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Dr Kersty Hobson
Reader in Human Geography, Director or Learning and Teaching
School of Geography and Planning
- HobsonK@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29206 88682
- Glamorgan Building, Room Room 1.64, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Kersty Hobson's research interests focus on issues of social and environmental transformation, particularly in the fields of sustainable production and consumption, and multi-level environmental governance.
She has held academic positions at the University of Birmingham, Australian National University, and the University of Oxford, where her research has examined household sustainability practices; environmental non-governmental organizations; animal geographies; as well as climate change governance and public deliberation.
Her current research focuses on the socio-political implications of, and challenges for, the circular economy agenda. She also has as long-standing interesting in community-level responses to pressing socio-environmental issues.
Publication
2024
- Greene, M., Hobson, K. and Jaegar-Erben, M. 2024. Bringing the circular economy home - Insights from socio-technical perspectives on everyday consumption. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption 12, article number: 100157. (10.1016/j.clrc.2023.100157)
2023
- Hobson, K. 2023. Business origami! Piecing together product life cycles in the product-service system. In: Fischer, D. et al. eds. Teaching and Learning Sustainable Consumption: A Guidebook.. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 308-311., (10.4324/9781003018537-53)
- Leipold, S. et al. 2023. Lessons, narratives and research directions for a sustainable circular economy. Journal of Industrial Ecology 27(1), pp. 6-18. (10.1111/jiec.13346)
2022
- Aiken, G. T., Eadson, W., Hobson, K. and Dinnie, L. 2022. Vicarious scale and instrumental imaginaries in community sustainable transitions. Global Environmental Change 75, article number: 102543.
2021
- Hobson, K., Holmes, H., Welch, D., Wheeler, K. and Wieser, H. 2021. Consumption work in the circular economy: a research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production 321, article number: 128969. (10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128969)
- Hobson, K. 2021. The limits of the loops: critical environmental politics and the Circular Economy. Environmental Politics 30(1-2), pp. 161-179. (10.1080/09644016.2020.1816052)
2020
- Hobson, K. 2020. From circular consumers to carriers of (unsustainable) practices: socio-spatial transformations in the Circular City. Urban Geography 41(6), pp. 907-910. (10.1080/02723638.2020.1786329)
2019
- Hobson, K. 2019. 'Small stories of closing loops': social circularity and the everyday circular economy. Climatic Change 163, pp. 99-116. (10.1007/s10584-019-02480-z)
- Bridgens, B., Hobson, K., Lilley, D., Lee, J., Scott, J. and Wilson, G. 2019. Closing the loop on e-waste: a multidisciplinary perspective. Journal of Industrial Ecology 23(1), pp. 169-181. (10.1111/jiec.12645)
2017
- Wonneck, L. and Hobson, K. 2017. Practice-based spill-over effects: evidence from Calgary’s municipal food and yard waste recycling pilot. Canadian Geographer / Geographie Canadien 61(3), pp. 415-427. (10.1111/cag.12391)
- Hobson, K., Lynch, N., Lilley, D. and Smalley, G. 2017. Systems of practice and the circular economy: transforming mobile phone product service systems. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 26, pp. 147-157. (10.1016/j.eist.2017.04.002)
2016
- Hobson, K. and Lynch, N. 2016. Diversifying and de-growing the circular economy: radical social transformation in a resource-scarce world. Futures 82, pp. 15-25. (10.1016/j.futures.2016.05.012)
- Hobson, K., Mayne, R. and Hamilton, J. 2016. Monitoring and evaluating eco-localisation: lessons from UK low carbon community groups. Environment and Planning A 48(7), pp. 1393-1410. (10.1177/0308518X16640531)
- Hobson, K. 2016. Closing the loop or squaring the circle? Locating generative spaces for the circular economy. Progress in Human Geography 40(1), pp. 88-104. (10.1177/0309132514566342)
- Hobson, K., Hamilton, J. and Mayne, R. 2016. Monitoring and evaluation in UK low-carbon community groups: benefits, barriers and the politics of the local. Local Environment 21(1), pp. 124-136. (10.1080/13549839.2014.928814)
2013
- Hobson, K. 2013. ‘Weak’ or ‘strong’ sustainable consumption? Efficiency, degrowth, and the 10 Year Framework of Programmes. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 31(6), pp. 1082-1098. (10.1068/c12279)
- Hobson, K. and Niemeyer, S. 2013. "What sceptics believe": the effects of information and deliberation on climate change scepticism. Public Understanding of Science 22(4), pp. 396-412. (10.1177/0963662511430459)
- Hobson, K. 2013. On the making of the environmental citizen. Environmental Politics 22(1), pp. 56-72. (10.1080/09644016.2013.755388)
2011
- Hobson, K. and Niemeyer, S. 2011. Public responses to climate change: The role of deliberation in building capacity for adaptive action. Global Environmental Change 21(3), pp. 957-971. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.05.001)
- Cook, I. et al. 2011. Geographies of food: 'Afters'. Progress in Human Geography 35(1), pp. 104-120. (10.1177/0309132510369035)
2010
- Hobson, K. 2010. Beyond the control society. Administrative Theory and Praxis 32(2), pp. 252-261. (10.2753/ATP1084-1806320207)
2009
- Hobson, K. 2009. On a governmentality analytics of the 'deliberative turn': material conditions, rationalities and the deliberating subject. Space and Polity 13(3), pp. 175-191. (10.1080/13562570903454283)
- Hobson, K. 2009. On the modern and the nonmodern in deliberative environmental democracy. Global Environmental Politics 9(4), pp. 64-80. (10.1162/glep.2009.9.4.64)
2008
- Hobson, K. 2008. Reasons to be cheerful: thinking sustainably in a (climate) changing world. Geography Compass 2(1), pp. 199-214. (10.1111/j.1749-8198.2007.00085.x)
2007
- Hobson, K. 2007. Political animals? On animals as subjects in an enlarged political geography. Political Geography 26(3), pp. 250-267. (10.1016/j.polgeo.2006.10.010)
2006
- Hobson, K. 2006. Bins, bulbs, and shower timers: on the 'techno-ethics' of sustainable living. Ethics Place and Environment 9(3), pp. 317-336. (10.1080/13668790600902375)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Environmental psychology and the geographies of ethical and sustainable consumption: aligning, triangulating, challenging?. Area 38(3), pp. 292-300. (10.1111/j.1475-4762.2006.00669.x)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Enacting environmental justice in Singapore: performative justice and the Green Volunteer Network. Geoforum 37(5), pp. 671-681. (10.1016/j.geoforum.2005.08.004)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Environmental responsibility and the possibilities of pragmatist-orientated research. Social & Cultural Geography 7(2), pp. 283-298. (10.1080/14649360600600734)
2005
- Niemeyer, S., Petts, J. and Hobson, K. 2005. Rapid climate change and society: assessing responses and thresholds. Risk Analysis 25(6), pp. 1443-1456. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00691.x)
2004
- Hobson, K. 2004. Sustainable consumption in the United Kingdom: the "responsible" consumer and government at "arm's length". Journal of Environment and Development 13(2), pp. 121-139. (10.1177/1070496504265013)
2003
- Hobson, K. 2003. Thinking habits into action: the role of knowledge and process in questioning household consumption practices. Local Environment 8(1), pp. 95-112. (10.1080/135498303200041359)
2002
- Hobson, K. 2002. Competing discourses of sustainable consumption: does the 'rationalisation of lifestyles' make sense?. Environmental Politics 11(2), pp. 95-120. (10.1080/714000601)
Articles
- Greene, M., Hobson, K. and Jaegar-Erben, M. 2024. Bringing the circular economy home - Insights from socio-technical perspectives on everyday consumption. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption 12, article number: 100157. (10.1016/j.clrc.2023.100157)
- Leipold, S. et al. 2023. Lessons, narratives and research directions for a sustainable circular economy. Journal of Industrial Ecology 27(1), pp. 6-18. (10.1111/jiec.13346)
- Aiken, G. T., Eadson, W., Hobson, K. and Dinnie, L. 2022. Vicarious scale and instrumental imaginaries in community sustainable transitions. Global Environmental Change 75, article number: 102543.
- Hobson, K., Holmes, H., Welch, D., Wheeler, K. and Wieser, H. 2021. Consumption work in the circular economy: a research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production 321, article number: 128969. (10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128969)
- Hobson, K. 2021. The limits of the loops: critical environmental politics and the Circular Economy. Environmental Politics 30(1-2), pp. 161-179. (10.1080/09644016.2020.1816052)
- Hobson, K. 2020. From circular consumers to carriers of (unsustainable) practices: socio-spatial transformations in the Circular City. Urban Geography 41(6), pp. 907-910. (10.1080/02723638.2020.1786329)
- Hobson, K. 2019. 'Small stories of closing loops': social circularity and the everyday circular economy. Climatic Change 163, pp. 99-116. (10.1007/s10584-019-02480-z)
- Bridgens, B., Hobson, K., Lilley, D., Lee, J., Scott, J. and Wilson, G. 2019. Closing the loop on e-waste: a multidisciplinary perspective. Journal of Industrial Ecology 23(1), pp. 169-181. (10.1111/jiec.12645)
- Wonneck, L. and Hobson, K. 2017. Practice-based spill-over effects: evidence from Calgary’s municipal food and yard waste recycling pilot. Canadian Geographer / Geographie Canadien 61(3), pp. 415-427. (10.1111/cag.12391)
- Hobson, K., Lynch, N., Lilley, D. and Smalley, G. 2017. Systems of practice and the circular economy: transforming mobile phone product service systems. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 26, pp. 147-157. (10.1016/j.eist.2017.04.002)
- Hobson, K. and Lynch, N. 2016. Diversifying and de-growing the circular economy: radical social transformation in a resource-scarce world. Futures 82, pp. 15-25. (10.1016/j.futures.2016.05.012)
- Hobson, K., Mayne, R. and Hamilton, J. 2016. Monitoring and evaluating eco-localisation: lessons from UK low carbon community groups. Environment and Planning A 48(7), pp. 1393-1410. (10.1177/0308518X16640531)
- Hobson, K. 2016. Closing the loop or squaring the circle? Locating generative spaces for the circular economy. Progress in Human Geography 40(1), pp. 88-104. (10.1177/0309132514566342)
- Hobson, K., Hamilton, J. and Mayne, R. 2016. Monitoring and evaluation in UK low-carbon community groups: benefits, barriers and the politics of the local. Local Environment 21(1), pp. 124-136. (10.1080/13549839.2014.928814)
- Hobson, K. 2013. ‘Weak’ or ‘strong’ sustainable consumption? Efficiency, degrowth, and the 10 Year Framework of Programmes. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 31(6), pp. 1082-1098. (10.1068/c12279)
- Hobson, K. and Niemeyer, S. 2013. "What sceptics believe": the effects of information and deliberation on climate change scepticism. Public Understanding of Science 22(4), pp. 396-412. (10.1177/0963662511430459)
- Hobson, K. 2013. On the making of the environmental citizen. Environmental Politics 22(1), pp. 56-72. (10.1080/09644016.2013.755388)
- Hobson, K. and Niemeyer, S. 2011. Public responses to climate change: The role of deliberation in building capacity for adaptive action. Global Environmental Change 21(3), pp. 957-971. (10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.05.001)
- Cook, I. et al. 2011. Geographies of food: 'Afters'. Progress in Human Geography 35(1), pp. 104-120. (10.1177/0309132510369035)
- Hobson, K. 2010. Beyond the control society. Administrative Theory and Praxis 32(2), pp. 252-261. (10.2753/ATP1084-1806320207)
- Hobson, K. 2009. On a governmentality analytics of the 'deliberative turn': material conditions, rationalities and the deliberating subject. Space and Polity 13(3), pp. 175-191. (10.1080/13562570903454283)
- Hobson, K. 2009. On the modern and the nonmodern in deliberative environmental democracy. Global Environmental Politics 9(4), pp. 64-80. (10.1162/glep.2009.9.4.64)
- Hobson, K. 2008. Reasons to be cheerful: thinking sustainably in a (climate) changing world. Geography Compass 2(1), pp. 199-214. (10.1111/j.1749-8198.2007.00085.x)
- Hobson, K. 2007. Political animals? On animals as subjects in an enlarged political geography. Political Geography 26(3), pp. 250-267. (10.1016/j.polgeo.2006.10.010)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Bins, bulbs, and shower timers: on the 'techno-ethics' of sustainable living. Ethics Place and Environment 9(3), pp. 317-336. (10.1080/13668790600902375)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Environmental psychology and the geographies of ethical and sustainable consumption: aligning, triangulating, challenging?. Area 38(3), pp. 292-300. (10.1111/j.1475-4762.2006.00669.x)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Enacting environmental justice in Singapore: performative justice and the Green Volunteer Network. Geoforum 37(5), pp. 671-681. (10.1016/j.geoforum.2005.08.004)
- Hobson, K. 2006. Environmental responsibility and the possibilities of pragmatist-orientated research. Social & Cultural Geography 7(2), pp. 283-298. (10.1080/14649360600600734)
- Niemeyer, S., Petts, J. and Hobson, K. 2005. Rapid climate change and society: assessing responses and thresholds. Risk Analysis 25(6), pp. 1443-1456. (10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00691.x)
- Hobson, K. 2004. Sustainable consumption in the United Kingdom: the "responsible" consumer and government at "arm's length". Journal of Environment and Development 13(2), pp. 121-139. (10.1177/1070496504265013)
- Hobson, K. 2003. Thinking habits into action: the role of knowledge and process in questioning household consumption practices. Local Environment 8(1), pp. 95-112. (10.1080/135498303200041359)
- Hobson, K. 2002. Competing discourses of sustainable consumption: does the 'rationalisation of lifestyles' make sense?. Environmental Politics 11(2), pp. 95-120. (10.1080/714000601)
Book sections
- Hobson, K. 2023. Business origami! Piecing together product life cycles in the product-service system. In: Fischer, D. et al. eds. Teaching and Learning Sustainable Consumption: A Guidebook.. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 308-311., (10.4324/9781003018537-53)
Research
Kersty has recently worked on EPSRC-funded research called CLEVER (Closed Loop Emotionally Valuable E-waste Recovery): a 3-year project that brought together social science, sustainable design, materials development and material engineering to explore novel approaches to addressing the growing electronic waste problem. Specifically, CLEVER was exploring the potential development of a new mobile phone product service system through devices that invoke an emotional attachment, with the working hypothesis that this will result in a desire by consumers to retain the product. This research is now being published, and a follow-on project into 'Circular Cities' is being developed in collaboration with international colleagues.
Kersty is also continuing follow-up work that came out of an ESRC-funded Knowledge Exchange project called 'Monitoring and Evaluation for Sustainable Communities'. This project brought together researchers from the University of Oxford, members of UK low carbon community groups, Transition Network, and Low Carbon Communities Network, to co-produce and trial monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools, to assess the resource and social impacts that local groups are having: see https://mescproject.wordpress.com.
Teaching
Kersty is the Course Director for the MSc programme Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy. She also teaches on the following courses:
CP0254 Developing Research Methods I
CP0255 Developing Research Methods II
CP0313 Research Dissertation
CP0314 Research Project
CP0369 Researching Contemporary Issues in New York
CPT826 Environmental Management
CPT878 Planning for Sustainability
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- sustainable production: the circular economy and product service systems
- sustainable consumption
- environmental politics and decision-making
- sustainability transitions
