Vitalie Duporge

Doctoral Student

University of Bristol

ap19947@bristol.ac.uk

Website

Bio

I am a human geographer with an interest in autonomous, citizen-led and post-capitalist social and educational responses to environmental change and regenerative transition. I hold a BA in Spanish and Politics from the University of Nottingham (2013), an MSc in International Development from the University of Bath (2017) and am currently a University of Bristol doctoral researcher in Geographical Sciences.

My research is focused on non-formal and place-based models of social and ecological sustainability education; looking specifically to the European ecovillage movement as a site of alternative pedagogical practice and exploring their impact on forming/transforming environmental values, relationships and behaviours. This project utilises qualitative research methodologies grounded in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Sensory Ethnography.

Alongside my doctorate, I am involved with a climate change education research network in collaboration with academics and public sector workers, exploring possibilities for educational reform, as well as an active member of the European Global Ecovillage Network (GEN EU) research team. In my previous employments, I have been engaged with civil society projects centred on sustainability – from permaculture and community-supported agriculture to sociocracy and intentional communities.


Research Interests

• Sustainability transition

• Social practice theories

• Place-based and non-formal education

• Grassroots innovations and social movements


Key Publications

Duporge, V et al. (2021). Climate Adaptation: Accounts of Resilience, Self Sufficiency and Systems Change. Arkbound Press: Bristol, UK.

Tikly, L, Batra, P, Duporge, V, Facer, K, Herring, E, Lotz-Sisitka, H, McGrath, S, Mitchell, R, Sprague, T, & Wals, A. (2020). Transforming Education for Sustainable Development: Foundations Paper (extended background paper for consultation) (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3952649