this year has been the creation of a non-fiction book: a collection of short personal essays from scientists who have become activists. Alongside writing my own story and the book’s introduction, I’ve been part of its coordinating team and have had the privilege of working with other chapter authors to tell their unique stories in compelling, and sometimes emotionally vulnerable, ways (something that often doesn't come naturally to us scientists). The writing is now complete and Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action is due for publication in March. 

Alongside this evolving portfolio of roles and projects, I’ve continued to channel energy into our flourishing local environmental network YorkCliConnect, created and shared a range of resources, and supported various campaigns and change-making organisations.  It’s been a particularly big year of action for Nature restoration, clean water and the Climate and Nature bill, as well as for challenging practices in the fossil fuel, biomass and insurance industries that are exacerbating the threats to life on Earth. 

Feelings  &  Learnings

Leaving the lab behind came with some feelings of sadness and loss, and it was nerve-wracking to take a leap to a very different way of working… but thanks to the incredibly heartening support I have had and to the people and organisations who’ve chosen to work with me, it’s been an overwhelmingly positive and rewarding transition. In the work I do now I’m finding it much easier to see impact and progress within a more tangible timeframe.  I’m being invited into spaces where there’s an appetite for change and I have the chance to help it grow. I feel valued and trusted by the teams I now work within, as well as by the people I interact with more transiently in the course of my freelance work. Some adjustments have been more difficult: adapting to a lot of remote work and a lack of routine hasn’t been seamless, and perhaps because my work feels more impactful and purpose-driven, it’s been harder to find balance. But with experience and the guidance of the community around me, I’m (gradually!) learning to recognise and avoid patterns of overwork and exhaustion. 

Alongside learning to work in different ways, my experiences in 2024 have really helped me develop confidence and competence as a writer, speaker and freelancer. In particular, the process of tailoring approaches and messages to better engage specific audiences has become more intuitive, and I’ve also come to appreciate the surprising power of the personal story (I intend to write more about this!). More than ever before, I’ve seen the enabling and supportive strengths of community; my friends, partner and activist family provided me so much encouragement as well as practical support to make this transition, and an even bigger network has made that transition a success. To name just a few of those contributors specifically, I’m hugely grateful to: Matthew, George and the wider team at AimHi Earth; my community energy colleagues Rich and Kirsten; fellow book coordinators Caroline and Viola and all the other scientists who have contributed to this project and the wider movement; everyone involved in environmental campaigning and activism  - it’s been a particularly tough year but there’s been a lot to be proud of; last but not least Caroline, Sophia, Zoe, Curly and Dom whose care and wisdom has meant more than I can articulate.

​Going  forwards

Much of the work I started this year will continue into 2025, but in order to work more sustainably and impactfully I’m making a commitment here to refine what I focus on.  Previously I’d intended to reach as many people as possible but now I’ll aim to prioritise bringing the most essential climate and nature science to those with the most power – and therefore responsibility – to accelerate necessary system change. In practice this means a shift in my community-based roles to focus less on delivering training, instead supporting others to gain confidence in doing so. It also means spending more time and energy engaging groups I’m currently less familiar with or comfortable within, specifically in corporate and political spaces. 

I’m looking forward to sharing our book, to seeing the impact of our new and refreshed training course, and overall to helping nurture understanding of climate and nature science in ways that grow our collective ability to act and adapt in a rapidly changing world. 

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