Tony Craig

Research Lead in Sustainable Behaviours
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
E: tony.craig@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Tony Craig is the Research Lead in Sustainable Behaviours within the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department. He carries out research in the topic area of people-environment studies.

Research

My academic background is in environmental psychology, with a particular interest in understanding the dynamics of sustainable behaviours, often using computational models. I am keen to broaden the methodological toolbox available to people researching people-environment relationships, including agent-based modelling.  I was head of the social, economic and geographical sciences department between 2019 and 2025, and am now research lead for the institute’s portfolio of work in the broad area of sustainable behaviours.  I have considerable experience managing research projects at different scales for various funders, including RESAS and the EU.  I currently lead a large programme of work on circular economy behaviours as part of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme.

Past research

Between 2002 and 2006, he was on the board of the International Association of People Environment Studies (IAPS). He was voted back onto the board in 2012, and again in 2016. Tony was the treasurer of IAPS during the time that it was a UK registered charity.  He has also been the person responsible for the IAPS website, and has served as the organisation secretary, and eventually as IAPS president from 2018-2022.

Between 2011 and 2015, Tony led a large study of energy consumption involving several hundred households in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council. This study (The ‘North East Scotland Energy Monitoring Project‘) explored how effective  energy feedback (in the form of an in-home display) was in facilitating energy-reduction in households. The study involved a combined analysis of survey data with electricity-consumption data.

Tony has previously worked on EU projects looking at energy behaviours (GILDED), and pro-environmental behaviours at work (LOCAW),  sustainable lifestyles (GLAMURS), Social Innovations inEnergy Transitions (SMARTEES)

Research Gate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tony_Craig

Google Scholar Profile: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=wsz_07QAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9552-1682

Publications

Journals

Prior to appointment

  • Conniff, A.; Craig, T.; Laing, R.; Scott, S.; Galan-Diaz, C.R. (2007) Informing the practice of planning: researching future environments using desktop computers., In: Environmental Psychology: from research to ‘real world’ applications (eds. E. Edgerton and O. Romice). Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, pp91-108.
  • Laing, R.; Conniff, A.; Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C.R.; Scott, S. (2007) Design and use of a virtual heritage model to enable a comparison of active navigation of buildings and spaces with passive observation., 17(11): e0275149.
  • Galan-Diaz, C.R.; Conniff, A.; Craig, T.; Laing, R.; Scott, S. (2006) Walking participants through a virtual model: How we got there and its implications., Cognitive Processing, 7, (supplement 1), s33-s36.
  • Edge, M.; Craig, T. (2005) Internet based methodologies in housing research., In: Methodologies in Housing Research (eds. N. Wilkinson and Y. Hurol). The Urban International Press, Gateshead, pp272-285.
  • Craig, T.; Abbott, L.; Laing, R.; Edge, M. (2005) Assessing the acceptability of alternative cladding materials in housing: theoretical and methodological challenges., In: Housing, Space and Quality of Life (eds. R. Garcia-Mira, D. Uzzell, J. Real and J. Romay). Ashgate, Aldershot, pp59-69.
  • Craig, T. (2002) Overcoming expertocracy through sustainable development : the case of wastewater., In: People, Places and Sustainability (eds. G. Moser, E. Pol, Y. Bernard, M. Bonnes, J. Corraliza and V. Giuliani). Hogrefe and Huber, Gottingen, Germany, pp270-279.
  • Burkhard, R.; Deletic, A. and Craig, T. (2000) Techniques for water and wastewater management: A review of techniques and their integration in planning., Urban Water, 2, 197-221.

Books / chapters

  • Polhill, J.G.; Salt, D.; Craig, T.; Wilson, R.; Colley, K. (2021) Sensitivity analysis of an empirical agent-based model of district heating network adoption, In: Rojas, I.; Gonzalo, J. & Català (eds.). Advances in Computational Intelligence. IWANN 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Volume 12862. Cham: Springer, pp 118-127
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Sanchez-Marono, N.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Dumitru, A.; Garcia-Mira, R.; Bonnes, M.; Bonaiuto, M.; Carrus, G.; Marricchiolo, F.; Fornara, F.; Ilin, C.; Steg, L.; Ruepert, A.; Keizer, K. (2017) Interactions matter. Modelling everyday pro-environmental norm transmission and diffusion in workplace networks., In: Alonso-Betanzos, A., Sánchez-Maroño, N., Fontenla-Romero, O., Polhill, J.G., Craig, T., Bajo, J. & Corchado, J.M. (eds.) Agent-Based Modeling of Sustainable Behaviors. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, Chapter 2, pp27-52.
  • Sanchez-Maronon, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2017) Empirically-deprived behavioural rules in agent-based models using decision trees learned from questionnaire data., In: Alonso-Betanzos, A., Sanchez-Marono, N., Fontenla-Romera, O., Polhill, J.G., Craig, T., Bajo, J. & Corchado, M. (eds.). Agent Based Modelling of Sustainable Behaviors. Springer, Switzerland, Chapter 3, pp53-76.
  • Sanchez-Maronon, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2015) Designing decision trees for representing sustainable behaviours in agents., In: Bajo, J., Hernandez, J.Z., Mathieu, P., Campbell, A., FernandezCaballero, A., Moreno, M.N., Julian, V., AlonsoBetanzos, A., JimenezLopez, M.D. & Botti, V. (eds.). Trends in Practical Applications of Agents, Multi-Agent Systems and Sustainability: The PAAMS Collection, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Sustainability, Springer, Berlin, Volume 372, 169-176.
  • Galan-Diaz, C.; Conniff, A.; Craig, T. (2014) Using Nvivo for handling large data sets: a case study., In: Paulus, T., Lester, J. & Dempster, P. (eds.). Digital Tools for Qualitative Research. Sage, London, pp121-122.

Technical / contract reports

  • Dumitru, A.; Lema Blanco, I.; Albulescu, P.; Antosz, P.; Bouman, L.; Colley, K.; Craig, T.; Jager, W.; Macsinga, I.; Meskovic, E.; Mischkowski, N.; Pellegrini Masini, G.; Polhill, G.; Quinti, G.; Salt, D.; Somervail, P.; Wilson, R. (2021) Policy recommendations for each cluster of casestudies Insights from policy scenario workshops, SMARTEES Deliverable 5.2.
  • Wilson R.; Colley, K.; Somervail, P.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Salt, D.; Scalco, A.; Tiru, L-G.; Albulescu, P.; Macsinga, I.; Pellegrini-Masini, G.; Löfström, E.; Jager, W.; Antosz, P.; Bouman, L.; Dumitru, A. (2021) Integrated overview of choice behaviour and energy transitions in SMARTEES case studies, Report for SMARTEES Deliverable 4.2
  • Irvine, K.N.; Msika, J.; Dinnie, E.; Craig, T.; Fischer, A.; Hague, A.; Rajagopalan, D.; Roberts, M.; Wilson, R. (2020) Climate change engagement: assessing the impacts of the Climate Challenge Fund., ClimateXChange Report, 164pp.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Ge, J.; Sat, D. (2018) The SMARTEES Project and The James Hutton Institute’s potential contribution to the Torry Heat Network project., Appendix 10.4 in support of Torry Heat Network, Report to be presented to Aberdeen City Council.
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2016) Deliverable 2.2: Report on the ontology generation and data and knowledge integration., Green Lifestyles Alternative Models and Up-scaling Regional Sustainability / GLAMURS EU SSH.2013.2.1-1 Grant Agreement No. 613420.
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2016) Deliverable 2., Report for Glamurs Ontology Project.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Ge, J.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A. (2016) Out-of-range wattage in CurrentCost energy monitor readings., Short Report to CurrentCost.
  • Gilchrist, K.; Craig, T. (2014) Home energy efficiency – a review of evidence of attitudes and behaviours., ClimateXChange website.
  • Rivington, M.; Dinnie, E.; Craig, T.; Heslop, S.; Slee, B.; Matthews, R.; Nijnik, M.; Morris, S.; Stewart, D.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Dawson, L.A.; Daniell, T. (2013) Climate: public understanding and policy implications., The James Hutton Institute response to the UK Parliament House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry, April 2013.
  • Craig, T. (2012) Response to the DECC Consultation on the consumer engagement strategy supporting the smart meter rollout., DECC Consultation (URN 12D/033).
  • Sutherland, L.A.; Fischer, A.; Craig, T.; Gotts, N.M. (2009) GILDED European Policy Brief One., Deliverable from GILDED FP7 Project for European Commission.

Conference papers

  • Chen, J.; Colley, K.; Craig, T.; Somervail, P.; Polhill, G.; Hague, A.; Wooldridge, T.; Martinez Sanchez, G.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A.; Roxburgh, N. (2024) Social Representation of Everyday Circularity: For a better understanding of ideas and practices of circular economy through second-hand purchasing, Presentation at the 28th International Conference Association of People-Environment Studies, 2-5 July 2024, Barcelona
  • Hague, A.; Wooldridge, T.; Bender, F.; Somervail, P.; Colley, K.; Chen, J.; Craig, T. (2024) Being circular in a linear economy – perspectives from practitioners, Presentation at the 28th International Conference Association of People-Environment Studies, 2-5 July 2024, Barcelona
  • Colley, K.; Craig, T.; Scholz, G.; Hague, A.; Wilson, R.; Polhill, G.; Salt, D.; Somervail, P.; Nazli Koseoglu, M.; Wooldridge, T. (2022) The role of individuals and households in the transition to a circular economy a social simulation approach, International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS) 2022 conference, online
  • Hague, A.; Stevenson, T.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Somervail, P. (2022) Acting locally intermediary actors and the transition to a low carbon economy, IAPS 2022 Conference, 4 – 8 July 2022, Lisbon, Portugal and Online
  • Salt, D.; Polhill, G.; Craig, T.; Wilson, R.; Colley, K.; Pinker, A.; Scalco, A.; Muhammad, M. (2021) Modelling coconstructed scnearios of district heat network adoption in Aberdeen, Social Simulation Conference 2021, Online, 20-24 September 2021.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Salt, D.; Craig. T.; Wilson, R.; Colley, K. (2021) Sensitivity analysis of an empirical agent-based model of district heating network adoption., International Work Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, Online, 16-18 June 2021.
  • Craig, T. (2020) Understanding the temporal context of people-environment relationships., IAPS 26th Virtual Conference, Quebec, Canada, 21-26 June 2020.
  • Ge, J.; Polhill, J.G.; Liu, N.; Roberts, D.; Craig, T. (2016) Modelling lifestyle and energy footprint in Europe’s ‘oil capital’ using an agent-based model., In: Sauvage, S., Sanchez-Perez, J.M., Rizzoli, A.E. (eds.). Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software, Toulouse, France, 10-14 July 2016. Session A4: Modeling for Low carbon Economies, p253.
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Irvine, K.N.; Currie, M.; Munoz-Rojas, J.; Morris, S.; Falloon, P.; Fox, T.A.; Matthews, R.; Birch, A.N.E.; Craig, T.; Goulding, K.; Shamal, S.A.M. (2015) Systems thinking in human-environment science: synthesis of research, policy and perspectives on using and improving existing collaborative working approaches across the water, energy, food and environment nexus., Center for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR) Symposium, University of Dundee, February 2015.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Gotts, N.M.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Sanchez-Maroño, N.; Fontenla-Romero, Ó.; Craig, T.; García-Mira, R. (2014) Qualitative spatial representation in agent-based models., Social Simulation Conference SSC 2014, Barcelona, 1-5 September 2014.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Sanchez-Maroño, N.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Dumitru, A.; Bonnes, M.; Bonaiuto, M.; Carrus, G.; Fornara, F.; Maricchiolo, F.; Steg, L.; Ruepert, A.; Kaizer, K.; García-Mira, R. (2014) Empirical agent-based modelling of every day pro-environmental behaviours at work., 7th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software San Diego, California, USA, 15-19 June 2014.
  • Valentine, T.A.; Karley, A.J.; Squire, G.R.; Bentley, S.; Lee, D.; Morreale, G.; Greenland, A. (2014) New wheat root ideotypes for reduced input systems: ex situ root characterisation., Wheat Breeding 2014, ‘Tools, Targets and Progress’, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, 29-30 January 2014.
  • Heslop, S.; Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C. (2013) The unresponsive bystander effect: Is it a barrier to mitigation of anthropogenic climate change?, 10th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, EnvPsyCon2013, Otto von Guericke Universitat, Magdeberg, Germany, 22-25 September 2013.
  • Sanchez-Marono, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Rodriguez-Garcia, M.; Polhill, J.P.; Craig, T. (2013) A decision-making model for environmental behavior in agent-based modeling., IWANN 2013: International Work Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, 12-14 June 2013.
  • Domecka, M.; Uzzell, D.; Rathzel, N.; Wester, M.; Craig, T. (2012) “I invested in solar panels”: pro-environmental practices and performative practices in life history., European Sociological Association Mid-term Conference 2012, RN03 Biographical perspectives on European Societies, University of Lodz, 14-15 September 2012.
  • Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C.; Heslop, S.; Polhill, G.; Dent, I. (2012) The North East Scotland Energy Monitoring Project: Do gadgets help households to save energy?, Paper presented at the 22nd Conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Glasgow, 24-29 June 2012.
  • Sutherland, E.; Hall, C.; Craig, T. (2012) Towards a low carbon rural society: A study of rural individuals and households in Scotland., 22nd Conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Glasgow 24-29 June 2012. (Poster)
  • Galan-Diaz, C.; Conniff, A.; Craig, T.; Pearson, D. (2012) The influence of perspective-taking on preference for and emotional responses to office environments., Paper presented at the 22nd Conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Glasgow, 24-29 June 2012.
  • van der Jagt, A.P.N.; Pearson, D.G.; Craig, T.; Anable, J.; Brewer, M.J. (2012) Do landscape aesthetics go beyond scene content? Testing the preference matrix using an improved methodology., Paper presented at the 22nd conference of the International Association of People-Environment Studies, Glasgow, 24-29 June 2012.
  • Sanchez-Marono, N.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Fontenla-Romero, O.; Bolon-Canedo, V.; Gotts, N.M.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Garcia-Mira, R. (2012) An agent-based prototype for enhancing sustainability behavior at an academic environment., PAAMS 2012: 10th International Conference on Practical Applications of Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Salamanca, Spain, 28-30 March 2012.
  • Gotts, N.M.; Sanchez, N.; Craig, T.; Polhill, J.G. (2011) Agent-based modelling in the LOCAW project., European Social Simulation Association Conference (ESSA 2011), Montpelier, France, 19-23 September 2011.
  • 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.
  • Craig, T. (2009) Does an offshore windfarm make the seascape less restorative? What can we learn about restoration from virtual environments?, Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, 8th, Zurich, 6-9 September 2009.
  • Craig, T.; Dunglinson, J.; Slee, B. (2009) Predicting support for individual action and community-group action to reduce carbon emissions., Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, 8th, Zurich, 6-9 September 2009.
  • Conniff, A.; Craig, T.; Laing, R.; Galan-Diaz, C.R.; Scott, S. (2008) The importance of purpose in evaluating urban designs., Conference of the International Association for People-Environment Studies, “Urban Diversities, Biosphere and Well-Being”, Rome, 28 July – 1 August, 2008.
  • Craig, T.; Conniff, A.; Galan-Diaz, C. (2008) Exploring the relationship between familiarity, public participation and environmental preferences., Conference of the International Association for People-Environment Studies, “Urban Diversities, Biosphere and Well-Being”, Rome, 28 July – 1 August, 2008.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Hague, A.; Chen, J.; Polhill, G.; Ge, J.; Salt, D. (2023) Modelling Circular Economy Behaviours: The Importance of Adequately Representing the Temporal Dimension (Slow down, you model too fast: The case for intentionally slow modelling), ICEP 2023 – International Conference on Environmental Psychology, 20-23 June 2023, Aarhus, Denmark
  • Chen, J.; Craig, T.; Colley, K.; Hague, A.; Heban, S.; Somervail, P.; Wooldridge, T.; Martinez Sanchez, G.; Polhill, G.; Ballesteros Figueroa, A. (2023) Poster presentation in 2023 Social Simulation Conference, Social Simulation Conference 2023, 4-8 September 2023, Glasgow
  • Assefa, S.; Craig, T.; Hague, A.; Colley, K.; Chen, J.; Polhill, G. (2023) Using agent-based modelling to explore circular economy behaviours in Scotland, Social Simulation Conference 2023, University of Glasgow, UK, 4-8 September
  • Hague, A.; Colley, K.; Wooldridge, T.; Somervail, P.; Chen, J.; Ballesteros Figueroa, A.; Craig, T. (2023) Transitioning to a circular economy: Everyday circular behaviours, Poster, SEFARI
  • Colley, K.; Wilson, R.; Craig, T.; Polhill, G.; Salt, D.; Pinker, A.; Somervail, P. (2021) SMARTEES: Modelling household uptake of a city-wide district heat network in Aberdeen, Scotland. Virtual poster for Behavior, Environment and Climate Change Conference 2021, Virtual poster for Behavior, Environment and Climate Change Conference 2021, 8-10 November 2021, Online
  • Sam, L.; Craig, T.; Watts, D.; Mcdiarmid, J.I. (2020) The relationship between perceived time pressure and food practices among UK adults in employment., Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 79, Article No. E755. (Abstract)
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Salt, D.; Wilson, R. (2020) Simulating the dynamics of trust in one-off decisions such as joining a heat network., BEHAVE 2020: 6th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency, Copenhagen, Denmark, 21-23 October 2020. Abstract.
  • Scalco, A.; Craig, T.; Whybrow, S.; Horgan, G.; Macdiarmid, J. (2020) Modelling the effects of social networks in interventions aimed at reducing meat consumption using a social simulation., Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 79, Article No. E783. (Abstract)
  • Polhill, J.G.; Ge, J.; Craig, T.; Salt, D.; Colley, K. (2018) Modelling fuel poverty and market failures., WICI Conference on Modelling Complex Urban Environments, St. Jerome’s College, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 21-22 June 2018. Abstract
  • Ge, J.; Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2016) Modelling commuting in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire., Poster at The James Hutton Institute Open Day, Aberdeen, 10 September 2016.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Fischer, A.; Dinnie, L.; Pinker, A.; Msika, J. (2016) Sustainable lifestyle initiatives in Europe and Scotland: The GLAMURS and TESS European Projects., The James Hutton Institute Open Day, Aberdeen, 10 September 2016. (Poster)
  • Polhill, J.G.; Ge, J.; Craig. T. (2016) Agent-based modelling of sustainable behaviours., Poster at The James Hutton Institute Open Day, Aberdeen, 10 September 2016.
  • Craig, T.; Polhill, J.G. (2014) Researching household energy use: the North East Scotland energy monitoring project., SRUC Rural Policy Centre Roadshow, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, 24 March 2014. (Poster)
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T. (2014) Modelling everyday pro-environmental behaviour: scenario studies using agent-based models., SRUC Rural Policy Centre Roadshow, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, 24 March 2014. (Poster)
  • van der Jagt, A.; Craig, T.; Anable, J.; Brewer, M.; Pearson, D. (2013) Missing the landscape for the artefact: higher saliency of built than natural scene content., Perception, 42, ECVP Abstract Supplement, 128.
  • Heslop, S.; Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C. (2013) The unresponsive bystander effect: Does it explain failure to act on climate change., Social, Economical and Geographical Sciences Review, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 4-6 December 2013. (Poster).
  • Polhill, J.G.; Craig, T.; Alonso-Betanzoz, A.; Sanchez-Marono, N.; Fontenia-Romero, O.; Dumitru, A.; Garcia-Mira, R. (2013) Constructing models of everyday pro-environmental behaviour in the LOCAW project, First Workshop on Modelling Social Energy Practices, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, 18-19 November 2013.
  • Polhill, J.G.; Ruepert, A.; Craig, T.; Alonso-Betanzos, A.; Sanchez-Matrono, N.; Fontela-Romero, O.; Rodriguez-Garcia, M.; Garcia-Mira, R. (2013) Agent-based modelling of theories of everyday pro-environmental behaviour., 10th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, EnvPsyCon2013, Otto von Guericke Universitat, Magdeburg, 22-25 September 2013.
  • Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C.; Heslop, S.; Polhill, J.G. (2012) The North East Scotland Energy Monitoring Project (NESEMP)., Workshop on Climate Change and Carbon Management, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 1 March 2012.
  • Craig, T.; Galan-Diaz, C.; Heslop, S.; Polhill, J.G. (2012) The North East Scotland Energy Monitoring Project (NESEMP)., Climate X Change Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, 21-22 Febuary 2012. (Poster)