Dr Adrian Smith

Biography

I have been a contract researcher at SPRU since 1997. Before that I studied for a first degree in Mechanical Engineering (Bristol), a Masters degree in Environmental Technology (Imperial College, London), and a DPhil in Science & Technology Policy Studies (Sussex). More recently I obtained an Advanced Diploma in Spanish (Brighton).

Role

Senior Research Fellow at SPRU

Most of my research considers the politics and governance of innovation for sustainability. My work draws upon theories and methodologies from political science, innovation studies, and science and technology studies. My work has been funded by a variety of academic, government and civil society organisations in the UK and overseas. My research involves studies in both developed and developing country contexts, and has covered local through national to internation scales in a variety of sectors.

My recent research has addressed three themes. These themes are listed below, along with a few of my recent publications most relevant to that theme:

1. Grassroots innovations for sustainable development

This research seeks to understand the processes by which groups in civil society create and support innovations that seek to transform the social, economic and technological systems upon which they are dependent.

 Smith, A. (2013) 'Grassroots innovations movements: contributions and challenges' Journal of Cleaner Production

Smith, A. (2012) 'Civil society in sustainable energy transitions' in Verbong, G. and D. Loorbach (eds) Governing the Energy Transition: reality, illusion, or necessity Routledge

Smith, A. (2007) 'Translating sustainabilities between green niches and socio-technical regimes' Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 19, 4: 427-450

Seyfang, G. and A. Smith (2007) 'Grassroots innovations for sustainable development: towards a new research and policy agenda' Environmental Politics, 16, 4: 584-603

2. The transformation of large sociotechnical systems and transitions to sustainability

Research under this theme analyses the way complex and large-scale social and technological systems change over time, such as for food or energy. The aim is to understand how 'niche'spaces permit experimentation with more sustainable configurations, and assess the conditions under which these alternatives may play a role in larger scale transformations.

Smith, A. and R. Raven (2012) What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability, Research Policy 41, 6, pp.1025-1036

Smith, A., Voβ, J.P. and J. Grin (2010) Innovation studies and sustainability transitions: the allure of the multi-level perspective, and its challenges Research Policy 39: 435-448

Smith, A., Stirling, A. and F. berkhout (2005) The governance of sustainable sociotechnical transitions, Research Policy, 2005, 34, pp.1491-1510

Smith, A. and A. Stirling (2007) Moving outside or inside? Objectification and reflexivity in the governance of socio-technical systems Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning 9, 3-4: 351-373

3. Critical policy analysis for sustainability

Here I try to provide critical insights into the realities of policy making and implementation as well as broader governance processes aimed at sustainable innovation. This work provides a helpful underpinning to policy-oriented recommendations coming from work under the other two research themes.

Leach, M., Rockstrom, J., Raskin, P., Scoones, I., Stirling, A.C., Smith, A., Thompson, J., Millstone, E., Ely, A. Folke, C. and P. Olsson (2012) Transforming Innovation for Sustainability Ecology & Society 17 (2): 11

Voβ, J-P., Smith, A. And J. Grin (2009) Designing long-term policy: re-thinking transition management Policy Sciences 42, 4: 275-302

Smith, A. and F. Kern (2009) The transitions storyline in Dutch environmental policy Environmental Politics, 18, 1: 78-98

Scrase, J.I. and A. Smith (2009) The (non-)politics of managing low carbon socio-technical transitions Environmental Politics 18, 5: 707-726

It is always a privilege to collaborate with many fantastic people. Within SPRU, I am a member of the STEPS Centre (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) and the Sussex Energy Group. I currently lead two large research projects, as well as being involved in various other research activities. The large projects are Community Innovation in Sustainable Energy, and the Politics of Low Carbon Innovation.The other activities include involvement in the Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group, and collaborations with two teams of researchers in South America, one analyzing the ‘social technologies’ movement in countries in the region, and the other analysing alternative, green growth pathways for natural resource-based industries in the region. The former also involves a partnership with NISTADS in Delhi.

In keeping with the SPRU tradition of publicly engaged research, I participate in a number of policy and civil society fora where I hope my research contributes to the principles of social justice and environmental responsibility that lie at the heart of sustainable development.

Blogs

I occasionally contribute blogs. Here are links to some:

What the new Ahmedabad Declaration means for grassroots innovation (posted January 2013)

Rio plus 20 must make inclusive innovation a stepping stone to a sustainable future (posted June 2012)

Supporting grassroots innovation (posted May 2012)

Dilemmas in the search for appropriate technologies (posted February 2011)

I contribute classes on innovation and sustainability to SPRU MSc courses.  I  also supervise the following Doctoral researchers:

Rachael Durrant,  UK civil society, sustainability and food system transitions

Mari Martiskainen, The Innovation of Community Energy in Finland and the United Kingdom

Jacob Barnes, Innovation journeys in community energy initiatives

Cian O'Donovan, Processes of diffusion: the growth of wind power in Ireland

Vanessa Mackean, Expectations in air pollution policy in the UK

Hargreaves, Tom, Hielscher, Sabine, Seyfang, Gill and Smith, Adrian (2013) Grassroots innovations in community energy: the role of intermediaries in niche development. Global Environmental Change. ISSN 0959-3780 (In Press)

Verhees, Bram, Raven, Rob, Veraart, Frank, Smith, Adrian and Kern, Florian (2013) The development of solar PV in the Netherlands: a case of survival in unfriendly contexts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19. pp. 275-289. ISSN 1364-0321

Hielscher, Sabine, Seyfang, Gill and Smith, Adrian (2013) Grassroots innovation for sustainable energy: exploring niche development processes among community energy initiatives. In: Sustainable Lifestyles in a New Economy: Ecological Macroeconomics, Socio-technical Transitions and Social Practice. Advances in ecological economics . Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 133-158. ISBN 9781781001257

Smith, Adrian, Fressoli, Mariano and Thomas, Hernán (2013) Grassroots innovation movements: challenges and contributions. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526

Murphy, Joseph and Smith, Adrian (2013) Understanding transition-periphery dynamics: renewable energy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Environment and Planning A. ISSN 0308-518X (In Press)

Smith, Adrian and Raven, Rob (2012) What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability. Research Policy, 41 (6). pp. 1025-1036. ISSN 0048-7333

Smith, Adrian and Raven, Rob (2012) What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability. Research Policy, 41 (6). pp. 1025-1036. ISSN 0048-7333

Byrne, Robert, Smith, Adrian, Watson, Jim and Ockwell, David (2012) Energy pathways in low-carbon development: the needs to go beyond technology transfer. In: Low-carbon technology transfer: from rhetoric to reality. Earthscan Routledge, pp. 123-142. ISBN 9781849712699

Leach, Melissa, Rokstrom, Johan, Raskin, Paul, Scoones, Ian Christopher, Stirling, Andrew C, Smith, Adrian, Thompson, John, Millstone, Erik, Ely, Adrian, Arond, Elisa, Folke, Carl and Olsson, Per (2012) Transforming innovation for sustainability. Ecology and Society, 17 (2). p. 11. ISSN 1708-3087

Hielscher, Sabine, Smith, Adrian and Hargreaves, Tom (2012) An 'innovation histories' approach to community energy case studies. In: CLUES conference, 8 May 2012, UCL, London.

Smith, Adrian (2012) Civil society in sustainable energy transitions. In: Governing the Energy Transition: Reality, Illusion or Necessity? Routledge Studies in Sustainability Transitions . Routledge, New York, pp. 180-202. ISBN 9780415888424

Hielscher, Sabine and Smith, Adrian (2012) Spaces of experimentation to engage in practical action in the context of community energy and design activism. In: Association of American Geographers Meeting.

Hielscher, Sabine, Hargreaves, Tom, Smith, Adrian, Seyfang, Gill and Park, Jin (2011) Community energy niche in sustainable energy transitions. In: 2nd International Conference on Sustainability Transitions, June 13-15, 2011, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Van Zwanenberg, Patrick, Ely, Adrian and Smith, Adrian (2011) Regulating technology: international harmonisation and local realities. Pathways to Sustainability . Earthscan. ISBN 9781849712460

Van Zwanenberg, Patrick, Ely, Adrian and Smith, Adrian (2008) Rethinking Regulation: International Harmonisation and Local Realities. STEPS Centre.

Smith, Adrian, Kern, Florian, Raven, Rob and Verhees, Bram Spaces for sustainable innovation: solar photovoltaic electricity in the UK. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. ISSN 0040-1625 (In Press)