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Andrea Collins

Dr Andrea Collins

Senior Lecturer

School of Geography and Planning

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Media commentator

Overview

My research interests cover the contribution of environmental indicators in assessing resource use impacts, specifically the ecological footprint as a policy and education tool, and sport ecology. My current work focuses on assessing the environmental impacts of major sport and cultural events, and developing decision-making tools for event organisers and policy makers. Projects have included FA Cup Final, Rugby 6 Nations, Tour de France, UEFA Champions League Final, Hay Literature Festival, Swn Festival, the National Eisteddfod and Cardiff Half Marathon. My research has informed the development UK Sport's eventIMPACT Toolkit and Golf Environment Organisation's Sustainability Standard for Golf Tournaments.

I teach on several modules on our professionally-accredited planning programmes. I am Programme Director for MSc in Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy.

Publication

2024

2023

2020

2019

2018

2017

2015

2014

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Articles

Book sections

Books

Conferences

Monographs

Research

Interests/Area of Expertise

Andrea is a member of the Environment Research Group, the Sustainable Places Research Centre and Cardiff University's Festival Research Group,

Her research interests cover the contribution of environmental indicators in assessing resource use impacts, specifically the ecological footprint as a policy and education tool. Her current work focuses on assessing the environmental impacts of major sport and cultural events, and developing decision-making tools for event organisers and policy makers. Projects have included FA Cup Final, Rugby 6 Nations, Tour de France, UEFA Champions League Final, Hay Literature Festival, Swn Festival, National Eisteddfod and Cardiff Half Marathon.

Andrea's research has transformed how policymakers, event organisers and consultants undersrtand and evaluate event environmental impacts. It has informed the development UK Sport's eventIMPACT Toolkit and Golf Environment Organisation's Sustainability Standard for Golf Tournaments, and led to the staging of more sustainable events in five continents. Recent work has involved collaboration with the National Eisteddfod and Run4Wales (organisers of Cardiff's Half Marathon).

UK Sport eventIMPACTS Toolkit

Golf Environment Organisation - Tournament Sustainability Standard

Cardiff Half Marathon Race for Sustainability Report

Projects

2003-2005: Reducing Cardiff's Ecological Footprint. Joint research project with Stockholm Environment Institute. Funded by Biffaward, Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff Council.

2004-2005: Measuring the environmental and economic impact of the 2004 FA Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. A Collins A Flynn, M Munday and R Roberts. Funded by the ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University.

2005-2006: Sustainable consumption and production: a review of current evidence and data. Funded by DEFRA.

2006: Environmental Indicators Project (Wales Environment Strategy). Funded by Welsh Assembly Government.

2006-2007: Assessing the environmental and economic impact of the 2006 RBS Rugby Six Nations Championships. Funded by ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University.

2007-2008: Motivating, Engaging, Leading and Supporting Skills and Knowledge for Sustainable Communities - Applying Models of Sustainable Localised Economies. Funded by ESRC and ASC.

2007-2011: Assessing the environmental and economic impact of the 2007 Tour de France Grande Depart. A Collins C Jones, M Munday and R Roberts. Funded by ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University.

2008: Environmental impacts of the Isle of Wight Music Festival. A Collins, C Jones and M Munday. Joint research with Sport Industry Centre, Sheffield Hallam University. Funded by Isle of Wight Council.

2008-2009: UK Sport Major Event Evaluation Framework, development of a framework for social and environmental impacts of sporting and cultural events. Joint research with Sport Industry Centre, Sheffield Hallam University. Funded by UK Sport and Partners.

2008-2010: Engaging with the Ecological Footprint: Experiences from Australia and UK. Funded by International Research Collaboration Travel Award, Cardiff University.

2010-2011: Knowledge and Practice in the Ecological Footprint Community. Funded by ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University.

2012-2014: Assessing the environmental impacts of the Hay Literary Festival (Wales, UK). Funded by ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University.

2015-2016: Reducing the impact of visitor travel: reflections on Hay Festival, Funded by ESRC Impact Acceleration Award.

2016-2017: A Spotlight on Sŵn Festival. Funded by AHRC Research and Enterprise in Arts and Creative Technology Initiative.

2017: UK Sport eventsIMPACTS Toolkit (Phase 2: Environmental Theme). Funded by UK Sport and Partners.

2017-current: Environmental and Economic Impacts of the 2017 Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon. Funded by Cardiff University.

2017-2018: Impact and Legacies of Festivals in Wales: A spotlight on the National Eisteddfod. Funded by Cardiff University.

2018: Sports and outdoor recreation (friluftsliv) in an environmental perspective. Funded by MISTRA (Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research).

2018: eventIMPACTS.coUniversitym User Engagement and Impact. Funded by ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.

2019: Future of Festivals. Funded by Siemens UK.

2019-2020: Transforming event impact evaluations. Funded by ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.

2019-2020: Race for Sustainability. Funded by ESRC Impact Acceleration Award.

PhD supervision

Lennon, M. 2013. Meaning making and the policy process: The case of green infrastructure planning in the Republic of Ireland.

Glendinning, E. 2013. Building Resilience through Post-Productivism: The case of farmers' markets'.

Hipwood, T. 2019. Understanding home improvements within the wider nexus of practice: Implications for inducing owner-occupier low carbon retrofit.

Teaching

Programme Director, MSc Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy (2017-present)

Undergraduate Teaching

  • Sustainable Development: Concepts, Challenges and Practices (Module Leader)
  • Mobilities: Travel, Tourism and Communication
  • Researching Contemporary International Issues
  • Research Dissertation and Research Project

Postgraduate Teaching

  • Live Project
  • Research Dissertation

Biography

Education and Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Environmental Health (First Class), University of Wales, 1996.
  • PhD, University of Wales, 2002.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (Distinction), Cardiff University, 2012.

Career

  • Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University (2020-present)
  • Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University (2013-2020).
  • RCUK Fellow, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, (2007-2013).
  • Research Associate, ESRC BRASS Research Centre, Cardiff University, (2003-2007).

Honours and Awards

  • Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Award, Finalist for Environmental Sustainability, 2019
  • RCUK & Welcome Trust, Researcher in Residence, 2008-2009
  • RCUK Fellowship, Delivering Sustainable Development, 2007-2013
  • Cardiff University International Collaboration Award, 2006-2007

Professional Affilitations

  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (since 2012)

Committees and reviewing

  • Programme Director, MSc Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2017 –
  • Member of the Postgraduate Taught Management Committee, 2017 –
  • Member of the Postgraduate Taught Programmes Student-Staff Panel, 2017 –

Academic Journal Reviewer

Environmental Policy and Planning, Local Environment, Sport and Society, Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, International Journal of Consumer Studies, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Leisure Studies, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Sustainability, European Journal of Sport Science, Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, Environmental Science and Policy, and Resources.

Contact Details

Email CollinsA@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 70279
Campuses Glamorgan Building, Room Room 2.89, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA