What builds climate literacy? Tracing contemporary climate literacies in a media-saturated world

About the research project

Climate literacy has been broadly defined as an understanding of ‘our influence on the climate, and the climate’s influence on us and on society’. A growing body of research points to the importance of building people’s climate literacy to impel climate action. But there is less research on what people need to know about climate change, and how that information is best imparted through learning across a lifetime, in multiple formal and informal settings, and in a media saturated world. There are also ongoing debates about how much climate knowledge influences environmental behaviours, and whether policymakers or the general public needs climate literacy most, to create change. Likewise, it is not clearly established whether some aspects of climate literacy are more impactful than others, for influencing action on climate change

This PhD will establish what ‘climate literacy’ encompasses in the first quarter of the 21^st century. Using insights from climate education and communication research, environmental psychology and immersive media technologies, it will establish a contemporary definition of climate literacy and identify ‘what works’ for building climate change understanding for diverse publics. The project will use a variety of social science methods, including surveys and focus groups; and methods from psychology including controlled experiments, to establish what people want and what is effective in climate literacy learning. The study will also test the affordances of extended and immersive media technologies for climate literacy learning. This could involve creating and deploying virtual reality (VR) applications for climate literacy learning, and using VR for hands-on climate change learning and experimentation.

An advanced and contemporary conceptualisation of climate literacy is essential given the myriad environmental and social challenges as well as opportunities that climate change brings. Citizens will need to be climate literate to be better prepared to respond to both. Understanding what promotes public climate literacy is also essential to respond to disinformation, which is increasingly seeking to undermine concerted action on climate change. This PhD will provide a detailed understanding of what climate literacy looks like, in diverse settings, and how it might better create the conditions to promote meaningful change.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Gabi Mocatta

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Background in social science and/or psychology and and social research methods, including working with stakeholders, undertaking social research and running experiments.
• Experience in working with and analysing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Understanding of the theory and practice of climate literacy.
• Knowledge of the psychological drivers of environmental behaviours.
• Understanding of climate change impacts and social responses.
• Knowledge and experience of climate change communication.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Gabi Mocatta to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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