Recently we had the pleasure of hosting Alejandro Espinosa-Rada in the SDEC Lab during his visit to Sydney. Alejandro is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven. During his visit, we exchanged ideas on multilayer network modeling, group dynamics, and multidisciplinary collaboration –Continue reading “SDEC Lab hosts Alejandro Espinosa-Rada”
Author Archives: michelelbarnes
ANSNA Garry Robins Early Career Research Award
November 2025 Congratulations to Associate Professor Michele Barnes, Director of the Social Dynamics & Environmental Change Lab, on receiving the 2025 Garry Robins Early Career Research Award from the Australian Network for Social Network Analysis. Presented at ASNAC 2025 in Byron Bay, the award recognises an early- to mid-career scholar for outstanding contributions to theContinue reading “ANSNA Garry Robins Early Career Research Award”
On the road: SDEC attends the Australian Social Network Analysis Conference in Byron Bay
November 2025 Members of the Social Dynamics & Environmental Change Lab attended the Australian Social Network Analysis Conference (ASNAC 2025) in Byron Bay. Congratulations to lab members Walter Galdames Opazo (PhD candidate) and Henry Bartelet (postdoctoral researcher), who both presented early-stage work from their projects and received thoughtful, constructive feedback from the ANSNA community —Continue reading “On the road: SDEC attends the Australian Social Network Analysis Conference in Byron Bay”
AdaptNSW Forum: A/Prof Barnes on Social-Ecological Infrastructure
November 2025 Associate Professor Barnes attended the AdaptNSW Forum and presented on social-ecological infrastructure in a panel convened by the Sydney Environment Institute. The panel, Beyond People: Adapting with Animals and Environments, brought together scholars and practitioners to explore how climate adaptation must move beyond business-as-usual approaches toward strategies grounded in care, connection, and rightContinue reading “AdaptNSW Forum: A/Prof Barnes on Social-Ecological Infrastructure”
PhD milestone and Best Oral Presentation Award
November 2025 Congratulations to Carmen Dobszewicz, PhD candidate in the Social Dynamics & Environmental Change Lab, who was officially confirmed as a doctoral candidate and received the Best Oral Presentation Award for her proposal presentation. Well done Carmen! Her project, “Fostering empathy through projects: using human–shark interventions to promote coexistence,” examines how project-based interventions canContinue reading “PhD milestone and Best Oral Presentation Award”
Members of the SDEC Lab provide expert commentary ahead of COP30
November 2025 As global climate targets come under increasing strain, world leaders, scientists, and non-governmental organisations prepare to convene at COP30. PhD candidate Luisa Fernanda Bedoya Taborda and Associate Professor Michele Barnes (Lab Director) shared expert commentary on climate adaptation, equity, and the importance of community-centred approaches to responding to escalating climate risks. Read moreContinue reading “Members of the SDEC Lab provide expert commentary ahead of COP30”
Resilience Science Must-Knows landmark report released
November 2025 The landmark report Resilience Science Must-Knows was finally released, distilling decades of research into nine essential insights for decision-makers navigating risk, uncertainty, and transformation. Developed in the lead-up to COP30 and in response to UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report — which warns of a twelve-fold shortfall in adaptation finance — the report provides aContinue reading “Resilience Science Must-Knows landmark report released”
WWF Fonseca Leadership Program Fellowship Award
October 2025 Huge congratulations to Luisa Fernanda Bedoya Taborda, PhD candidate in the Social Dynamics & Environmental Change Lab, on being awarded a WWF Fonseca Leadership Program Fellowship! Luisa’s research focuses on nature-based solutions and climate adaptation projects in conflict-affected coastal communities in Colombia, at the intersection of environmental change, peacebuilding, and community resilience. TheContinue reading “WWF Fonseca Leadership Program Fellowship Award”
On the road:SDEC Lab attends Adaptation Futures in Aotearoa New Zealand
October 2025 Several members of the Social Dynamics & Environmental Change Lab attended Adaptation Futures 2025, the flagship conference of the UN World Adaptation Science Programme, held in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Congratulations to PhD Candidate Luisa Fernanda Bedoya Taborda, who presented her work on the intersection of climate change and conflict. Her presentationContinue reading “On the road:SDEC Lab attends Adaptation Futures in Aotearoa New Zealand”
New Book Published: Handbook of Social Networks and the Environment
August 2025 The Handbook of Social Networks and the Environment—co-edited by Associate Professor Barnes (director of the SDEC Lab) and Örjan Bodin from the Stockholm Resilience Centre—has just been published with Edward Elgar. This volume brings together leading scholars from around the world to explore how social networks underpin environmental change and shape responses to today’sContinue reading “New Book Published: Handbook of Social Networks and the Environment”
Social Dynamics and Environmental Change 