Aims of the SIG
The aim of this SIG is to build a collaborative network that advances and disseminates knowledge in environmental social work, disaster risk reduction and adaptation through a multidisciplinary approach. It seeks to support the development of solutions and resolution-oriented strategies to address environmental challenges.
The group contributes to social work theory and research, higher education in social work, and the work of practice educators, with a clear focus on supporting social workers in their practice. It also fosters European and international cooperation, promoting knowledge exchange in areas such as disaster risk reduction and adaptation.
Objectives of the SIG
The purpose of the SIG is to bring together social work academics, researchers, practitioners, and practice educators who have an interest in environmental social work. The group will provide a forum for sharing research, developing collaborative projects, exchanging practice knowledge, and promoting discussion on environmental issues within social work. Its focus includes climate change, sustainability, disaster preparedness, environmental justice, and the social impacts of environmental breakdown.
A particular objective is to deepen the relationship between research and professional practice not as an abstract aspiration, but as something that shapes how the group works and what it produces. This extends to higher education, where the SIG aims to support the meaningful integration of environmental content into social work curricula and professional training, so that practitioners and practice educators are genuinely prepared for the environmental dimensions of contemporary social work.
Internationally, the SIG is committed to cross-border cooperation on issues that cannot be addressed within national boundaries alone, including climate change, disaster response, and the development of sustainable communities.
In pursuit of these aims, the SIG's core objectives are to:
1. Build a network of scholars, practitioners, and educators.
2. Share and develop research on environmental issues in social work education.
3. Support the inclusion of environmental issues in social work education.
4. Promote evidence-based practice.
5. Develop national and international collaboration.
Scope of the SIG
Environmental social work is the SIG's primary field of interest, an area that remains relatively young and is still being defined through scholarly debate, practice experience and engagement with adjacent disciplines. The group draws on social work, environmental studies, community development and related fields, treating this breadth not as a weakness but as an appropriate response to the complexity of the issues involved.
Areas of interest include, climate breakdown, sustainability, disaster risk reduction and response, environmental justice and relationships between people and the natural environment. Membership is open to researchers, educators and practitioners from diverse national and institutional contexts. The SIG is deliberately inclusive in its membership and approach. It welcomes researchers, educators and practitioners at all stages of their careers and from diverse national and institutional settings. The scope and activities of the SIG will evolve in response to members interests while maintaining a commitment to advancing knowledge, practice and policy in environmental social work.
SIG Convenors:
Iris Altenberger: iris.altenberger@mci.edu
Geraldine Graham: Geraldine.Graham@uws.ac.uk
Karen Meixner
Issie Jacobs
List of Initial SIG Members:
Dr. Maria Cauchi (MCAST in Malta) - Maria.Cauchi@mcast.edu.mt
Dr Melanie Zajacová (Charles University Czech) - melanie.zajacova@ff.cuni.cz
Daniel Štěpánek (Charles University Czech) - daniel.stepanek@ff.cuni.cz
Emeritus Professor Dr Linda Harms Smith (University of Pretoria) - linda.smith@up.ac.za
Birgit Raffler (MCI Innsbruck) - Birgit.Raffler@mci.edu
Andrew Gambrill Independent Trainer and practice Educator Social work (UK) - andrewg33uk@hotmail.com
Dr Sandra Engstrom (University of Stirling) - sandra.engstrom@stir.ac.uk
Dr Regina Scheitel (Hochschule Burgenland) - Regina.Scheitel@hochschule-burgenland.at
Kater Fennell (University of the West of Scotland) Kate.Fennell@uws.ac.uk
Deirdre Miller (Aberdeenshire Scotland practice educator) - deirdre.miller@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Dr Gillian Ferguson (Open University) - gillian.ferguson1@open.ac.uk
Moira Godfrey ((University of the West of Scotland) - Moira.Godfrey@uws.ac.uk
Indicative Activities
The SIG anticipates a range of activities that reflect its dual commitment to scholarly development and practical relevance. These include the organisation of symposia, workshops and webinars, collaborative research and publication, and the development of teaching and training resources for social work education. The group will contribute to conference programmes and pursue opportunities for international knowledge exchange, with particular attention to comparative work on disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable community development.
The SIG also intends to develop resources that are of direct use to practitioners — including practice guidance and frameworks that translate research insights into tools for everyday professional work. A shared communication space will support ongoing dialogue between members between formal events.
