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Research Group for Climate, Energy and Environmental Law
PhD- and postdoctoral course

Methodology and project development within the fields of climate-, energy-, and environmental law

Our PhD- and postdoctoral course hosted in Voss from August 28th to 29th, 2024, is open for applications.

Photo of power lines.
Photo:
Matthew Henry on Unsplash.

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This PhD- and postdoctoral course held in Western Norway, focusing on methodology and project development in climate, energy, sustainability and environmental law, will be customized to train future academics and legal professionals specializing in these areas. These three legal domains present unique challenges not as commonly encountered in traditional law disciplines. Specifically, they often require interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary approaches, may involve qualitative, quantitative, or empirical methodologies, typically span various regulatory levels (international, regional, national, and local), and frequently delve into issues that extend beyond conventional legal research. Additionally, they tend to attract a diverse range of researchers in terms of background, originating countries, legal traditions, and project approaches.

This course encourages participants to engage in methodological and project planning discussions to guide their ongoing early career research. Various sessions will address methodological challenges, covering different types of legal methods and interdisciplinary aspects. Other sessions will focus on project management techniques and best practices for writing articles or monographs.

The course will be conducted in English, reflecting the highly international nature of this research field, with senior researchers hailing from different parts of the world.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The course is arranged by the Research Group for Climate, Energy and Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, University of Bergen. The course is part of the project Wicked Waters: Strengthening a leading research environment for wicked problems in green and sustainable maritime governance in the Nordics financed by the Research Council of Norway.

The workshop is planned as a highly interactive gathering where pre-workshop work, guided discussions and post-collaborative exchanges are the main methods. Participants will be expected to write a short reflection note (2-3 pages discussing methodological challenges and opportunities in their research), a no longer than 2 pages project management plan (for their PhD or postdoc project), actively engage in the discussion sessions during the workshop, and participate in voluntary peer-to-peer post workshop activities related to text quality and project management plans.

Deadline for applying: 3th of June 2024

Deadline for pre-workshop assignment: 14th of August 2024

Workshop dates: 28th and 29th of August 2024

Deadline for post workshop assignment: 15th of September 2024

Considering its duration, pre-work, and voluntary post-work, we recommend that institutions affiliated with PhD candidates award 2 credits related to the Norwegian PhD in Law program.

The course will take place in Voss, right at the center of the beautiful Norwegian West Coast, and a wonderful starting point for a post-conference Norway trip. Your stay at Fleischer’s Hotel during the course, all meals and round-trip Bergen-Voss (1 hour by train) are funded by the project. Participants must cover travel expenses to Bergen and accommodation before/after the course.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Participation is limited to 20 PhD and post-doctoral researchers. Applications will be evaluated on an on-going basis. Applicants are required to submit a no longer than 2 pages summary of their research, including reflections related to the importance of methodology and project management for their project. A short CV (no more than 2 pages) should also be included.

You can find the application submission form here.

Please contact Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui, Associate Professor (Ignacio.Herrera-Anchustegui@uib.no) or Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu, coordinator (Ingrid.muftuoglu@uib.no) if you have questions.

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

28th of August

Bergen train station

09:00 – 10:30: Departure to Voss and check in

Fleischer’s hotel

11:00 – 12:00: Lunch

Session 1

12:00 – 13:30: Climate, Energy and Environmental law research in the transition time. What is a legal research question? 

  • Sigrid Eskeland Schütz, Professor
  • Leigh Hancher, Professor

Session 2

14:00 – 15:30: Legal research and interdisciplinarity in climate, energy and environmental law. Law in context approaches.

  • Joxerramon Bengoetxea, Professor

15:30 – 16:30: Group discussion

18:30: Dinner

Session 3

20:00 – 21:00: Fireside talk: Public and private law divides?

  • Joxerramon Bengoetxea, Professor
  • Leigh Hancher, Professor
  • Karin Buhmann, Professor 

29th of August

Fleischer’s hotel

08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast

Session 4

09.00 – 10:30: Comparative approaches. Empirical legal research.

  • Sören Koch, Professor

10:30 – 11:00: Check out

Session 5

11:00 – 12:30: TBC

12:30 – 12:30: Lunch

Session 6

14:00 – 15:30: Project design approaches: Monographs vs Articles. Project design: Writing routines.

  • Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui, Associate Professor
     

FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN

The University of Bergen (UiB) is Norway’s second oldest university, with about 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff. The Faculty of Law consists of 14 research groups, covering all the traditional legal disciplines. The faculty is responsible for a PhD programme, a 5-year integrated Master's program and a 2-year Master’s program. uib.no/en/jur