Dr Nicola Kemp

Reader / Education for Sustainable Future Lead

Sustainability

Academic Lead, Academy for Sustainable Futures

As Academic Lead in the Academy for Sustainable Futures I have responsibility for supporting sustainability education, research and advocacy across the University. My own research is focused on sustainability education across ages and phases. 

I have a particular interest in postgraduate teaching and have previously worked as School Director of Graduate Studies as well as Course Director for the MA Early Childhood Education. I am an experienced supervisor and examiner for both taught Masters and research degrees (MA by Research, Ed D and PhD).

My research interests are focused on the inter-relationship between education and sustainability across ages and educational phases.

Much of my research explores young children’s relationship with the natural environment. Recent projects funded by the Froebel Trust focus on outdoor provision for babies and toddlers (https://www.froebel.org.uk/research-library/a-life-in-and-with-nature-an-exploration-of-outdoor-provision-in-baby-rooms ) and the potential of Nature Engaging and Nature Enhancing (NENE) pedagogies (https://www.froebel.org.uk/research-library/a-froebelian-inspired-nature-pedagogy-in-urban-babyrooms).

I am also interested in the relationship between sustainability and Higher Education and am the co-editor of the 2024 Routledge book 'Good Education in a Fragile World: The Value of a Collaborative and Contextualised Approach to Sustainability in Higher Education.

Research Projects

  • "Why Don't I Want to be a Teacher? An Autoethnographic Exploration of Education Sustainability and Class.". Researcher(s): Mr Tom Wilkinson. Supervisor(s): Mr Alan Pagden, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A comparative case study analysis of three secondary schools in relation to the education they provide for their academically more able learners. Researcher(s): Mr Carl Lyon. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Sue Soan. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A life 'in and with nature' for babies and toddlers in English ECEC settings. Researcher(s): Dr Nicola Kemp. [Project]
  • An exploration of autistic adolescent female’s educational experiences within mainstream secondary school. Researcher(s): Miss Esther Whitney. Supervisor(s): Dr Alison Ekins, Dr Judy Durrant. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Miss Nina Montgomery. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Elfneh Bariso. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Policing Dyslexia: An examination of the experiences and perceptions of dyslexic police officers in England.. Researcher(s): Mr Danny Bothwick. Supervisor(s): Dr Katja Hallenberg, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Remembering birth; a narrative inquiry into older women's experiences of birth and their lifelong significance. Researcher(s): Dr Helen Muscat. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Professor Lynn Revell. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Towards a greener English Literature classroom: using ecopedagogy and ecocriticism in the secondary school English Literature classroom to raise awareness of sustainability and environmentalism, and return agency to teachers.. Researcher(s): Mr Robert Hyland. Supervisor(s): Dr Claire Bartram, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Umbrellas, funnels and fans: A narrative inquiry into the lived experiences of subject middle leaders in English secondary schools. Researcher(s): Mr Dominic Burrell. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Kevin Balchin. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • What Can a Holistic Perspective Contribute to our Understanding of the Influential Relations Between Young Children, Adults and Natural Environments?. Researcher(s): Dr Tansy Watts. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Alan Bainbridge. [Postgraduate Research Project]

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have a particular interest in sustainability education.

I have led a range of Consultancy and Knowledge Exchange Projects including with Kent Wildlife Trust, The Bay Trust, Dandelion Time, The Froebel Trust and Bore Place.

I co-led the Sustainability in Higher Education (SHE) network with the University of Plymouth.

I am currently:

Educational Advisor to the Harmony Project

Member of the Early Years Coalition (and involved in the development and dissemination of Birth to 5 Matters sector guidance)

Member of the European Early Childhood Research Association (EECERA) Special Interest Group on Early Childhood Education for Sustainability

People search

Contact me

nicola.kemp@canterbury.ac.uk
01227924557
Fleming (Fg09), Canterbury

Based in

Faculty of Arts Humanities and Education
School of Humanities and Educational Studies