The Big Dilemmas Project

The Big Dilemmas project is a new interdisciplinary initiative that works collaboratively towards solving complex sustainability problems, such as: How can we meet our energy and resource needs without jeopardising the natural environment and future needs?

By investigating and tackling big dilemmas relating to energy, food and water security, health, biodiversity, poverty and population, the project aims to come to a better understanding of sustainable futures and potential ways forward.

The project is associated with the Climate change and sustainable futures research theme.

The project has been running for two years. In 2010/11 the theme was: The Future of Renewable Energy in the UK, Lessons from the Severn Estuary. In 2011/12 the project is looking at the future of land use in the Southwest: Food, water and energy security in the face of environmental change. This theme is being led by Professor Michael Winter OBE, chair of the Centre for Rural Policy Research.

Students and academic staff from different academic programmes based at Streatham Campus in Exeter and Tremough Campus in Cornwall are involved in research, online discussions, fieldtrips, symposia and other activities.

More information about the Big Dilemmas project activities and events can be found at the Big Dilemmas ELE site (Exeter staff and students only).

Project leads

The Big Dilemmas Project is lead by Prof Peter Cox (academic) and Harriet Sjerps-Jones (coordination and curriculum)

Big Dilemmas: outputs

Publication 2011/12 project: The Future of Land Use in the Southwest: Food, Water and Energy Security in the face of environmental change

Results of the 2010/11 scheme are presented in the document: The future of renewable energy in the UK - Lessons from the Severn Barrage which presents three different approaches to decision making around tidal energy.