Dr Kathryn Colley

Social Scientist - Person-Environment Interactions
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
E: kathryn.colley@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Kathryn is a senior researcher in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Department, where she leads the Sustainable Transitions and Behaviours Group. Her research focuses on person-environment interactions and their role in shaping individual behaviour and wellbeing.

Biography

Kathryn joined The James Hutton Institute in 2013. Prior to this she worked as a Research Officer in the Scottish Government.

Kathryn holds a PhD in Urban Studies and an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning (both from Heriot-Watt University) and a BSc in Ecological Sciences (from Edinburgh University).

Research

My research focuses on understanding behaviour and facilitating behaviour change in relation to environmentally sustainable behaviours (in the areas of consumption, waste, travel, energy use) and engagement with the natural environment.

I am particularly interested in:

  • Social and environmental factors shaping sustainable behaviours from a systems perspective
  • Equity considerations in policies and initiatives to promote sustainable lifestyles particularly with respect to gender and intersectionality.
  • Life course perspectives on behaviour change

I use quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches. Most of my work is interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary in nature.

I currently lead workpackages in the following projects:

 

Past research

Since joining Hutton I have worked on a number of projects funded through the Scottish Government’s RESAS Strategic Research Programmes (SRP) (2011-2016; 2016-2022; 2022-27). Previous SRP projects have focused on topics including equity in access to nature and interventions to engage people with the natural environment, and household energy use.

Past projects have also included EU-funded projects centring around pro-environmental behaviour and adoption of low carbon technologies – SMARTEES (Social Innovation Modelling Approaches to Realizing Transition to Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, 2018-21), GLAMURS (Green Lifestyles, Alternative Models and Upscaling Regional Sustainability, 2014-2016) and LOCAW (Low Carbon at Work, 2011-2013).

I have also led or been involved in a range of other short and long-term projects funded by The Scottish Government, ClimateXChange, NERC, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Macaulay Development Trust. Topics have included uptake of reusable nappies, children and young people’s travel and use of greenspace, household recycling, global environmental impacts of domestic consumption, visions of low carbon lifestyles, home energy efficiency measures, and environmental impacts on mental health.

Publications

Journals

Prior to appointment

Books / chapters

Technical / contract reports

  • Colley, K.; Chen, J.; Somervail, P.; Britton, A.; Miller, D. (2024) Key household behaviours impacting on outdoor air quality, The Scottish Government
  • Colley, K.; Hague, A.; Thompson, C.; Fischer, A.; Roberts, M.; Irvine, K.; Juarez Bourke, A.; Conniff, A.; Nicholson, H.; Eastwood, A.; Herrett, S.; Ferguson, J.; Murray, K.; Rae, G. (2023) Creating Natural Connections: Final Evaluation of Outcomes for People, Evaluation report of the people-focused activities of the Creating Natural Connections project, delivered by Cumbernauld Living Landscape.
  • Colley, K.; Brown, C.; Nicholson, H.; Conniff, A.; Hinder, B. (2022) Encouraging sustainable travel behaviour in children, young people and their families, ClimateXChange.
  • Dumitru, A.; Lema Blanco, I.; Albulescu, P.; Antosz, P.; Bouman, L.; Colley, K.; Craig, T.; Jager, W.; Macsinga, I.; Meskovic, E.; Mischkowski, N.; Pellegrini Masini, G.; Polhill, G.; Quinti, G.; Salt, D.; Somervail, P.; Wilson, R. (2021) Policy recommendations for each cluster of casestudies Insights from policy scenario workshops, SMARTEES Deliverable 5.2.
  • Wilson R.; Colley, K.; Somervail, P.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Salt, D.; Scalco, A.; Tiru, L-G.; Albulescu, P.; Macsinga, I.; Pellegrini-Masini, G.; Löfström, E.; Jager, W.; Antosz, P.; Bouman, L.; Dumitru, A. (2021) Integrated overview of choice behaviour and energy transitions in SMARTEES case studies, Report for SMARTEES Deliverable 4.2
  • Arthur, J.; Ferguson, J.; Murray, K.; Rae, G.; Hague, A.; Colley, K. (2021) Community-based social research – Year 2 evaluation of Cumbernauld Living Landscape project., Internal Report to Cumbernauld Living Landscape and National Lottery Heritage Fund.
  • Pinker, A.; Colley, K (2019) Co-ordinated, tailored and inclusive energy efficiency schemes for fighting fuel poverty: Aberdeen., SMARTEES Report.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Ge, J.; Sat, D. (2018) The SMARTEES Project and The James Hutton Institute’s potential contribution to the Torry Heat Network project., Appendix 10.4 in support of Torry Heat Network, Report to be presented to Aberdeen City Council.
  • Irvine, K.N.; Colley, K.; Currie, M. (2018) Capabilities for engagement with landscapes for wellbeing., RESAS RD 3.4.3 Working Paper, 31 March 2018.
  • Colley, K.; Currie, M.; Hopkins, J.; Melo, P. (2016) Access to outdoor recreation by older people in Scotland, Report for Rural Communities Research, Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division, The
    Scottish Government. Social Research Series, 85pp
  • Holstead, K.L.; Colley, K.; Waylen, K.A. (2016) Tackling the barriers to implementing natural flood management: summary report., Summary Report presented at Workshop Meeting, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, 11 February 2016.
  • Gilchrist, K.; Irvine, K.N. (2014) Scotland 2030: Picturing life in a low carbon Scotland., ClimateXChange Calldown from Low Carbon Behaviours Policy Team – Narrative for 2030.
  • Gilchrist, K.; Craig, T. (2014) Home energy efficiency – a review of evidence of attitudes and behaviours., ClimateXChange website.

Conference papers

  • Chen, J.; Colley, K.; Craig, T.; Somervail, P.; Polhill, G.; Hague, A.; Wooldridge, T.; Martinez Sanchez, G.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A.; Roxburgh, N. (2024) Social Representation of Everyday Circularity: For a better understanding of ideas and practices of circular economy through second-hand purchasing, Presentation at the 28th International Conference Association of People-Environment Studies, 2-5 July 2024, Barcelona
  • Hague, A.; Wooldridge, T.; Bender, F.; Somervail, P.; Colley, K.; Chen, J.; Craig, T. (2024) Being circular in a linear economy – perspectives from practitioners, Presentation at the 28th International Conference Association of People-Environment Studies, 2-5 July 2024, Barcelona
  • Hague, A.; Stevenson, T.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Somervail, P. (2022) Acting locally intermediary actors and the transition to a low carbon economy, IAPS 2022 Conference, 4 – 8 July 2022, Lisbon, Portugal and Online
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, G.; Craig, T.; Wilson, R.; Colley, K.; Pinker, A.; Scalco, A.; Muhammad, M. (2021) Modelling coconstructed scnearios of district heat network adoption in Aberdeen, Social Simulation Conference 2021, Online, 20-24 September 2021.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Salt, D.; Craig. T.; Wilson, R.; Colley, K. (2021) Sensitivity analysis of an empirical agent-based model of district heating network adoption., International Work Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, Online, 16-18 June 2021.
  • Waylen, K.A.; Holstead, K.L.; Colley, K. (2016) Conceptualising human-nature relationships: Learning from experiences of ‘Natural Flood Management’ in Scotland., Presentation within the session ‘Hydrosocial or socio-hydro’ at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2016, London, 30 August -2 September 2016.
  • Holstead, K.L.; Waylen, K.A.; Colley, K.; Hopkins, J. (2015) Challenges of doing something new: barriers to natural flood management., Presentation at the World Water Conference, Edinburgh, 25-29 May 2015.
  • Gilchrist, K.; Brown, C.; Montarzino, A. (2014) Employee wellbeing and green workplace settings., IAPS Conference, Timisoara, Romania, 23-27 June 2014.

Conference posters / abstracts