Senior Lecturer

MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies

Background

Ruth specialises in environmental and institutional/ social aspects of renewable energy and sustainable development. She completed her PhD, “Discourse, Power and Energy Conflicts: Analysing Renewable Energy Policy Making in Post Devolution Wales” in 2007. Prior to this, Ruth spent 15 years in Local Authority and commercial positions, tackling planning and environmental issues in the UK. In 1992 she initiated the ‘Environmental Department’ of Dulas Ltd (a growing worker owned renewable energy consultancy), where she managed commercial and academic projects in the area of renewable energy planning and environmental impact, for nearly ten years. Projects included planning and environmental impact assessment consultancy for numerous commercial wind, hydro and biomass developments,  EU funded, long term studies on the environmental impact of renewable energy and policy development in the EU and UK, researching and formulating policy for the Welsh Assembly and UK government, and creation of commercial renewable energy and local community generation schemes. Ruth has also delivered lectures to HND, BSc and MSc students at Aberystwyth and Southampton Universities.

Qualifications

• PhD (2007) Discourse, Power and Energy Conflicts: Analysing Renewable Energy Policy Making in Post Devolution Wales.
  
• MSc Landscape Ecology, Design and Maintenance (1986)
• BSc (Hons) Geography (1984)

Teaching Activities

Ruth is a lecturer, module leader, course tutor and thesis supervisor.
Specialist Lectures: Environmental Policy, Sustainable Development, Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Side of Wind, Social Science Methods 
Practicals: Planning Policy for Renewable Energy, Discourse Analysis

Professional Membership

Associate Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment  (IEMA)

Research Interests

Ruth’s research interests range from the specifics of planning and policy for renewables through environmental knowledges, sustainable development, to governance issues and policy-making structures. She has also published widely on the topic of renewable energy and policy.

Publications

Stevenson, R (1993) Environmental Aspects of Windfarms In European Directory of Renewable Energy

Stevenson (1994) Cemmaes Windfarm Sociological Impact Study. ETSU W/13/00300/REP

Stevenson, R (1994) The Visual Impact of Windfarms, Lessons from the UK Experience. ETSU W/13/00395/REP. Also published as a special report in ‘Report for the Natural and Built Environment Professionals (1995) Issue 9. October.

Stevenson, R (1995) The Mynydd y Cemmaes Windfarm Impact Study – Volume 1 Summary: Final Report and Volumes IIA – E: ETSU W/13/00300REP/2B

Stevenson, R & Peasley, C (1995) The Mynydd y Cemmaes Windfarm Impact Study. British Wind Energy Association Conference.

Stevenson, R (1996) Wind Energy Success Stories, Wales Regional Report In A Study of the Integration of Wind Energy into the National Energy Systems of Denmark, Wales and Germany as Illustrations of Success Stories for Renewable Energy. National Wind Power, Roskilde University, Zentrum fur Europaishe Wirtschftsforchung GmbH, Dulas Ltd. For the Commission of the European Communities DG XII, RENA – CT94-0012

Stevenson, R (1999) Commercialisation of Small Hydro through Community Participation. ETSU K/BD/00190/00/00

Stevenson, R (2000) Realising the Potential for the Protection of the Environment by Developing Small Hydropower. ALTENER 2000. Toulouse, France. October. Publication XVII/4.1030/2/98.328

Stevenson, R (2002) Devolution and the Institutionalisation of Sustainable Development. RESSG postgraduate conference. University of Gloucestershire. 20th February. 2002

Stevenson, R (2002) The Rhetoric Reality of Sustainable Wales: A review of Renewable Energy Policy. Planning Research Conference, University of Dundee. 8th – 10th April. 2002

Stevenson, R & Richardson, T (2003) Policy Integration for Sustainable Development: Exploring barriers to renewable energy development in post devolution Wales. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 5:95 – 118.

Stevenson, R (2003) Institutional challenges of sustainable development: An exploration of renewable energy policy development in Wales. Royal Geographical Society/ Institute of British Geographers Conference. London. September 4th – 6th. 2003.

Stevenson, R (2009) Discourse, Power and energy conflicts: understanding Welsh renewable energy planning policy Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol 27 no 3 512-526