Priestley Climate Scholars – Book Project (2023-present)
Main collaborators: Susan Ann Samuel, Prof. Richard Beardsworth, Prof. Viktoria Spaiser
Role: Conceptualised the idea and spearheading a team of 20+ authors from interdisciplinary backgrounds (law, politics, climate science, art, cinema, transport studies, engineering etc)
Expected outcomes: (1) An Edited Volume/Book: Climate Futures—A Next Generation Approach: Across Disciplines (2) A Symposium
Funding: UK Research and Innovation
Institutions involved: University of Leeds, Priestley Centre for Climate Futures
How did it start?
On 5 December 2025, Richard Beardsworth, Viktoria Spaiser, and I submitted the final manuscript of our edited volume “𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡” to Routledge. This milestone concludes nearly three years of collaborative work and emerges from the 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 programme at the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures (learn more: link) of University of Leeds.
I first shared the idea for a book in June 2023, unsure if such a vision would ever take shape or bloom. But it gained strength when ten brilliant Priestley Climate Scholars from across disciplines joined me to explore the notion of #climatefutures. Together, we developed chapters that underwent rigorous double-blind peer review, shaped by thoughtful guidance from our supervisors and senior academics at the Priestley Centre.
I am deeply grateful to my co-editors Richard and Viktoria: Richard Beardsworth supported (and co-led) this vision from day one and helped me balance the book alongside my PhD. His mentorship these last couple of months was empowering: amidst my time at UN Climate Change - COP30 Brazil (12–18 Nov), PhD defence/viva and preparation in Leeds (19–28 Nov), extensive travel, and my ongoing work in India with election campaigns and more (29 Nov - to date). Even as I was spiralling out of balance with exhaustion, jetlag and new responsibilities - he helped reinforce my confidence and was always just a message away. Viktoria Spaiser, my main PhD supervisor, whose generosity, patience and intellectual clarity have helped shape this work. Working with both of them for this book (even as I in parallel juggled my PhD) has been a precious and a unique experience.
A special thanks to Clare Martynski, coordinator of the Priestley Climate Scholars programme when the project first emerged — her leadership and encouragement helped give this book its form. I am equally grateful to the leadership at the Priestley Centre — Piers Forster and Shona Smith— for continuous kind and joyful support.To our wonderful #PriestleyClimateScholars, and now lead authors of their respective chapters — Bev Adams, Lauren Burton, Benjamin Skinner, Vanessa Ternes, Samuel Birch, Dewa Ayu Putu Eva Wishanti, Leonie Hyde-Smith, Alesia D. Ofori, Ph.D., Vivian Nsiah, and Ruth Jihyung Joo — thank you for your creativity, determination, and extraordinary teamwork. This was not just an editorial work for me — I LOVED the team work, and the continuous joy in mutually supporting each other. Thank you, my friends!! Grateful also to our brilliant research intern, Mariam Hanan Hameed Sulaiman, whose contributions have been invaluable throughout. Sincere thanks to Annabelle Harris and Rutba Iqbal of Routledge for helping guide this work to submission—thank you for everything! Feeling grateful, grounded, and excited for the steps ahead. Stay tuned 🌱📘