Professor Sarah O'Hara
Next case study
A team of University of Nottingham researchers have commissioned and analysed a series of opinion polls about shale gas extraction. The survey of public attitudes has been running since March 2012 and has tracked changes in awareness of shale gas, beliefs about the environmental impacts of its extraction and views about its acceptability as an energy source.
Prime Minister David Cameron said recently that the UK would be going 'all out' for shale gas. The University of Nottingham's interdisciplinary research team, with support from the STS Priority Group, help us understand whether the public agree with him.
"Fracking is a controversial topics. It has the support of the government who see it as a way to shore up the UK's energy security and combat climate change. However, a public debate is emerging, in the media and on the ground at prospective sites, about possible environmental and health risks. This project is unique in the UK, as it has charted public reactions to fracking at regular intervals since 2012", said Professor Brigitte Nerlich
P-I: Professor Sarah O'Hara (Geography, UoN) has expertise in energy policy.
Co-I: Professor Matthew Humphrey (Politics, UoN) has research experience in environmental politics
Co-I: Professor Brigitte Nerlich (Sociology, UoN) specialises in the use of language in science communication
Co-I: Dr Rusi Jaspal (Psychology, De Montford University) has expertise in social psychology
Co-I: Mr Will Knight (Geography, UoN) is a PhD student, exploring public engagement and shale gas
The project tracks and analyses public opinion over a period of time on what has become a highly politicised issue. The team's research has already contributed to media debates about fracking, at both the local and national level.
The polling was carried out on behalf of the researchers by YouGov, which was independently financed by the University of Nottingham, including two grants from the STS Priority Group.
Law and Social Sciences BuildingUniversity Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD
email: andrew.gibson@nottingham.ac.uk