Student CELP
Cardiff University’s Centre of Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) is primarily set up for lecturers, researchers, and Ph.D. students to semi-regularly discuss their research and developments. In October 2022, Jade Jones, a postgraduate researcher at Cardiff University, decided to set up a Student Division at CELP (also referred to as “Student CELP”) to encourage a research community among undergraduate students at the university. Jones found that many law and policy programs are very geared towards legal practice; there are not a lot of different places where students can explore more academic or research skill development. Furthermore, there remains a gap between research communities and social sciences. Research opportunities for undergraduate social science students, in particular, is something that is missing from many academic institutions.
Based in Cardiff University’s School of Law and Politics, Student CELP is a student-led division of the CELP research center that includes both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Jones states that membership is open to anyone within the School of Law and Politics with an interest in law and policy research (though in future years it could open up to students at the rest of the university).
What does Student CELP do?
Student CELP meets monthly and discusses potential topics for research and blog writing. The organization does a variety of things, including helping hold research presentation conferences, hosting student symposiums, and producing blog posts about their research interests. This year, Jones introduced a Student Steering Committee, which helps determine short-term and long-term goals for the organization as well as plan and organize events.
One of those events is a winter conference held every December to showcase the latest research from the environmental law and policy department. For the past two years, student members have had the opportunity to attend a showcase of presentations on relevant topics in the field as well as network with staff and other students. Last year’s hybrid conference included presentations by Professor Ben Pontin, Mr. Guy Linley-Adams, and Dr. Richard Caddell. Professor Ben Pontin presented on “Environmental Legal Themes,” and Mr. Guy Linley-Adams (pictured below) spoke on his recent BBC panorama exposé titled, “The Water Pollution Cover-Up.” Richard Caddell, also an Ocean Nexus Principal Investigator, spoke on “Principles for the Protection of the Environment in Armed Conflict.”
Student CELP also hosts a yearly spring symposium for students to present their research and blog posts to a larger audience. At the moment, the topic of each individual blog post varies greatly based on the research interests of the students. However, Jones hopes to eventually set up rotating blog themes that will change every two to three months, and that way, students can provide information and insight on current events related to topics like the UN High Seas Treaty (also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ, Agreement) or marine pollution.
To round off 2023, some Student CELP members wrote short snapshots about environmental law and policy highlights from that year. The snapshots, which encompass a variety of topics including climate litigation cases, the EU’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and the EU’s Nature Restoration Law, indicate topics of interest and topics that Student CELP members believe are important for readers to be aware of or understand.
Student CELP is not just focused on ocean equity. The topic of focus, just like the Student CELP membership, fluctuates every year based on what the students are interested in. Ocean equity is only one theme that might emerge as a topic of interest. “In terms of ocean equity,” explains Jones, “we will probably be using it as more of a lens in which to view things taking place, like the BBNJ agreement. Students may touch on equity by linking it to topics like climate justice.”
What’s next for Student CELP?
“My initial idea for [Student CELP], in part, came from being a part of Ocean Nexus and seeing that network and collaboration between researchers,” says Jones. “I wanted to see that be replicated earlier [in the academic journey]. You shouldn’t have to wait until your Ph.D. to get this sort of experience.” Jones notes that, for law students, academic life is not usually seen as the first option. Legal practice is often pushed as the only route for students to follow, and if you do not want to take that route, you are at a loss. Student CELP thus evolved out of the intention of opening law and policy students up to different career opportunities.
In its first year in 2022, Student CELP had around 40 individuals express interest with around 15 members who attended regularly. In 2023, there were 60 expressions of interest with 37 active members. It is clear that students are curious about or keen to explore paths that are not directly related to law practice. Seeing this increasing interest from Cardiff University students, Jones expresses her excitement:
“I feel quite strongly about undergraduate students having [a] research community. I feel like it’s something that gets a little lost as students try to get through the end-of-year exams. I’d like to encourage the research conversations – for students to take ideas from their lectures and tutorials and relay that to their broader interests to develop a greater community and network. If Student CELP can maintain [its] momentum for the next three to four years, then it could actually be the cornerstone for developing it across the university. We could see it replicated, and I’d like to be part of something like that.”
This blog was edited by Leah Huff.