Professor Elen Stokes
Professor of Law
- StokesE1@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 74349
- Law Building, Room 1.16, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Elen's primary areas of expertise are in environmental law and policy, with particular points of focus on:
- the regulation of new technologies
- the relationship between law and the future
Elen is a founder member of the Future Matters Collective, an interdisciplinary network of academics and arts-practitioners established to investigate society's relationship to the future and enable creative future-making in contexts of energy and environment, urban regeneration, and health and well-being. She is also an active member of the Environmental Justice Research Unit, a collaborative initiative between Law and Politics researchers at Cardiff University.
Elen is an experienced lecturer and tutor in property law (Land Law; Equity & Trusts) and environmental law subjects.
Publication
2022
- Stokes, E. and Pontin, B. 2022. Historical-futures and future-futures in environmental law pedagogy: exploring ‘Futures Literacy’. International Journal of Law in Context 18(SI4), pp. 440-449. (10.1017/S1744552322000404)
- Stokes, E. 2022. Futurescapes of Planning Law: Some Preliminary Thoughts on a Timely Encounter. In: Lee, M. and Abbot, C. eds. Taking English Planning Law Scholarship Seriously. UCL Press, pp. 157-179.
2021
- Stokes, E. 2021. Beyond evidence: anticipatory regimes in law. Law and Policy 43(1), pp. 73-91. (10.1111/lapo.12159)
2019
- Stokes, E. 2019. Wanted: Professors of foresight in environmental law!. Journal of Environmental Law 31(1), pp. 175-186. (10.1093/jel/eqz004)
2018
- Stokes, E. 2018. Review of Eloise Scotford, Environmental principles and the evolution of environmental law [Book Review]. Modern Law Review 81(5), pp. 920-925. (10.1111/1468-2230.12370)
- Bozzini, E. and Stokes, E. 2018. Court upholds restrictions on neonicotinoids: A precautionary approach to evidence. European Journal of Risk Regulation 9(3), pp. 585-593. (10.1017/err.2018.48)
- Steinert, G. et al. 2018. BluePharmTrain: biology and biotechnology of marine sponges. In: Rampelotto, P. and Trincone, A. eds. Grand Challenges in Marine Biotechnology. Springer
2017
- Stokes, E. 2017. Recombinant regulation: EU executive power and expertise in responding to synthetic biology. In: Weimer, M. and De Ruijter, A. eds. Regulating Risks in the European Union: The Co-production of Expert and Executive Power. Oxford and Portland, Oregon: Hart, pp. 59-80.
- Smismans, S. and Stokes, E. 2017. Innovation types and regulation: the regulatory framing of nanotechnology as 'incremental' or 'radical' innovation. European Journal of Risk Regulation 8(2), pp. 364-386. (10.1017/err.2017.9)
- Bell, S., McGillivray, D., Pedersen, O., Lees, E. and Stokes, E. 2017. Environmental Law. Oxford University Press.
2016
- Stokes, E. 2016. Regulatory domain and regulatory dexterity: critiquing the UK governance of 'fracking'. Modern Law Review 79(6), pp. 961-986. (10.1111/1468-2230.12226)
- Lee, R. G. and Stokes, E. 2016. Material uncertainty: nanomaterials, regulation and symbolic legislation. In: van Klink, B., van Beers, B. and Poort, L. eds. Symbolic Legislation Theory and Developments in Biolaw. Legisprudence Library Berlin: Springer, pp. 237-252., (10.1007/978-3-319-33365-6_14)
2015
- Quigley, M. and Stokes, E. 2015. Nudging and evidence-based policy in Europe: problems of normative legitimacy and effectiveness. In: Alemanno, A. and Sibony, A. eds. Nudge and the Law: A European Perspective. Modern Studies in European Law Oxford and London: Hart, pp. 61-82.
- Stokes, E. 2015. Double movements in the regulation of new technologies: the case of nanotechnology. In: Lange, B., Haines, F. and Thomas, D. eds. Regulatory Transformations: Rethinking Economy-Society Interactions. Onati International Series in Law and Society Oxford and London: Hart, pp. 201-228.
2014
- Adam, B. E. et al. 2014. Promise through the lens of time. Presented at: Futures in Question, Goldsmiths, University of London, 11-12 September 2014.
- Stokes, E. 2014. New EU policy on shale gas. Environmental Law Review 16(1), pp. 42-49. (10.1350/enlr.2014.16.1.202)
2013
- Stokes, E. and Vaughan, S. 2013. Great expectations: Reviewing 50 years of chemicals legislation in the EU. Journal of Environmental Law 25(3), pp. 411-435. (10.1093/jel/eqt024)
- Bowman, D. M., Stokes, E. and Bennett, M. G. 2013. Anticipating the societal challenges of nanotechnologies. NanoEthics 7(1), pp. 1-5. (10.1007/s11569-013-0170-x)
- Stokes, E. 2013. Demand for command: responding to technological risks and scientific uncertainties. Medical Law Review 21(1), pp. 11-38. (10.1093/medlaw/fws042)
2012
- Stokes, E. 2012. Nanotechnology and the products of inherited regulation. Journal of Law and Society 39(1), pp. 93-112. (10.1111/j.1467-6478.2012.00572.x)
- Stokes, E. and Bowman, D. M. 2012. Looking back to the future of regulating new technologies: the cases of nanotechnology and synthetic biology. European Journal of Risk Regulation 2, pp. 235-241.
2011
- Stokes, E. 2011. You are what you eat: market citizens and the right to know about nano foods. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment 2(2), pp. 178-200. (10.4337/jhre.2011.02.03)
- Groves, C. R., Frater, L., Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2011. Is there room at the bottom for CSR? Corporate social responsibility and nanotechnology in the UK. Journal of Business Ethics 101(4), pp. 525-552. (10.1007/s10551-010-0731-7)
2009
- Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Frater, L. 2009. Regulation, responsibility, safety and risk. In: A beacon or just a landmark? Reflections on the 2004 Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering Report: Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties. The Responsible Nano Forum, pp. 18-19.
- Stokes, E. 2009. Regulating nanotechnologies: sizing up the options. Legal Studies 29(2), pp. 281-304. (10.1111/j.1748-121X.2009.00121.x)
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. eds. 2009. Economic globalization and ecological localization: socio-legal perspectives. Journal of Law and Society Special Issues. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2009. Environmental Governance: Reconnecting the Global and Local. Journal of Law and Society 36(1), pp. 1-10. (10.1111/j.1467-6478.2009.00453.x)
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2009. Twenty-first Century Novel: Regulating Nanotechnologies. Journal of Environmental Law 21(3), pp. 469-482. (10.1093/jel/eqp028)
2008
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2008. Rehabilitating the Definition of Waste: Is it Fully Recovered?. In: Etty, T. and Somson, H. eds. Yearbook of European Environmental Law., Vol. 8. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 162-181.
- Groves, C., Stokes, E., Lee, R., Frater, L. and Oriola, T. A. 2008. Nanotechnolgy and the regulatory environment: a synopsis. Working paper. Cardiff: Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society.
- Stokes, E. 2008. The EC courts' contribution to refining the parameters of precaution. Journal of Risk Research 11(4), pp. 491-507. (10.1080/13669870701715584)
2006
- Frater, L., Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Oriola, T. 2006. An overview of the framework of current regulation affecting the development and marketing of nanomaterials. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file36167.pdf
- Frater, L., Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Oriola, T. A. 2006. An overview of the framework of current regulation affecting the development and marketing of nanomaterials. Project Report. Cardiff: Centre for Business Relationships Accountability Sustainability.
- Pontin, B. and Stokes, E. 2006. The contribution of recent developments in United Kingdom environmental law to the legal principles of sustainable development. Revue Européenne de Droit de l'Environnement 2006(1), pp. 57-69.
2005
- Stokes, E. R. 2005. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the definition of risk, and the (in)applicability of the precautionary principle: assessing the ability of precaution to mitigate the impact of hazardous activites.. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Articles
- Stokes, E. and Pontin, B. 2022. Historical-futures and future-futures in environmental law pedagogy: exploring ‘Futures Literacy’. International Journal of Law in Context 18(SI4), pp. 440-449. (10.1017/S1744552322000404)
- Stokes, E. 2021. Beyond evidence: anticipatory regimes in law. Law and Policy 43(1), pp. 73-91. (10.1111/lapo.12159)
- Stokes, E. 2019. Wanted: Professors of foresight in environmental law!. Journal of Environmental Law 31(1), pp. 175-186. (10.1093/jel/eqz004)
- Stokes, E. 2018. Review of Eloise Scotford, Environmental principles and the evolution of environmental law [Book Review]. Modern Law Review 81(5), pp. 920-925. (10.1111/1468-2230.12370)
- Bozzini, E. and Stokes, E. 2018. Court upholds restrictions on neonicotinoids: A precautionary approach to evidence. European Journal of Risk Regulation 9(3), pp. 585-593. (10.1017/err.2018.48)
- Smismans, S. and Stokes, E. 2017. Innovation types and regulation: the regulatory framing of nanotechnology as 'incremental' or 'radical' innovation. European Journal of Risk Regulation 8(2), pp. 364-386. (10.1017/err.2017.9)
- Stokes, E. 2016. Regulatory domain and regulatory dexterity: critiquing the UK governance of 'fracking'. Modern Law Review 79(6), pp. 961-986. (10.1111/1468-2230.12226)
- Stokes, E. 2014. New EU policy on shale gas. Environmental Law Review 16(1), pp. 42-49. (10.1350/enlr.2014.16.1.202)
- Stokes, E. and Vaughan, S. 2013. Great expectations: Reviewing 50 years of chemicals legislation in the EU. Journal of Environmental Law 25(3), pp. 411-435. (10.1093/jel/eqt024)
- Bowman, D. M., Stokes, E. and Bennett, M. G. 2013. Anticipating the societal challenges of nanotechnologies. NanoEthics 7(1), pp. 1-5. (10.1007/s11569-013-0170-x)
- Stokes, E. 2013. Demand for command: responding to technological risks and scientific uncertainties. Medical Law Review 21(1), pp. 11-38. (10.1093/medlaw/fws042)
- Stokes, E. 2012. Nanotechnology and the products of inherited regulation. Journal of Law and Society 39(1), pp. 93-112. (10.1111/j.1467-6478.2012.00572.x)
- Stokes, E. and Bowman, D. M. 2012. Looking back to the future of regulating new technologies: the cases of nanotechnology and synthetic biology. European Journal of Risk Regulation 2, pp. 235-241.
- Stokes, E. 2011. You are what you eat: market citizens and the right to know about nano foods. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment 2(2), pp. 178-200. (10.4337/jhre.2011.02.03)
- Groves, C. R., Frater, L., Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2011. Is there room at the bottom for CSR? Corporate social responsibility and nanotechnology in the UK. Journal of Business Ethics 101(4), pp. 525-552. (10.1007/s10551-010-0731-7)
- Stokes, E. 2009. Regulating nanotechnologies: sizing up the options. Legal Studies 29(2), pp. 281-304. (10.1111/j.1748-121X.2009.00121.x)
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2009. Environmental Governance: Reconnecting the Global and Local. Journal of Law and Society 36(1), pp. 1-10. (10.1111/j.1467-6478.2009.00453.x)
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2009. Twenty-first Century Novel: Regulating Nanotechnologies. Journal of Environmental Law 21(3), pp. 469-482. (10.1093/jel/eqp028)
- Stokes, E. 2008. The EC courts' contribution to refining the parameters of precaution. Journal of Risk Research 11(4), pp. 491-507. (10.1080/13669870701715584)
- Pontin, B. and Stokes, E. 2006. The contribution of recent developments in United Kingdom environmental law to the legal principles of sustainable development. Revue Européenne de Droit de l'Environnement 2006(1), pp. 57-69.
Book sections
- Stokes, E. 2022. Futurescapes of Planning Law: Some Preliminary Thoughts on a Timely Encounter. In: Lee, M. and Abbot, C. eds. Taking English Planning Law Scholarship Seriously. UCL Press, pp. 157-179.
- Steinert, G. et al. 2018. BluePharmTrain: biology and biotechnology of marine sponges. In: Rampelotto, P. and Trincone, A. eds. Grand Challenges in Marine Biotechnology. Springer
- Stokes, E. 2017. Recombinant regulation: EU executive power and expertise in responding to synthetic biology. In: Weimer, M. and De Ruijter, A. eds. Regulating Risks in the European Union: The Co-production of Expert and Executive Power. Oxford and Portland, Oregon: Hart, pp. 59-80.
- Lee, R. G. and Stokes, E. 2016. Material uncertainty: nanomaterials, regulation and symbolic legislation. In: van Klink, B., van Beers, B. and Poort, L. eds. Symbolic Legislation Theory and Developments in Biolaw. Legisprudence Library Berlin: Springer, pp. 237-252., (10.1007/978-3-319-33365-6_14)
- Quigley, M. and Stokes, E. 2015. Nudging and evidence-based policy in Europe: problems of normative legitimacy and effectiveness. In: Alemanno, A. and Sibony, A. eds. Nudge and the Law: A European Perspective. Modern Studies in European Law Oxford and London: Hart, pp. 61-82.
- Stokes, E. 2015. Double movements in the regulation of new technologies: the case of nanotechnology. In: Lange, B., Haines, F. and Thomas, D. eds. Regulatory Transformations: Rethinking Economy-Society Interactions. Onati International Series in Law and Society Oxford and London: Hart, pp. 201-228.
- Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Frater, L. 2009. Regulation, responsibility, safety and risk. In: A beacon or just a landmark? Reflections on the 2004 Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering Report: Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties. The Responsible Nano Forum, pp. 18-19.
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. 2008. Rehabilitating the Definition of Waste: Is it Fully Recovered?. In: Etty, T. and Somson, H. eds. Yearbook of European Environmental Law., Vol. 8. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 162-181.
Books
- Bell, S., McGillivray, D., Pedersen, O., Lees, E. and Stokes, E. 2017. Environmental Law. Oxford University Press.
- Lee, R. and Stokes, E. eds. 2009. Economic globalization and ecological localization: socio-legal perspectives. Journal of Law and Society Special Issues. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Conferences
- Adam, B. E. et al. 2014. Promise through the lens of time. Presented at: Futures in Question, Goldsmiths, University of London, 11-12 September 2014.
Monographs
- Groves, C., Stokes, E., Lee, R., Frater, L. and Oriola, T. A. 2008. Nanotechnolgy and the regulatory environment: a synopsis. Working paper. Cardiff: Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society.
- Frater, L., Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Oriola, T. 2006. An overview of the framework of current regulation affecting the development and marketing of nanomaterials. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file36167.pdf
- Frater, L., Stokes, E., Lee, R. and Oriola, T. A. 2006. An overview of the framework of current regulation affecting the development and marketing of nanomaterials. Project Report. Cardiff: Centre for Business Relationships Accountability Sustainability.
Thesis
- Stokes, E. R. 2005. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the definition of risk, and the (in)applicability of the precautionary principle: assessing the ability of precaution to mitigate the impact of hazardous activites.. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Research
Elen's current work examines the relationship between law and the future, and seeks to develop a framework for understanding the technical legal work that goes into mediating, enacting and regularising conceptions of the future that achieve effects in the present, whether or not those futures materialise.
Her previous research focuses on the regulation of new technologies -- including nano, bio and converging technolgoies, and next generation energy technologies. She co-authored the UK's first industry standard on nanotechnology regulation (British Standards Institution, Publicaly Available Specification 137) which formed the basis of a 4* impact case study in REF2014.
Elen has published articles in leading law journals, contributed chapters to major edited collections, and co-authored a market-leading textbook Environmental Law (9th edn, OUP 2017). She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Law & Society, the Journal of Environmental Law (Reviews Editor), and the Journal of Property, Planning & Environmental Law.
Teaching
This year, she is teaching on the following modules:
- Land Law (UG)
- Environmental Law & Justice (UG)
- Environmental and Climate Change Law (PG)
- Human Rights and Global Justice (PG)
Biography
Elen was appointed to a Chair in Law at the School of Law and Politics in September 2017, having previously worked at the Universities of Birmingham and Manchester.
Supervisions
Elen has supervised and examined PhDs on a range of areas of environmental law, risk regulation, housing policy, and the relationship between law and innovation.
Current supervision
Jade Jones
Research student