Dr Vanessa Bowden

Post Doctorate Research Fellow

Newcastle Business School

Email:vanessa.bowden@newcastle.edu.au
Phone:(02) 4968 6726

Career Summary

Biography

Dr Vanessa Bowden is a sociologist at Newcastle Business School investigating the interface between our understandings of the environment with science, policy and social justice.

While we might often think of environmental issues as directed by scientific understandings, issues such as climate change reveal the complexities around our trust in science, politics and concern for the economy. Understanding the ways in which these issues intersect is a key focus of Dr Bowden’s research.

Dr Bowden is currently working with Professor Daniel Nyberg on two research projects; looking at the social dynamics of climate adaptation in Lake Macquarie, Australia and a three year ARC funded project on Energy Transitions in Australia.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Newcastle

Keywords

Climate Change
Environmental Sociology
Politics
Reflexive Modernisation
Risk Society
Social Theory
Sociology

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title	Organisation / Department
Associate Lecturer	University of Newcastle Learning and Teaching Australia
Associate Lecturer	University of Newcastle Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies Australia

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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Journal article (11 outputs)

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

Link

2021

Bowden V, Nyberg D, Wright C, '"I don't think anybody really knows": Constructing reflexive ignorance in climate change adaptation.', Br J Sociol, (2021)

DOI	10.1111/1468-4446.12818

2020

Bowden V, Nyberg D, Wright C, 'Truth and power: deliberation and emotions in climate adaptation processes', Environmental Politics, (2020)

© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. As the polarisation of climate politics feeds into ¿post-truth¿ politics, one response has been a call for the reassertion of a previously agreed upon ¿reality¿. However, it is important to recognise that knowledge has always been contested and contingent. This is particularly salient concerning climate change, where multiple truth claims compete in the media, politics, and social movements. One means of addressing this is through deliberation, where it is argued that emotional interpretations of information and lack of trust in authority can be alleviated through transparent democratic processes. Investigating a case study of climate change adaptation in a regional Australian community, we argue that while deliberation may be the preferred method of building community support, emotions can also be employed to undermine scientific authority and build a shared truth among those who see themselves as victims of the process. To this end, we suggest that more radically democratic models are needed to address climate change.

DOI	10.1080/09644016.2020.1850972
Co-authors	Daniel Nyberg

2019

Bowden V, Nyberg D, Wright C, 'Planning for the past: Local temporality and the construction of denial in climate change adaptation', Global Environmental Change, 57 1-9 (2019) [C1]

DOI	10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.101939
Citations	Scopus - 4Web of Science - 3
Co-authors	Daniel Nyberg

2018

Broom A, Kenny K, Bowden V, Muppavaram N, Chittem M, 'Cultural ontologies of cancer in India', CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH, 28 48-58 (2018)

DOI	10.1080/09581596.2017.1288288
Citations	Scopus - 4Web of Science - 3

2018

Bowden VM, ''Life. Brought to you by' ...coal? Business responses to climate change in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia', Environmental Sociology, 4 275-285 (2018) [C1]

DOI	10.1080/23251042.2017.1382032
Citations	Scopus - 1

2017

Broom J, Broom A, Bowden V, 'Ebola outbreak preparedness planning: a qualitative study of clinicians' experiences', PUBLIC HEALTH, 143 103-108 (2017)

DOI	10.1016/j.puhe.2016.11.008
Citations	Scopus - 5Web of Science - 7

2017

Broom A, Chittem M, Bowden V, Muppavaram N, Rajappa S, 'Illness Experiences, Collective Decisions, and the Therapeutic Encounter in Indian Oncology', QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH, 27 951-963 (2017)

DOI	10.1177/1049732316648125
Citations	Scopus - 6Web of Science - 5

2017

Kirby E, Broom A, Good P, Bowden V, Lwin Z, 'Experiences of interpreters in supporting the transition from oncology to palliative care: A qualitative study', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 13 E497-E505 (2017)

DOI	10.1111/ajco.12563
Citations	Scopus - 5Web of Science - 4

2016

Leahy TS, Bowden V, 'Don't Shoot the Messenger: How Business Leaders Get Their Bearings on a Matter of Science', Journal of Sociology, 52 .219-234 (2016) [C1]

DOI	10.1177/1440783313518245
Citations	Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1
Co-authors	Terry Leahy

2016

Siegel P, Broom A, Bowden V, Adams J, de Barros NF, 'Attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine amongst oncology professionals in Brazil', Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 27 30-34 (2016)

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are popular amongst cancer patients in the Brazilian context, however little is known about oncology health professionals' attitudes toward the role of CAM and their perspectives on the potential for integration into oncological care. In this study, drawing on a series of interviews with oncology professionals (i.e. doctors, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacologists and psychologists), we provide insight into their views on the rise, validity, and role of CAM in cancer care. The results reveal two key dynamics in relation to CAM in cancer care in Brazil. First, that doctors, nurses and other allied professionals hold considerably different views on the value and place of CAM, and in turn ascribe it varying levels of legitimacy potentially limiting integration. Second, that while some health professionals may articulate a degree of support for CAM, this is limited by perceptions of CAM as lacking efficacy and intruding on their respective jurisdictional claims. Further research is needed in the Brazilian context to explore patient and professional perspectives on experiences on CAM in cancer care, including how oncology professionals' varying positions on CAM may influence what patients are prepared to use, or discuss, in the context of cancer care.

DOI	10.1016/j.ctim.2016.04.003
Citations	Scopus - 2Web of Science - 2

2010

Leahy TS, Bowden VM, Threadgold SR, 'Stumbling towards collapse: Coming to terms with the climate crisis', Environmental Politics, 19 851-868 (2010) [C1]

DOI	10.1080/09644016.2010.518676
Citations	Scopus - 33Web of Science - 25
Co-authors	Terry Leahy, Steven Threadgold

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Conference (2 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics	Link
2011	Bowden VM, 'Prospects for an ecological modernisation approach to climate change - Analysing the views of business leaders in the Hunter Region', Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Conference: Local Lives/Global Networks, Newcastle, NSW (2011) [E3]
2009	Bowden VM, 'Fractions in a coal dependent region: How business people in the Hunter are responding to climate change', The Future of Sociology, Canberra, ACT (2009) [E1]

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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants	1
Total funding	$1,500

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20171 grants / $1,500

New Staff Early-Stage Researcher Scheme$1,500

Funding body: English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle

Funding body	English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle
Scheme	New Staff Early-Stage Researcher Scheme
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2017
Funding Finish	2018
GNo
Type Of Funding	Internal
Category	INTE
UON	N

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Research Supervision

Number of supervisions

Completed0

Current1

Current Supervision

Commenced	Level of Study	Research Title	Program	Supervisor Type
2020	PhD	Solarpunk: Ideologies of Resistance, Resilience, and Hope	PhD (Sociology & Anthropology), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle	Co-Supervisor

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