Research

Research interests

Humanity's relationship with the ocean: marine citizenship, marine identity, values and perceptions, pro-environmental behaviour, marine policy and governance.

Research projects

Project Title: International researcher-practitioner collaboration to co-produce conceptualisation of marine identities & put marine citizenship theory into practice.

Mentor: Prof. Patrick Devine-Wright

Funding: ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship

Project Description:
This project responds to Challenge 10 of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development : “Change humanity’s relationship with the ocean”.
The project includes:
1) A workshop with a network of international researchers and practitioners to: develop a conceptualisation of marine identities through diverse perspectives, knowledge, research and practice in global communities; interrogate relationships with marine citizenship and ocean literacy; and publish the findings to reach leading environmental researchers. The workshop has been endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Action.
2) A collaboration with the UK’s first National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound (PSNMP) to pilot methods of developing marine citizenship and marine identity through participation and impact.
The Fellowship will provide the foundations for the development of future research into marine citizenship and marine identities.

Research networks

• Marine Social Science Network: Plymouth #MarSocSciPlym (founder)
• Ocean Literacy Research Community (member)
• We are ocean (member)

Research grants

• 2023 Higher Education Innovation Fund
  Title: Marine planning reform for better governance. Funder: Open Innovation Platform Collaboration Fund. This collaborative project aims to examine the potential for increased recognition of social impact of marine developments, and public participation in marine planning. This will be delivered as a workshop that will: 1) introduce social impact and participatory decision-making themes; and 2) collaboratively identify levers for improved recognition of social impact a) within the current marine planning framework and b) where regulatory revision is required for delivery. The audience for the workshop findings will include the wider MMO, relevant Government Departments (potentially DEFRA, BEIS, DHLUC), and the public. Outreach will primarily be done by the MMO, with support from the PI. The findings of the workshop will be developed into a report and/or policy brief, as appropriate, and disseminated within DEFRA and in public (as appropriate).
• 2022 ESRC
  Grant No. ES/X006379/1

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Refresh publications

External Engagement and Impact

Advice to Government, Parliament, devolved and English regional administrations, other national, international, regional or local agencies; advice to non-government organisations and to private practice

• Founder and co-author of the Ocean Recovery Declaration, advising local authorities across the UK on declaring and implementing the motion; engaging with a range of other stakeholders, e.g., the MMO, Natural England, Association of IFCAs, IFCAs, and NGOs.
• Advisor to DEFRA: Ocean Literacy Working Group member; inshore fisheries and marine social science advisor.

Competitively funded studentships and postdoctoral fellowships

• ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2022
• ESRC 1+3 Studentship Environment, Energy & Resilience 2015

External positions

• Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Vice Chair, serving on the committee 2018 - present
• Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, trust port duty holder, serving 2019 - present
• Coastal and Marine Research Group, RGS-IBG, committee member 2019 - present
• Ocean Literacy Working Group, 2020 - present

Keynote addresses or prestigious public lectures given in international forums

• Keynote speaker in the Ocean Conservation session of the European Marine Science Educators Association annual conference 2022

Major awards, Prizes and Honorary degrees, including election to national and international learned societies

ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize 2022 Winner: Outstanding Early Career Impact

Harnessing people’s passion for the ocean to protect the marine environment

Dr Buchan’s research into what promotes a willingness to preserve the marine environment has led to a range of initiatives by local authorities, conservation charities and marine organisations. These initiatives are changing people’s relationship with the ocean.

• Details and film
• Exeter news

Other Consultancy (i.e. income generating work that is not research)

Marine Social Science research and evaluation for DEFRA, WWF, Ocean Conservation Trust, Coastal Partnerships Network.

Workshops organised

Marine planning reform for better governance (Jun 2023)

A University of Exeter and Marine Management Organisation collaborative project to exchange academic and practitioner evidence and knowledge around social impacts and governance of marine developments and planning. The project is funded by the Open Innovation Platform. The findings will be disseminated in a policy report.

Co-conceptualising marine identities (Nov 2022)

Transdsciplinary workshop for international marine researchers and practitioners to co-conceptualise marine identity as an academic concept. The workshop findings are presented in an academic publication submitted for peer review. The workshop is endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, aligning with Challenge 10.

Teaching

How can we promote social transformation to tackle climate change? Geography department panel discussion (Exeter sign in required - Societies and events tab).

Supervision / Group