Energy Geographies Research Group ‘Activism Award’

The Award

This award aims to distinguish individuals or organisations who actively contribute to energy justice through scholarship, teaching, public engagement, or direct action within the UK. By ‘energy justice’ we mean a commitment to social justice and/or the empowerment of vulnerable communities and/or marginalized groups as part of low-carbon energy transitions. Examples of contributions include (but are not limited to): a conceptual/theoretical contribution to the field of energy geographies; educational activities outside academia that foster intersectional and inclusive understandings of energy justice; active engagement with low-carbon energy transitions within a local community; or substantive contribution to reparative climate change policymaking. We welcome contributions at any scale and from any sector.

Who can apply?

Individuals or organisations based in the UK.
Their contribution took place within or outside the UK.
Their contribution took place within one year of the application deadline.
We accept self-nominations or nominations by a third-party.

Submission deadline: 5pm GMT, Friday, 30 May 2025.

Application:

Submissions must be in the English language. Please submit the nomination by the due date in one of the following formats:

(1) A Nomination Letter of no more than 1,000 words;

(2) A Nomination Video of no more than 5 minutes.

The Nomination should explain the following:

A short bio of the nominee;
The contribution made to energy justice for which they are being nominated for;
Evidence of the social justice impact they achieved.

Please send submissions or questions about your application to Idalina Baptista (idalina.baptista@conted.ox.ac.uk) or Pancho Lewis (f.lewis@lancaster.ac.uk).

Judging and evaluation criteria:

Submissions will be assessed by a panel of judges drawn from the membership of the Energy Geographies Research Group Committee. The application will be evaluated for:

Evidence of Impact on energy justice, especially considering the career stage and/or the resources available to the applicant;
Originality of the approach to energy justice;
Clarity of structure and execution of Nomination Letter or Nomination Video.

Prize:

The winner will receive a cash prize of £75. To receive the cash prize, the winner must nominate a bank account that accepts UK bank transfers. In addition to the cash prize, the Energy Geographies Research Group will work with the winner to promote their work through a webinar, blog or video interview which will be promoted across and beyond the RGS-IBG network. The winner of the 2025 awards will also be invited to join the judging panel for the following year’s awards.