PhD and postdoctoral cource in methodology and project development within the fields of climate, energy, sustainability and environmental law
Applications for our PhD and postdoctoral course hosted in Voss from August 28th to 29th, 2024, are now open.
Main content
Cource 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 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: 24. June 2024
Deadline for pre-workshop assignment: 14. August 2024
Workshop dates: 28. and 29. August 2024
Deadline for post workshop assignment: 15. 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 postdoctoral 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, a short CV (no more than 2 pages) and a reflection note (no more than 2-3 pages) discussing methodological challenges and opportunities in their project.
While the summary of research and CV must be submitted when applying, the deadline for submitting the reflection note is 14. August.
Please use this application form.
The reflection note can be sent directly to the cource organizers Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui, Associate Professor (Ignacio.Herrera-Anchustegui@uib.no) or Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu, senior research advisor (Ingrid.muftuoglu@uib.no).
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
