![Laura Norris](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7920?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I am an economic geographer that specialises in net zero technologies and how they contribute to sustainability transitions, focusing on the socio-economic aspects that encourage technology acceptance. I have a particular interest in energy technologies and hard-to-abate sectors, my research has explored marine energy, steel decarbonisation and currently I am working within the maritime shipping sector. Within the multi-disciplinary MariNH3 project I lead on the evaluation of the legislative and socio-economic factors that would contribute to the acceptance of green ammonia as an alternative fuel in commercial shipping; this includes place-based such as ports, how economic activity may be displaced from one region to another and what the policy framework to enable technology uptake would look like. I am Cardiff University’s Net Zero Innovation Institute ‘policy and social transformations’ theme leader and part of Wales Innovation Network Net Zero and decarbonisation steering group.
Publication
2024
- Norris, L., Bristow, G., Cotterill, E., Healy, A. and Marshall, A. 2024. Decarbonisation, place attachment and agency: just transition in old industrial regions. Contemporary Social Science 19(1-3), pp. 283-302. (10.1080/21582041.2024.2323106)
2021
- Reynolds, L., Henderson, D., Xu, C. and Norris, L. 2021. Digitalisation and the foundational economy: a digital opportunity or a digital divide for less-developed regions?. Local Economy 36(6), pp. 451-467. (10.1177/02690942211072239)
- Norris, L. F. 2021. How do regional characteristics influence sustainability transitions? An analysis of marine energy in Wales.. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2019
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Roche, N., Roberts, A., Xu, C. and Norris, L. 2019. Digital maturity economic impact report 2018. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Henderson, D. and Norris, L. 2019. Broadband, productivity and the Welsh Economy. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/business-school/2019/05/13/broadband-productivity-and-the-welsh-economy/
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Xu, C. 2019. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2018. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Norris, L. and Henderson, D. 2019. Digital technologies and future opportunities for rural businesses and areas in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2017
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Economic impact report 2016. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2016. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff Business School. Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1137775/SFBBE-2016-National-Digital-Maturity-Survey-Report_final.pdf
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2016. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff Business School. Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1137775/SFBBE-2016-National-Digital-Maturity-Survey-Report_final.pdf
- Norris, L. 2017. The potential of business model digitisation for SMEs in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2014
- Bristow, G. I. et al. 2014. ECR2. Economic crisis: Regional economic resilience. Project Report. [Online]. ESPON. Available at: http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Projects/Menu_AppliedResearch/ECR2.html
2013
- Norris, L. and Porter, J. 2013. Challenges for renewable energy development in Wales. Contemporary Wales 26(1), pp. 45-60.
2011
- Norris, L., Porter, J., Pinto, H. and Cruz, A. R. 2011. Traditional Knowledge to Support Marine Sciences. Project Report. [Online]. Faro, Portugal: Universidade do Algarve. Available at: http://www.kimeraa.eu/gestor/upload_files/Documentos/Traditional_knowledge.pdf
Articles
- Norris, L., Bristow, G., Cotterill, E., Healy, A. and Marshall, A. 2024. Decarbonisation, place attachment and agency: just transition in old industrial regions. Contemporary Social Science 19(1-3), pp. 283-302. (10.1080/21582041.2024.2323106)
- Reynolds, L., Henderson, D., Xu, C. and Norris, L. 2021. Digitalisation and the foundational economy: a digital opportunity or a digital divide for less-developed regions?. Local Economy 36(6), pp. 451-467. (10.1177/02690942211072239)
- Norris, L. and Porter, J. 2013. Challenges for renewable energy development in Wales. Contemporary Wales 26(1), pp. 45-60.
Monographs
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Roche, N., Roberts, A., Xu, C. and Norris, L. 2019. Digital maturity economic impact report 2018. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Xu, C. 2019. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2018. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Norris, L. and Henderson, D. 2019. Digital technologies and future opportunities for rural businesses and areas in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Economic impact report 2016. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2016. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff Business School. Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1137775/SFBBE-2016-National-Digital-Maturity-Survey-Report_final.pdf
- Henderson, D., Jones, C., Munday, M., Norris, L., Roberts, A., Roche, N. and Scedrova, A. 2017. Digital maturity survey for Wales 2016. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff Business School. Available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1137775/SFBBE-2016-National-Digital-Maturity-Survey-Report_final.pdf
- Norris, L. 2017. The potential of business model digitisation for SMEs in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Bristow, G. I. et al. 2014. ECR2. Economic crisis: Regional economic resilience. Project Report. [Online]. ESPON. Available at: http://www.espon.eu/main/Menu_Projects/Menu_AppliedResearch/ECR2.html
- Norris, L., Porter, J., Pinto, H. and Cruz, A. R. 2011. Traditional Knowledge to Support Marine Sciences. Project Report. [Online]. Faro, Portugal: Universidade do Algarve. Available at: http://www.kimeraa.eu/gestor/upload_files/Documentos/Traditional_knowledge.pdf
Thesis
- Norris, L. F. 2021. How do regional characteristics influence sustainability transitions? An analysis of marine energy in Wales.. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Websites
- Henderson, D. and Norris, L. 2019. Broadband, productivity and the Welsh Economy. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/business-school/2019/05/13/broadband-productivity-and-the-welsh-economy/
Biography
Policy and Social Transformation Lead (Current): Cardiff University's Net Zero Innovation Institute is shaping a sustainable future by grounding research in three key areas – understanding the resources we have available in meeting net zero; asking if it’s possible to mitigate climate impacts by using science and engineering; and supporting the long-term transition to a greener economy. The institute applies an interdisciplinary approach across areas including physical sciences, engineering, built environment, social sciences, arts and humanities, biosciences, geosciences and planning.
Research Fellow (Current): The MariNH3 research programme focuses on overcoming the technical, economic, and social challenges of utilising ammonia as a disruptive marine fuel. With an international and multi-disciplinary team supported by industry partners, innovation challenges such as engine concepts capable of high thermal efficiency and ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are being tackled. The project will also hone policy guidance to develop a regulatory framework that is appropriately scaled and "right first time". The societal challenges of green ammonia acceptance will be explored.
Research associate (Select, previous): ENTRANCES (Horizon 2020) explored a clean energy transition across industrial regions of the EU to understand many of the cross-cutting issues related to a transition to Net Zero (sociological, economic, technical, ecological, cultural, political and psychological).
SFBB was a collaborative programme with The Welsh Government, backed by the European Regional Development Fund to maximise opportunities of superfast broadband infrastructure and enabled technologies. The Welsh Economy Research Unit (WERU) of Cardiff Business School undertook research on the economic benefits associated with the take up of superfast broadband enabled technologies by businesses in Wales.
Professional memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the Regional Studies Association
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- clean energy
- Sustainability
- Economic development policy
- energy policy
- Innovation