What is Human Ecology all about?

It’s a perspective that uncovers and understands the connections between personal action, social, industrial and agricultural systems and the ecology of the planet.

Claire is a Fellow of The Centre for Human Ecology

CHE is an independent organisation which carries out action, research and education with people who are taking responsibility and initiative for effective, enduring change for sustainability and justice. Claire has been a Fellow of the CHE since spring 2003 having studied and completed an MSc in Human Ecology (Oct 2001- Jan 2003; accredited through the Open University).  

A Human Ecological approach emphasises the importance of linking action at three different levels: Personal, Local, Wider society; and believe in the importance of the whole person:

1. Head: knowledge and critical thinking;
2. Heart: insight and compassion;
3. Hand: skills for effective action.

MSc Research into the Motivation of Eco-social Activities

Using quantitative and qualitative method, I studied100 UK based eco-social activists’ motivation for action – to understand why and how they were acting, and what lessons could be learnt and what tools used to enable people to act for social change.

In short I found that motivation for action comes through a mix of: self-belief, an awareness that you want to do it and why you want to do it, knowledge about how to do it, and a supportive encouraging approach so that you can do it.