Lifecourse Transitions: Opportunities for Sustainable Lifestyles?

Lifecourse transitions, (eg having a child, moving home or retiring), are known to lead to changes in a variety of aspects of everyday life, such as travel, leisure, energy use and purchase of consumer goods.  It has been suggested that lifecourse transitions offer opportunities for ‘moments of change’ where people may be encouraged to live more sustainably. Alternatively, such moments may be regarded as disruptions to the social organization of everyday life that, depending on the social context, can lead to change or retrenchment into habitual and conventional ways of life.  This workshop will explore new approaches to understanding everyday life in the context of change and continuity, through a focus on what constitutes sustainable lifestyles. It will bring together the expertise of those engaged in research into lifecourse transitions with those who have expertise in different aspects of sustainable lifestyles and practices.  In addition to keynote speakers, presentations and discussion sessions, the workshop will include invited policy makers as discussants.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS 

Professor Tim Jackson, CES University of Surrey

Dr Bronwyn Hayward, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Professor Bas Verplanken, University of Bath

Professor Dale Southerton, University of Manchester

ORGANISERS

Dr Kate Burningham and Dr Sue Venn, Department of Sociology and Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey

Dr Birgitta Gatersleben and Professor Monique Raats,  School of Psychology

Ian Christie and Professor Tim Jackson, Centre for Environmental Strategy