Department of International Relations

photo of Chris Shaw

Dr Chris Shaw

Post:Research Associate (International Relations)
Location:IDS
Email:C.J.Shaw@sussex.ac.uk
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Biography

Christopher Shaw, Senior Researcher at Climate Outreach, has over 15 years years of experience in research and teaching in the area of climate policy, social geography, public engagement and socio-technical transitions. Working at the nexus of academia and practice he helps a global roster of clients research and create effective strategies for engaging their stakeholders with the science and policy of climate change and energy transitions.

Chris holds a DPhil in global climate policy from the school of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex. His thesis was entitled Choosing a Dangerous Limit for Climate Change; How the Decision Making Process is Constructed in Public Discourses. (Oct 2006-April 2011). The thesis was examined by Professor Brian Wynne and Dr David Ockwell and was passed without correction. The thesis described how expert and policy constructions of a dangerous limit to climate change are reproduced in a broad range of public discourses. Prior to returning to academia Christopher was a successful marketing executive and manager.

Awards

Monograph shortlisted for the Philip Abrams Memorial Prize                                       2016

IAMCR New Directions for Climate Communication Research Fellowship Award            2015

British Sociological Association Climate Change Study Group Article Prize                   2014                                  

Awarded Angela Taylor Memorial Prize for undergraduate dissertation                        1993

Qualifications

DPhil 2011: “Choosing a dangerous limit for climate change: how the decision-making process is represented in public discourses.” School of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex.

MSc 2007: “Social Research Methods”. University of Sussex

BSc (Hons) 2:1 (1993) Geography. Anglia Ruskin University

Academic Employment

August 2015 – Senior Researcher, Climate Outreach, Oxford.

September 2013 - Visiting Faculty, School of Business, Management and Economics, University of Sussex.

June 2013- July 2015: Knowledge Exchange Research Fellow, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford

November 2011- June 2013: Contract Researcher, Science and Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex

 

Selected Journal Papers, Books and Book Chapters

Shaw, C., Hurth, V., Capstick, S. and Cox, E. (2018) 'Intermediaries’ perspectives on the public’s role in the energy transitions needed to deliver UK climate change policy goals'. Energy Policy Vol 116 p. 267–276

Shaw, C. (2018). 'Searching for the middle ground on climate change.' Tvergastein. Interdisciplinary Journal of the Environment. Issue 10. Pp 10-17

Shaw, C and Corner, A. (2017) ‘Using Narrative Workshops to socialise the climate debate: lessons from two case studies - centre-right audiences and the Scottish public.’ Energy Research and Social Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.029

Shaw, C. Hellsten, I and Nerlich, B. (2016). "Framing Risk and Uncertainty in Social Science Articles on Climate Change", 1995-2012 in Communicating Risk (Eds. Crichton, J. Candlin, C. and Firkins A.S.) Palgrave Macmillan

Shaw, C (2016). The role of rights, risks and responsibilities in the climate justice debate. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management.

Shaw, C (2015). The Two Degrees Dangerous Limit for Climate Change.  Public Understanding and Decision Making Oxford: Routledge 

Newell, P, Bulkeley, H, Shaw, C et al. (2015). Governance traps in climate change politics: re-framing the debate in terms of responsibilities and rights. WIREs Climate Change, Vol 6 (6) pp 535-540

Shaw, C (2015). Reframing climate risk to build public support for radical emission reductions: the role of deliberative democracy. Carbon Management. 

Shaw, C and Nerlich, B (2015). Metaphor as a mechanism of global climate governance: A study of international policies 1992-2012. Ecological Economics Vol. 109, pp. 31-40.

Kern, F, Smith, A, Shaw, C, Raven, R, and Verhees, B (2014). From laggard to leader: Explaining offshore wind developments in the UK. Energy Policy. Vol. 69, pp. 635-646.

Shaw, C (2013). ‘Choosing a dangerous limit for climate change: Public representations of the decision-making process.’ Global Environmental Change. 23 pp. 563-571

Shaw, C (2010)."The dangerous limits of dangerous limits: climate change and the precautionary principle". In Nature, Society and Environmental Crisis, Eds. Carter, B and Charles, N. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell

Other publications

Corner, A., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Communicating Environmental and Sustainability Science - Challenges, opportunities, and the changing political context. A Knowledge Report for Mistra. Oxford: Climate Outreach.

Shaw, C. (2017) The Two Degrees Celsius Target. Oxford Research Encyclopaedia 

Marshall, G., Yashwant, S., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Communicating climate change in India: a Global Narratives project. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Marshall, G., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Global Narratives of climate change: a new approach topublic engagement research. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C. and Corner, A. (2017). Public engagement with climate change post-Brexit: a centre-right perspective. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C., Corner, A., Clarke J. (2017). Climate Visuals. Towards a new visual language for COP22 and beyond. Supplementary report: A comparison of images from COP21 and COP22. Climate Outreach

Shaw, C. (2016). Climate Change Public Conversation Series. Framework for Developing Conversations. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C (2014). Moving the climate debate forward: Re-thinking rights, risks and responsibilities. Living With Environmental Change Policy and Practice Note. Note No. 14

 

 

Role

I am a Senior Researcher with Climate Outreach, a member of the Visiting Faculty at the Business, Management and Economics School, University of Sussex and an Associate of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

I lead on projects globally, working with governments, businesses, academic partners, scientific advisory boards and civil society organisations, helping them understand how to communicate climate change science and policy implications to their audiences and stakeholders.

Selected Journal Papers, Books and Book Chapters

Shaw, C., Hurth, V., Capstick, S. and Cox, E. (2018) 'Intermediaries’ perspectives on the public’s role in the energy transitions needed to deliver UK climate change policy goals'. Energy Policy Vol 116 p. 267–276

Shaw, C. (2018). 'Searching for the middle ground on climate change.' Tvergastein. Interdisciplinary Journal of the Environment. Issue 10. Pp 10-17

Shaw, C and Corner, A. (2017) ‘Using Narrative Workshops to socialise the climate debate: lessons from two case studies - centre-right audiences and the Scottish public.’ Energy Research and Social Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.029

Shaw, C. Hellsten, I and Nerlich, B. (2016). "Framing Risk and Uncertainty in Social Science Articles on Climate Change", 1995-2012 in Communicating Risk (Eds. Crichton, J. Candlin, C. and Firkins A.S.) Palgrave Macmillan

Shaw, C (2016). The role of rights, risks and responsibilities in the climate justice debate. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management.

Shaw, C (2015). The Two Degrees Dangerous Limit for Climate Change.  Public Understanding and Decision Making Oxford: Routledge 

Newell, P, Bulkeley, H, Shaw, C et al. (2015). Governance traps in climate change politics: re-framing the debate in terms of responsibilities and rights. WIREs Climate Change, Vol 6 (6) pp 535-540

Shaw, C (2015). Reframing climate risk to build public support for radical emission reductions: the role of deliberative democracy. Carbon Management. 

Shaw, C and Nerlich, B (2015). Metaphor as a mechanism of global climate governance: A study of international policies 1992-2012. Ecological Economics Vol. 109, pp. 31-40.

Kern, F, Smith, A, Shaw, C, Raven, R, and Verhees, B (2014). From laggard to leader: Explaining offshore wind developments in the UK. Energy Policy. Vol. 69, pp. 635-646.

Shaw, C (2013). ‘Choosing a dangerous limit for climate change: Public representations of the decision-making process.’ Global Environmental Change. 23 pp. 563-571

Shaw, C (2010)."The dangerous limits of dangerous limits: climate change and the precautionary principle". In Nature, Society and Environmental Crisis, Eds. Carter, B and Charles, N. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell

Other publications

Minns, A., Shaw, C and Corner, A. (2018) An online guide to the science of climate change communication. Available at https://climateoutreach.org/resources/guide-science-of-climate-change-communication/

Corner, A., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2018). Principles for effective communication and public engagement on
climate change: A Handbook for IPCC authors. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Corner, A., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Communicating Environmental and Sustainability Science - Challenges, opportunities, and the changing political context. A Knowledge Report for Mistra. Oxford: Climate Outreach.

Corner, A., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Communicating Environmental and Sustainability Science - Challenges, opportunities, and the changing political context. A Knowledge Report for Mistra. Oxford: Climate Outreach.

Shaw, C. (2017) The Two Degrees Celsius Target. Oxford Research Encyclopaedia 

Marshall, G., Yashwant, S., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Communicating climate change in India: a Global Narratives project. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Marshall, G., Shaw, C. and Clarke, J. (2017). Global Narratives of climate change: a new approach topublic engagement research. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C. and Corner, A. (2017). Public engagement with climate change post-Brexit: a centre-right perspective. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C., Corner, A., Clarke J. (2017). Climate Visuals. Towards a new visual language for COP22 and beyond. Supplementary report: A comparison of images from COP21 and COP22. Climate Outreach

Shaw, C. (2016). Climate Change Public Conversation Series. Framework for Developing Conversations. Oxford: Climate Outreach

Shaw, C (2014). Moving the climate debate forward: Re-thinking rights, risks and responsibilities. Living With Environmental Change Policy and Practice Note. Note No. 14