Spotlight on…

Dr Catherine Butler, Co-investigator, University of Exeter

What’s your current role at your institution?

I am Associate Professor in Human Geography within the Faculty of Environment, Science, and Economy at University of Exeter. I lead several projects examining processes of environmental governance and transitions and bringing focus on the intersections between policy, politics, and everyday life. My research looks at the ways these relations shape transitions toward sustainability, critically engaging with assumptions about how change happens and can be achieved. My work seeks not only to reveal issues with existing policy and approaches but to highlight alternative forms of intervention that may offer stronger routes to meaningful change.

Which past experiences have helped you the most in your current role?

My background and original training, during my PhD, was in Sociology and I subsequently worked in a Psychology department for several years, before moving into Geography.  This interdisciplinary grounding has been important in opening-up my perspective and understanding issues that are at the heart of the Transforming Homes project. Throughout my career working across disciplines and with those outside of academia has been important and shaped my abilities to work effectively in the kinds of diverse, transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams that also characterise Transforming Homes.

My previous research has involved engaging with diverse groups of people through interviews, workshops, and creative methods giving me the necessary experience to design and develop engagement activities and processes for this project that build insight into everyday experiences of and feelings about transitions.

 What excites you about the research in the Transforming Homes project?

Transforming homes is working closely with partners and residents to deliver real change and deep learning about sustainable home transitions. This engaged aspect of the project is what excites me the most. I feel strongly about highlighting the importance of undertaking transitions in ways that put residents and communities at the heart of processes. Having the opportunity to build insight into ways of working that reflect this and show its importance to successful transitions is a really exciting aspect of the project.

How is your expertise contributing to the Transforming Homes project?

My expertise in public engagement and qualitative research methods is what I bring to the project. This expertise contributes to delivering our engagement work, but also to building insight into the importance and relevance of centring people in processes of transition to ensure successful outcomes.