East Midlands programme to support 30 doctoral researchers tackle climate change and mental health through storytelling
A new doctoral training centre utilising the power of storytelling to tackle the climate crisis and mental health will be launched in the East Midlands.
The East Midlands Sustainable Living and Mental Well-being (EM-SLAM) programme will train the next generation of researchers, policymakers and creative practitioners using the expertise of four leading universities and non-academic partners across the region.
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Focal Award, the EM-SLAM programme is a collaboration between the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University and Loughborough University.
EM-SLAM aims to address issues around climate anxiety, ecological grief, hope and future sustainable living by bringing together artists, academics, health professionals, environmental scientists and community organisations.
The EM-SLAM programme will support 30 doctoral researchers over the next nine years. Through the programme EM-SLAM, doctoral researchers will gain skills in:
- Creative and cross-disciplinary research methods
- Storytelling for policy and societal transformation
- Working with partners in arts, health and environmental sectors to design and co-produce knowledge that leads to real-world change.
The programme will be led by Professor Mike Wilson, Director of the Storytelling Academy at Loughborough University.
Speaking about the programme, Professor Wilson said: “This new initiative will ask researchers to look beyond how we just survive the challenges ahead – it will ask how we live well, together. By drawing on diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and creative thinking, we aim to co-create ideas that are equitable, practical, and transformative, and that will have real impact in policymaking and implementation.
“EM-SLAM is set to reimagine how research, education, and community action can work together to address the most complex challenges of our time.”
University of Leicester lead, Dr Harry Whitehead, said: “EM-SLAM will train multi- and inter-disciplinary environmental and mental-health leaders of tomorrow. Over the coming nine years, the University of Leicester’s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities will host at least 7 PhD researchers from the main cohort. In collaboration with our academic, charitable, medical and other institutions across the East Midlands, we will be helping to develop innovative responses to some of humanity’s most urgent current challenges.”