Dr Melahat Sahin-Dikmen
I am a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the School of Social Sciences.
I specialise in economic and political sociology, focusing on the sociology of work and employment. My current research examines the impact of climate change and climate adaptation on the world of work. My recent projects investigate the implications of climate change for the architectural profession, climate literacy development for building workers, gender equity in the EU energy efficiency policies, and the just transition strategies of labour organisations.
I took my first degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (1997) and later completed a master's degree in Social Research Methods (2000) at the LSE. Between 2001-2009, I worked at the Policy Studies Institute on social policy research, followed by a PhD at the University of York (2014). I have been at the University of Westminster since 2016, first as a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Production of the Built Environment (ProBE), and as a lecturer since 2021.
My recent research has been concerned with the implications of climate change for work, specifically the building construction occupations such as architects and building workers.
Women in Local Climate Action (2023 - 2024)
The last few years have witnessed a surge in local climate activism. Women are found at the forefront of this wave. The aim of this scoping study is to explore their motivations, experiences, and views on equality and inclusion in local climate policies. The study will involve (i) analysis of local climate policies and (ii) interviews with women involved in climate action in an area of London selected as a case study.
Climate change and the architectural profession (2021- 2023)
This study investigates the implications of climate change for the architectural profession. The research will involve analysis of documents, interviews with architects, and case study examples of sustainable architecture in the public and private sectors, both new and retrofit.
Building it Green (2021-2023):
The aim of the programme is to embed climate literacy into skilled trades education and training in Canada. Funded by the Canadian Federal Government and commissioned by CBTU (Canada’s Building Trades Unions), in partnership with Skill Plan, the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, and Climate, Industry and Research Team (CIRT). ProBE is part of (CIRT) whose members are: Professor John Calvert (Simon Fraser University), Professor Vivian Price (California State University), Pier-Luc Bilodeau (Universitat Laval), Evelyn Dionne (Universitet Laval), Lee Loftus (CBTU), Professor Linda Clarke, Dr Melahat Sahin-Dikmen (University of Westminster) and Professor Christopher Winch (King's College). The UK team is responsible for identifying and evaluating climate literacy initiatives from Europe.
