Kirsty Blair

Thesis title: Framing the Debate: Pathways to Sustainability in Livestock Systems

The Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems
School of GeoSciences

PhD supervisors:

Biography

Background

Communications Manager

Kirsty Blair is the Communications Manager for TRAnsforming the DEbate about Livestock Systems Transformation (TRADE), a UK Research and Innovation-funded project exploring the challenges and opportunities for sustainable food and livestock systems. She leads creative strategies to communicate the project’s impact, producing engaging knowledge exchange materials, supporting publications, and coordinating public and stakeholder engagement events. Kirsty secured a £5,000 Student Experience Grant and a £1,500 Geosciences Research Innovation and Public Engagement (RIPE) Grant to develop interactive tools and games, while also equipping students with valuable skills in science communication. These tools have been incorporated into higher education and public engagement activities, with the hope of expanding their accessibility and impact through an openly available digital platform.

PhD Research

Alongside her communications role, Kirsty is pursuing a PhD at the Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems and the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on how framing influences transformative pathways in the livestock sector. She has contributed to the field as lead author of "Worldviews, Values, and Perspectives Towards the Future of the Livestock Sector" (Agriculture and Human Values, 2024) and co-author of papers such as "Who is Responsible for Fixing the Food System? A Framing Analysis of Media Reactions to the UK's National Food Strategy" (British Food Journal, 2024) and "Sustainable livestock systems: anticipating demand-side challenges" (Animal, 2021). Her current research explores the framing of academic literature on sustainable livestock futures (currently under review), stakeholder co-design of scenarios for the UK livestock sector, and the effectiveness of 'playful learning' techniques in encouraging engagement, critical thinking, and dialogue around food system challenges.

Past Experience

Prior to her current role, Kirsty worked on climate emergency initiatives, focusing on communications and public engagement. At Leeds City Council, she developed climate emergency training and supported the Big Leeds Climate Conversation. With Social Business Brokers, she helped shape communications strategies and evaluate campaigns for Zero Waste Leeds. Kirsty has also held several research assistant roles, contributing to studies on sustainability in agri-food transitions and UK food policy. She holds an MScR in Human Geography from the University of Edinburgh and an MEnv in Sustainability from the University of Leeds, with a year abroad at the University of Adelaide.