I am a honorary associate at the James Hutton Institute and my work combines psychological and sociological perspectives in human-nature interactions with a perspective that addresses governance arrangements for natural resource management and sustainability transformations. Over the years, my research has examined mental constructs of climate change, nature and biological diversity as built and used by different social groups, particularly also the value judgements implied, and the implications for public support for related policies. Other work has also addressed the cultural and economic role of hunting in Tanzania and Ethiopia, and the institutional arrangements that foster (or hamper) sustainable resource management, with a focus on co-management and institutional change. My current research combines these different approaches by looking at the management and governance of 'ecosystem services', systems such as woodlands, and climate change from the perspectives of individuals as well as social groups.
Research
Anke Fischer’s publications since 2007 by thematic areas
- Social representations and discourses of nature, biodiversity, plant and animal species, hunting and wildlife management.
- Folk social science and social representations of climate change and societal change towards sustainability.
- Co-production and governance of ecosystem services.
- Social-psychological views on environmental economic valuation techniques.
- Institutional analysis of governance mechanisms in natural resource management.
- Community ‘capacities’ for sustainability.
Ongoing and recent projects
- Ecosystem services supply (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services – RESAS) (2016-2021) – Improving our understanding of the impact of management interventions on flows of benefits from ecosystems
- IPORE – Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (ESRC NEXUS) (2016-2017) – My research focus: Governance of common pool resources implied in alternatives for organic resource use
- GLAMURS – Green Lifestyles, Alternative Models and Upscaling Resional Sustainability (EU FP7) (2013-2016) – My research focus: to explore the diversity and implications of social representations of sustainability governance
- TESS – Towards European Societal Sustainability (EU FP7) (2013-2016) – My research focus: to investigate the diversity of aspirations and rationalities in community sustainability initiatives, and to examine the tensions arising from these
PhD supervision
- Irma Arts: Digital technologies and human-nature interactions: the users’ perspective. University of Aberdeen, 2017-.
- Jennifer Wardle: Resolving the conflict between demands on organic wastes in rural Ethiopia – solutions for food, energy and water security. University of Aberdeen, 2016-.
- Isla Hodgson: Predators, tolerance and conflict: Understanding the drivers of raptor conflict in Scotland. University of Aberdeen. 2015-.
- Marie Pagès: The role of volunteers in invasive non-native species management initiatives. University of Aberdeen, 2012-2016.
- Audrey Verma: The role of digital technology in the development of human-nature relationships. University of Aberdeen, 2012-2016.
- Asanterabi Lowassa: The influence of social structure and social change on illegal bushmeat hunting in western Serengeti, Tanzania. University of Dar es Salaam, 2011-2017.
- Dereje Tadesse Wakjira: Governance, institutional change and forest use in Harenna, Ethiopia. University of Aberdeen, 2009-2013.
- Koen Arts: Wilderness restoration and animal reintroduction: Ideas, discourses and policies. University of Aberdeen, 2008-2012.
- Sebastian Selge: Public and scientific discourses on biological invasions: social representations of invasive non-native species in Scotland. University of Aberdeen, 2007-2011.
- Kerry A. Waylen: The implications of local views and institutions for the outcomes of community-based conservation. Imperial College London, 2007-2010.
Past research
- Building natural resource monitoring capacity in Ethiopia’s key Afro-montane ecosystems (Darwin Initiative/DEFRA) (2010-2013) – My research focus: to examine co-management arrangements for common-pool resource governance and their changes over time.
- Assessment of Scotland’s Ecosystem Services (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) – Scottish Government) (2011-2016) – My research focus: to investigate the co-production of ecosystem services related to woodlands and their governance.
- Governance and decision-making for community empowerment in rural communities (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) – Scottish Government) (2011-2016) – my research focus: to explore the impact of small-scale community activities on community resilience and vibrancy.
- HUNTing for Sustainability (EU FP7) (2008-2012) – my research focus: cultural and institutional aspects of hunting in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Scotland.
- Governance, Infrastructure, Lifestyle Dynamics and Energy Demand: European Post-Carbon Communities (EU FP7) (2008-2012) – my research focus: Social representations and folk psychologies related to climate change, energy use and resource governance.
- ALTER-Net EU FP6 Network of Excellence (2005-2009) – Work package leader for “Public attitudes towards biodiversity and its management”.
Publications
The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Journals
- Selge, S.; Fischer, A.; van der Wal, R. (2011) Public and professional views on invasive non-native species – a qualitative social scientific investigation., Biological Conservation, 144, 3089-3097.
- Fischer, A.; Peters, V.; Vavra, J.; Neebe, M.; Megyesi, G. (2011) Energy use, climate change and folk psychology: Does sustainability have a chance? Results from a qualitative study in five European countries., Global Environmental Change, 21, 1025-1034.
- Selge, S.; Fischer, A. (2011) How people familiarise themselves with complex ecological concepts – anchoring of social representations of invasive non-native species., Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 21, 297-311.
- Fischer, A.; Langers, F.; Bednar-Friedl, B.; Geamana, N.; Skogen, K. (2011) Mental representations of animal and plant species in their social contexts: Results from a survey across Europe, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31, 118-128.
- Fischer, A.; Bednar-Friedl, B.; Langers, F.; Dobrovodska, M.; Geamana, N.; Skogen, K.; Dumortier, M. (2011) Universal criteria for species conservation priorities? Findings from a survey of public views across Europe., Biological Conservation, 144, 998-1007.
- Fischer, A.; Glenk, K. (2011) One model fits all? – On the moderating role of emotional engagement and confusion in the elicitation of preferences for climate change adaptation policies., Ecological Economics, 70, 1178-1188.
- Teel, T.; Manfredo, M.; Jensen, F.S.; Buijs, A.; Fischer, A.; Riepe, C.; Arlinghaus, R.; Jacobs, M. (2010) Understanding the cognitive basis for human-wildlife relationships., International Journal of Sociology, 40, 104-123.
- Sauer, U.; Fischer, A. (2010) Willingness to pay, attitudes and fundamental values – on the cognitive context of public preferences for diversity in agricultural landscapes., Ecological Economics, 70, 1-9.
- Glenk, K.; Fischer, A. (2010) Insurance, prevention or just wait and see? Public preferences for water management strategies in the context of climate change., Ecological Economics, 69, 2279-2291.
- Fischer, A. (2010) On the role of ideas of human nature in shaping attitudes towards environmental governance., Human Ecology, 38, 123-135.
- Waylen, K.A.; Fischer, A.; McGowan, P.J.K.; Thirgood, S.J.; Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2010) The effect of local cultural context on the success of community-based conservation interventions., Conservation Biology, 24, 1119-1124.
- Fischer, A.; Marshall, K. (2010) Framing the landscape: Discourses of woodland restoration and moorland management in Scotland., Journal of Rural Studies, 26, 185-195.
- Mauz, I.; Fischer, A.; Langers, F.; Young, J.; Bednar-Friedl, B.; Grunberger, S.; Musceleanu, O. (2009) Biodiversity changes viewed by European citizens: a complex picture, fed by embodied experiences., Eco.mont, 1, 39-45.
- van der Wal, R.; Fischer, A.; Marquiss, M.; Redpath, S.; Wanless, S. (2009) Is bigger necessarily better for environmental research?, Scientometrics, 78, 317-322.
- Lienhoop, N.; Fischer, A. (2009) Can you be bothered? The role of participant motivation in the valuation of species conservation measures., Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 52, 519-534.
- White, R.M.; Fischer, A.; Marshall, K.; Travis, J.; Webb, T.J.; di Falco, S.; Redpath, S.; van der Wal, R. (2009) Developing an integrated conceptual framework to understand biodiversity conflicts., Land Use Policy, 26, 242-253.
- Buijs, A.; Fischer, A.; Rink, D.; Young, J.C. (2008) Looking beyond superficial knowledge gaps: Understanding public representations of biological diversity., International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management, 4, 65-80.
- Young, J.; Richards, C.; Fischer, A.; Halada, L.; Kull, T.; Kuzniar, A.; Tartes, U.; Uzunov, Y.; Watt, A. (2007) Conflicts between biodiversity conservation and human activities in the CEEC., Ambio, 36, 545-550.
- Fischer, A.; Petersen, L.; Feldkoetter, C.; Huppert, W. (2007) Sustainable governance of natural resources and institutional change – an analytical framework., Public Administration and Development, 27, 123-137.
- Marshall, K.B.; White, R.; Fischer, A. (2007) Conflicts between humans over wildlife management: on the diversity of stakeholder attitudes and implications for conflict management., Biodiversity and Conservation, 16, 3129-3146.
- Fischer, A.; Young, J. (2007) Understanding mental constructs of biodiversity – implications for biodiversity management and conservation., Biological Conservation, 136, 271-282.
- Fischer, A.; Hanley, N.D. (2007) Analysing decision behaviour in stated preference surveys: a consumer psychological approach., Ecological Economics, 61, 303-314.
- Fischer, A.; van der Wal, R. (2007) Invasive plant suppresses charismatic seabird – the construction of attitudes towards biodiversity management options., Biological Conservation, 135, 256-267.
- Fischer, A. (2004) Analysing decision behaviour in contingent valuation studies: a consumer psychological approach., Aberdeen Research Consortium Discussion Paper Series, No.2004-4. Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen, 22pp.
Books / chapters
- Fischer, A. (2008) The politics of natural resource use in developing countries., In: Natural Resources and pro-Poor Growth: the Economics and Politics of Natural Resource Use in Developing Countries. DAC Guidelines and Reference Series, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris, France, 55-69.
- Rueffer, C.; Fischer, A. (2007) Metric and ordinal measures of utility and their relevance for environmental policy-making Empirical evidence from a case study on agri-environmental goods and services., In: Stated Preference Methods for Environmental Valuation: Applications from Austria and Germany (eds. N. Lienhoop, J. Meyerhoff and P. Elasasser). Metropolis, Marburg. ISBN: 978-3-89518-642-4
Technical / contract reports
- Waylen, K.A.; Fischer, A.; McGowan, P.J.K.; Thirgood, S.J.; Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2010) The effect of local cultural context on community-based conservation interventions: evaluating ecological, economic, attitudinal and behavioural outcomes., Systematic Review – Collaboration for Environmental Evidence, No. 80, 36pp.
- Sutherland, L.A.; Fischer, A.; Craig, T.; Gotts, N.M. (2009) GILDED European Policy Brief One., Deliverable from GILDED FP7 Project for European Commission.
- Fischer, A.; Buijs, A.; Lisievici, P.; Marcelova, N.; Rink, D.; Sedlakova, J.; Tatrai, I.; Young, J. (2006) Deliberative events: approaches to assess public attitudes to biodiversity and biodiversity management., ALTER-Net Report.
Conference papers
- Polhill, J.G.; Galan-Diaz, C.R.; Gotts, N.M.; Craig, T.; Marshall, K.; Sutherland, L-A.; Kriel, A.; Fischer, A. (2010) The ODDness of modelling: early experiences from a transdisciplinary modelling exercise., Third World Congress on Social Simulation (WCSS 2010), University of Kassel, Germany, 6-9 September 2010.
- Glenk, K.; Fischer, A. (2010) Insurance, prevention or just wait and see? Public preferences for water management strategies in the context of climate change., 11th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE 2010), Advancing Sustainability in a Time of Crisis, Oldenburg and Bremen, Germany, 22-25 August 2010.
- Fischer, A.; Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C.R. (2010) Climate change and energy consumption: behaviours and coping strategies, Conference of the International Association for People-Environment Studies “Vulnerability, Risk and Complexity: Impacts of Global Change on Human Habitats”, 21st, Leipzig, Germany, 27 June – 2 July 2010.
- Ohl, C.; Stickler, T.; Lexer, W.; Risnoveanu, G.; Geamana, N.; Beckenkamp, M.; Fiorini, S.; Fischer, A.; Dumortier, M.; Casaer, J. (2008) Governing biodiversitiy: procedural and distributional fairness in complex social dilemma., Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons, 12th, Cheltenham, England, 14-18 July 2008.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Dinnie, E.; Fischer, A.; Huband, S. (2011) Property rights and new public policy agendas: Contested claims to understanding the Scottish countryside., ACES Conference 2011 Conservation Conflicts: Strategies for coping with a changing world, Arts Centre, Aberdeen, 22-24 August 2011.
- Blackstock, K.L.; Coull, M.C.; Dunglinson, J.; Fischer, A.; Futter, M.; Glenk, K.; Marshall, K.; Smith, H. (2009) Stakeholder engagement in river basin management planning., Knowledge Scotland KTE Event, SEPA, Stirling, 29 May 2009.
- Fischer, A.; Marshall, K.; Selge, S. (2009) Understandings of nature: public views, conflicts and attitudes towards management., Knowledge Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness, 25 March 2009.
- Ohl, C.; Lexer, W.; Stickler, T.; Risnoveanu, G.; Geamana, N.; Beckenkamp, M.; Fischer, A.; Fiorini, S.; Dumortier, M.; Casaer, J. (2008) Governing biodiversity: procedural and distributional justice in social dilemmas., 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons, 14-18 July 2008. Abstract.
- Fischer, A. (2007) Environmental values inform attitudes towards biodiversity management., Making Scotland’s Rural Environment More Sustainable, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 25 June 2007.
