As part of our ongoing work with Public Health Dorset we are looking for someone with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experience who wants to develop their collaborative academic skills!

To Apply visit the University of Exeter Graduate employment pages. Reference: GBP 7257 Local Nature Recovery Strategy Graduate Researcher.

Key Dates

Closing Date: 19/06/2024

Interview Date: 26/06/2024

Start Date: Flexible, but asap after appointment

End Date: dependent on start date but currently 31/03/2025

Salary: £25,007 per annum

Job Summary

This role will support an ongoing collaboration between The European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) and Public Health Dorset (PHD) who are working together to build understanding of the evidence base for how access to green and blue space can support population health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. You will contribute to a report and supporting resources that identify and communicate recommendations for how the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) can deliver co-benefits for health and wellbeing (addressing the project’s four research questions).

This role is part of the Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) Scheme and offers full time hours (36.5 per week) with an immediate start until March 2025. You will be based at ECEHH on the University of Exeter Penryn Campus and work closely with the team at PHD. It is anticipated that occasional travel to Dorset will be required for key project meetings and there will be opportunity to spend a period of time based in Dorset with the PHD team.

Training and Development – What Skills and Experience will this Opportunity Provide?

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary research centre.
• Opportunity to gain experience of practical application of GIS skills
• Opportunity to gain experience of working in Public Health and Local Government and local policy development around health and natural environments.
• Opportunity to work with a leading research group in the field of environment and human health
• There may be opportunities to take part in education sessions/seminars within ECEHH and PHD to develop your knowledge.
• Previous GBPs working on this collaboration have gone on to complete PHDs and secure employment with UKHSA and a GIS consultancy.

Purpose of the Role

This role will support an ongoing collaboration between The European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) and Public Health Dorset (PHD). ECEHH and PHD are working together to build understanding of the evidence base for how access to green and blue space can support population health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. 

PHD is a shared service between Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Councils (BCP) and Dorset Council (DC). ECEHH is a research centre of the University of Exeter Medical School, based at the Penryn Campus.

Both Councils are working together to produce a joint Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). The LNRS will help map out the action needed to restore nature, working closely with local stakeholders, especially farmers and land managers. The primary purpose of the LNRS is to identify priorities for recovering or enhancing biodiversity and environmental improvement across BCP and Dorset. However, the development and application of the strategy is also an important opportunity to deliver co-benefits for health and wellbeing, particularly where action can address inequalities in access to green and blue space without compromising its primary purpose.

PHD is part of the steering group for the LNRS and in this role you will work on a project to develop evidence for how the LNRS can deliver benefits for population health and wellbeing and address inequalities in access to green and blue space. This will draw on the outputs of a previous collaboration between ECEHH and PHD ‘Dorset Green Health’ which includes an analysis of access to greenspace across BCP and Dorset.

You will be based at ECEHH on the University of Exeter Penryn Campus and work closely with the team at PHD. It is anticipated that occasional travel to Dorset will be required for key project meetings and there will be opportunity to spend a period of time based in Dorset with the PHD team.

The project will focus on the following questions:

• Where are the areas in Dorset (BCP + DC) identified in Dorset Green Health as lacking opportunities for access to specific types and/or quality of natural space?
• Where do (or could) these areas coincide with proposals for recovering or enhancing biodiversity and environmental improvement
• What are the most effective measures for increasing access to nature for the population of those areas?
• What could be the health and wellbeing benefits if those measures were implemented effectively? 

Duties and responsibilities

• Use Dorset Green Health geographical data mapping of accessible green spaces and ‘green paths’ in BCP and DC to create ‘gap maps’ of areas that are underserved.
• This may include identifying areas of Dorset that do not meet Natural England’s ‘Green in 15’ standard of a green or blue space within 15 minutes’ walk of home.
• We will consider if and how we can review Dorset Green Health for accuracy focussed on gap maps e.g. updating the greenspace database, access points and walkable network
• Map LNRS (and related) proposals for environmental improvements.  These data will be integrated with the ‘gap map’ and analysed to assess where schemes may be able to contribute to filling these gaps. We may also access data from other partner organisations in Dorset including   Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB and National Trust
• Use existing evidence on barriers to nature access (e.g. Natural England MENE/PANS data) along with any relevant data available for the BCP and DC areas to explore what types of interventions might be appropriate for increasing access in currently underserved areas
• Use existing evidence (e.g. from systematic reviews or UK government guidance) on the health benefits of direct and indirect accessibility/availability of natural environments to create scenario models and estimate the potential health impacts of improving access to and the distribution of natural spaces and features. 
• Contribute to writing reports, presentations and other research outputs.
• Participate in regular online and face to face project meetings between ECEHH and PHD

Degree and Attainment

• Recent graduate of UK University in past three years with minimum BSc/BA or equivalent in geography, environmental science or a relevant subject.
• Qualification in or demonstrable experience of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Skills

• Thorough understanding of the theory and use of GIS ideally with ESRI ArcGIS and/or QGIS

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to manage own time and work to deadlines
• Ability to work with a ‘remote’ project team including stakeholders from Public Health Dorset, BCP Council, Dorset Council, University of Exeter
• Available to travel occasionally to meet with project partners

Knowledge

• Understanding of how access to green and blues space can benefit health and wellbeing
• Understanding of methods and processes relating analysis of social and health data