Carla Washbourne (Reader)

Academic profile

Carla is an interdisciplinary researcher, practitioner and educator operating at the interface of physical and social sciences, engineering and public policy. Her work seeks to understand and improve decision-making and planning in urban settings, focussing on urban environment and sustainability issues.

She was a founding faculty member of the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, University College London, (2013-2024) where she remains an Honorary Associate Professor.

She is a Research Associate at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) in Johannesburg, South Africa.She is an Associate Editor for the non-profit, open access Global Social Challenges Journal and Editorial Board Member of open peer review journal UCL Open:Environment.

Carla completed an MSc in Engineering Geology and PhD in Geosciences (Newcastle University), investigating the potential for engineering soils to act as carbon sinks, which spurred her initial interest in policy and its application to the earth and environmental sciences. She has previously worked in the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) as a Physical Sciences, IT and Communications Adviser.

Research

Subject area

Carla’s research is driven by a desire to investigate, understand and improve the way in which physical science and engineering knowledge is mobilised, alongside practitioner and public knowledge, for better decision-making. Current research areas and projects include:

Environmental science and policy

Environmental research at the science policy interface
Knowledge use in urban green space decision-making

Regenerative development

Regenerative education
Regenerative design

Urban knowledge systems

Urban observatories in the global context

Innovation ecosystems

The role of intermediary organisations in challenge-driven innovation

Science advice

Legislative and urban science advice
Science communication for policy

Selected Publications

Papers

West, B., Bauer, M., Chalkiadakis, C., Dendoncker, N., González-Martínez, T. M., Mascarenhas, A., ... & Washbourne, C. L. (2024). Exploring human-nature relationships in academic literature on the nitrogen cycle. Ecosystems and People, 20(1), 2380856. doi: 10.1080/26395916.2024.2380856

Washbourne, C. L., Murali, R., Saidi, N., Peter, S., Pisa, P. F., Sarzynski, T., ... & Amiar, T. (2024).Navigating the science policy interface: a co-created mind-map to support early career research contributions to policy-relevant evidence. Environmental Evidence, 13(1), 15. doi: 10.1186/s13750-024-00334-5

Simon, D., Gómez, O.A., Gasper, D., Bennett, K., Washbourne, C.L., Abasli, I., Mukhtarov, F., Dias, S. and Sakar, A. (2023) Global social challenges for development studies in the Crisis in the Anthropocene.Global Social Challenges Journal. doi: 10.1332/27523349Y2023D000000004

Wu, Y., Washbourne, C. -L., & Haklay, M. (2023).Inspiring citizen science innovation for sustainable development goal 6 in water quality monitoring in China.Frontiers in Environmental Science. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2023.1234966

Atienza Casas, S., Calicis, C., Candiago, S., Dendoncker, N., Desair, J., Fickel, T., ... & Wübbelmann, T. (2023).Head in the clouds, feet on the ground: how transdisciplinary learning can foster transformative change—insights from a summer school. Biodiversity and Conservation, 1-36. doi:1007/s10531-023-02603-0

Filyushkina, A. et al. (2022) Engaging at the science-policy interface as an early-career researcher: experiences and perceptions in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem services.Ecosystems and People doi: 10.1080/26395916.2022.2085807

Akerlof, K., Allegra, A., Nelson, S., Gonnella, C., Washbourne. C-L., Tyler, C. (2022) Global perspectives on scientists’ roles in legislative policymaking.Policy Sciences, doi: 10.1007/s11077-022-09457-3

Washbourne, C. L. (2022).Environmental policy narratives and urban green infrastructure: Reflections from five major cities in South Africa and the UK. Environmental Science & Policy, 129, 96-106. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.12.016

Wu, Y., Washbourne, C., & Haklay, M. (2022). Citizen science in China’s water resources monitoring: current status and future prospects. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/13504509.2021.2013973

Angelstam, P., Fedoriak, M., Cruz, F., Muñoz-Rojas, J., Yamelynets, T., Manton, M., Washbourne, C.-L.etal.(2021) Meeting places and social capital supporting rural landscape stewardship: A Pan-European horizon scanning. Ecology and Society 26(1):11. doi: 10.5751/ES-12110-260111

Goddard, M., Davies, Z.et al. (2021) A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems.Nature Ecology & Evolution. doi: 10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

Angelstam, P., Manton, M., Yamelynets, T. et al. (2020) Maintaining natural and traditional cultural green infrastructures across Europe: learning from historic and current landscape transformations.Landscape Ecology. doi: 10.1007/s10980-020-01161-y

Acuto, M., Dickey, A., Butcher S., Washbourne, C-L. (2020) Mobilising urban knowledge in an infodemic: Urban observatories, sustainable development and the COVID-19 crisis.World Development.doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105295

Balvanera, P.et al.(2020) The science-policy interface on ecosystems and people: challenges and opportunities.Ecosystems and People. doi: 10.1080/26395916.2020.1819426

Fazey, I. et al. (2020).Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there.Energy Research & Social Science, 70, 101724. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101724

Akerlof, K., Tyler, C., Allegra, A., Webler, T., Heath, E., Cloyd, E., Washbourne, C.-L.(2020). New methods in creating transdisciplinary science-policy research agendas: The case of legislative science advice.Science and Public Policy.doi: 10.1093/scipol/scaa033

Washbourne, C.-L., Dendoncker, N.,et al. (2020) Improving collaboration between ecosystem service communities and the IPBES science-policy platform.Ecosystems and People, 16:1, 165-174; doi:10.1080/26395916.2020.1766573

Washbourne, C. L., Goddard, M. A., Le Provost, G., Manning, D. A., & Manning, P. (2020).Trade-offs and synergies in the ecosystem service demand of urban brownfield stakeholders. Ecosystem Services, 42, 101074, doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101074

Akerlof, K., Tyler, C., Foxen, S.E., Heath, E., Gual Soler, M., Allegra, A., ...Nguyen, C.T. (2019). A collaboratively derived international research agenda on legislative science advice.Palgrave Communications, 5 (1), doi:10.1057/s41599-019-0318-6

Culwick, C., Washbourne, C.-.L., Anderson, P.M.L., Cartwright, A., Patel, Z., Smit, W. (2019). CityLab reflections and evolutions: nurturing knowledge and learning for urban sustainability through co-production experimentation. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 39 9-16. doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2019.05.008

Washbourne, C.-.L., Culwick, C., Acuto, M., Blackstock, J., Moore, R. (2019). Mobilising Knowledge for Urban Governance: the case of the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. Urban Research and Practice, doi:10.1080/17535069.2019.1651899

O'Farrell, P., Anderson, P., Culwick, C., Currie, P., Kavonic, J., McClure, A., ...Washbourne, C.-.L. (2019). Towards resilient African cities: Shared challenges and opportunities towards the retention and maintenance of ecological infrastructure. Global Sustainability, 2 doi:10.1017/sus.2019.16

Hossain, M.S., Pogue, S.J., Trenchard, L., Van Oudenhoven, A.P.E., Washbourne, C.-.L., Muiruri, E.W., ...Hevia, V. (2017). Identifying future research directions for biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainability: perspectives from early-career researchers. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, doi:10.1080/13504509.2017.1361480

Kenny, C.A., Washbourne, C.L., Tyler, C., Blackstock, J. (2017). Science Advice to Legislatures: The case for mapping and evaluating impact. Palgrave Communications, doi:10.1057/palcomms.2017.30

Jacobs, S., Dendoncker, N., Martín-López, B.., Barton, D.N., Gomez-Baggethun, E., Boeraeve, F., ...Washbourne, C.-L. (2016). A new valuation school: Integrating diverse values of nature in resource and land use decisions. Ecosystem Services, doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.11.007

Books and Chapters

Goetz, G., Culwick Fatti, C., Seedat, R. and Washbourne, C.-L. (Authors) (2024) The Gauteng City Region Observatory in The Future of Cities Empowered by Community Research Partnerships and Innovation. The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK

Washbourne C.-L. and Wansbury, C. (Editors) (2023) Institute of Civil Engineers Manual of Blue-Green Infrastructure. Institution of Civil Engineers Press, UK

Reports

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) (2024) The Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Nature-Based Solutions for Wastewater Treatment (technical contribution)

Rivera, F., Rodriguez, K., Chana, S., McArthur, J., Washbourne, C.-L. (2022) Establishing a Competencies Framework for Infrastructure Policy Professionals. UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities, London.

Washbourne, C. L., Twiringiyimana, R., Kagwesage, A. M., & Mugwagwa, J. (2021) African Innovation Ecosystems Study (AIESyS) Output 1: Synthesis by country of innovation ecosystem facilitation initiatives. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Mugwagwa, J., Kagwesage, A. M., & Twiringiyimana, R. & Washbourne, C. L.(2021) African Innovation Ecosystems Study (AIESyS) Output 2: report containing recommendations for ways to support innovation ecosystem facilitation, addressing gaps, challenges and blockages building on existing strengths. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Mugwagwa, J., Washbourne, C. L., Kagwesage, A. M., & Twiringiyimana, R. (2021). STECS Plus: An analysis of contributions to COVID-19 responses by science granting councils in selected African countries. University College London

Dickey, A., Acuto, M., & Washbourne, C (2021). Urban Observatories: A Comparative Review. Connected Cities Lab, University of Melbourne: Melbourne.

Dickey, A., Acuto, M., & Washbourne, C (2020). Urban Observatories in the Midst of COVID-19: Challenges & Responses. Connected Cities Lab, University of Melbourne: Melbourne.

Mugwagwa, J., Washbourne, C. L., Kagwesage, A. M., & Twiringiyimana, R. (2020). Case studies on the effectiveness of capacity strengthening activities of the science granting councils initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa. Final Technical Report / Rapport Technique Final. University College London

Camargo Nino, E., Lane, S., Okano, K., Rahman, I., Peng, B., Benn, H., Culwick, C., Maree, G., Khanyile, S., Washbourne, C-L. (2020) Urban agriculture in the Gauteng City-Region’s green infrastructure network. GCRO Occasional Paper # No. 15. Gauteng City-Region Observatory, Johannesburg, South Africa

Harmácková, Z., Roebeling, P., Carrasco, J., Fisher, J., Giampietro, M., Washbourne, C.-.L., Young, S. (2019). EKLIPSE Expert Working Group’s report on supporting the EU negotiators on the IPBES Global Assessment’s Summary for Policymakers.

UN Habitat (ed.) (2018). Tracking Progress Towards Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements. SDG 11 Synthesis Report - High Level Political Forum 2018 (technical contribution)

Sense About Science, U.K. (ed.) (2018). Transparency of evidence: a spot check of government policy proposals July 2016 to July 2017. How transparent is government in sharing evidence behind policies? (technical contribution)

Hornsby, D. (ed.) (2016). Science diplomacy in Africa: concepts, praxis, prospects (contributor)

Washbourne, C.-L. (2014). Civilian drones. POST Note 479. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).

Washbourne, C.-L. (2013). Treatment options for residual waste. SPICe Briefing. Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Projects

Carla's key areas of work in progress are: 'Supporting policymaking at the local and city level' and 'Environmental policy narratives'

Selected Grants and Funding

Leverhulme Trust International Fellowship (2023-2025) Environmental narratives in complex policy contexts (PI)
Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) (2023-2027) PhD Studentship: Supporting the role of engineering professionals in urban green space (as supervisor)
UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) (2021) Scoping Study and Mapping of Innovation Ecosystem Development and Support Initiatives in Southern and West Africa (AIESyS)
(Co-Lead)
International Development Research Centre, Canada (IDRC) (2021-2023) Case Studies of the Political Economy of Science Granting Councils (PEA-3) (Co-Lead)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (2020-2022) International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO) (Co-I)

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Digital Innovation for Development in Africa (DIDA) (2020-2021) OVERCOME - digital innOVation in flood Early warning and wateR-related disease prevention for COMmunity capacity building and rEsilience (Co-I)
Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) (2019-2021) Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa Training Effectiveness Case Studies (STECS) Project and follow on work (STECS+)

Teaching

Modules

At CIM, I teach on the following modules

IM949:Data Visualisation in Science, Culture and Public Policy

I am the module lead for

IM906:Dissertation

You can contact me in these office hours: Thursday 14.00-16.00. Please email me to book an appointment.

Supervision

I encourage potential supervisees to get in touch directly, to discuss how I can support your research ideas.

I have supervised the following research students:

Dr Joanna Sawkins: EPSRC Case Studentship: Coproduction and the Participation of Community Organisations with Urban Policymaking: An Action Study of ‘Citizen-Led’ Research in London (Primary supervisor, University College London)
Yaqian Wu: The linkages between citizen science and SDGs in the UK and China (Secondary supervisor, University College London)

I currently supervise:

Veronica Li: Understanding the role of knowledge in UK energy policy at the city level (Primary supervisor, University College London)
David Nwankwo: The role of policy in developing a circular economy of water in emerging economies: a case study of South Africa (Primary supervisor, University College London)
Jennifer Tran: EPSRC studentship: Supporting the role of engineering professionals in urban green space delivery (Primary supervisor, University College London)
Quan Deng: Why does science fail? Exploring science dysfunction in the modern scientific landscape (Primary supervisor, University College London)

Impact

Carla chairs the steering committee of the UN-Habitat Global Urban Observatory Network (GUO-Net).
She is part of the knowledge coordination body of Eklipse, a key science-policy interface body supporting decision-making on biodiversity in Europe.

Contact details

Email:

carla.washbourne@warwick.ac.uk

Phone:

+44(0)7421301326

Mailing address:

Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM) | Social Sciences Building | University of Warwick | Coventry | CV4 7AL