Loughborough and Surrey project to map energy and productivity
A researcher at Loughborough University has been awarded funding by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to explore the role of energy in the UK’s productivity puzzle.
Dr Joanna Boehnert, of the School of the Arts, English and Drama, will be working with the University of Surrey’s Professor Tim Jackson, Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity and the project lead, to map the links between energy and productivity in the UK. The project will also look to understand the relationships between wellbeing and productivity.
Energy – generated from both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources – is a central factor in economic productivity across all industries. The UK has increasingly less access to high grade energy and this has a significant impact on economic productivity. Associated problems are further complicated by climate change and the need for renewable energy.
The Loughborough and Surrey research team will use participatory systems mapping – a method that sees a group of stakeholders work together to develop maps through workshops – to map the existing links between productivity and energy.
In particular, the focus will be on understanding how changes in the energy basis of the economy might explain the declining growth rate of UK productivity over the last few decades.
It is hoped the research will enhance discussions on UK productivity and inform policymaking across various institutions. The project also looks to frame future directions for ESRC-funded productivity research.
Dr Boehnert said: “Since energy is central to sustainable futures, I am excited by the potential of this research to not only document the evidence base but potentially reveal spaces for interventions for sustainable transitions.”
Professor Tim Jackson commented: “All economic activity involves the use and transformation of energy. The quality of energy resources is declining – we’re having to work harder to get the energy we need to power the economy. One of the areas we’ll be exploring is whether this could have contributed to the UK’s declining productivity growth.”
Dr Boehnert recently discussed how surviving climate change means transforming both economics and design in The Conversation. The article can be found here.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 19/43
Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.
It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
A researcher at Loughborough University has been awarded funding by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to explore the role of energy in the UK’s productivity puzzle.
Dr Joanna Boehnert, of the School of the Arts, English and Drama, will be working with the University of Surrey’s Professor Tim Jackson, Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity and the project lead, to map the links between energy and productivity in the UK. The project will also look to understand the relationships between wellbeing and productivity.
Energy – generated from both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources – is a central factor in economic productivity across all industries. The UK has increasingly less access to high grade energy and this has a significant impact on economic productivity. Associated problems are further complicated by climate change and the need for renewable energy.
The Loughborough and Surrey research team will use participatory systems mapping – a method that sees a group of stakeholders work together to develop maps through workshops – to map the existing links between productivity and energy.
In particular, the focus will be on understanding how changes in the energy basis of the economy might explain the declining growth rate of UK productivity over the last few decades.
It is hoped the research will enhance discussions on UK productivity and inform policymaking across various institutions. The project also looks to frame future directions for ESRC-funded productivity research.
Dr Boehnert said: “Since energy is central to sustainable futures, I am excited by the potential of this research to not only document the evidence base but potentially reveal spaces for interventions for sustainable transitions.”
Professor Tim Jackson commented: “All economic activity involves the use and transformation of energy. The quality of energy resources is declining – we’re having to work harder to get the energy we need to power the economy. One of the areas we’ll be exploring is whether this could have contributed to the UK’s declining productivity growth.”
Dr Boehnert recently discussed how surviving climate change means transforming both economics and design in The Conversation. The article can be found here.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 19/43
Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.
It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
