Jesse’s research explores the role of middle actors, organisations that sit between top-down government policy and bottom-up individual action, in driving climate and social transformations. She is particularly interested in how organisations can influence behaviour change, strengthen community resilience, and accelerate system-wide transitions.
She is currently a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, supervised by Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh and Dr Sam Hampton. Her PhD examines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can become pivotal actors in the transition to low-carbon transport. By studying the adoption of workplace travel plans, her research investigates the behavioural, organisational, and social processes that shape the uptake of sustainable travel practices.
More broadly, Jesse’s research spans transport decarbonisation, the design and evaluation of behaviour change interventions, extreme heat adaptation and participatory research with children. She uses a diverse range of methods, including experimental research, computational modelling, arts-based approaches, and co-design, to develop evidence that is both theoretically grounded and practically useful. She works closely with charities, businesses, and policymakers to translate research into practical tools and strategies that support effective climate action.
Find out more about Jesse’ work.