Matthew Cashmore

Matthew Cashmore

Professor

  • Institutt for by- og regionsplanlegging

 

I am an environmental social scientist who conducts research at the interfaces between environmental geography, spatial planning and political science. I am intrigued by the politics of environmental and sustainability policy, particularly what might be called the micro-politics of policy enactment. Through my research I am also developing new theoretical and empirical agendas on the governance of urban sustainability transitions.

During the 2024-2025 academic year I will be on study leave. I will spend autumn as a visiting researcher at the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia and the first two months of 2025 at the Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Research

My research address questions of engendering and governing change in human-environment interrelations. I have increasingly focused on notions of radical or transformation change. This topic is addressed through research that typically focuses on:

  • The politics of environment policy.
  • Environmental planning and appraisal.
  • Sustainability transitions.

Main theoretical interests:

  • Sociological strands of new institutionalism.
  • Governmentality.
  • Theories of power.

I currently lead a project called COLOCAL, on locally-led climate change adaptation, with partners in Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nepal and Uganda. I am also a member of the NMBU's Sustainability Arena, TOWARDS sustainable cities and communities, which fosters interdisciplinary and collaborative science practices to sustainable and just societal transformations. Much of my research work takes place within, and through, this Sustainability Arena.

Co-operation and Outreach

I cooperate with a number of international organisations (e.g. the European Commission and the United Nations Economic Council for Europe (UNECE)), particularly on environmental training and capacity development. I have participated in such activities in numerous European countries (including, Montenegro, Albania, and Ukraine), western Asia (e.g. Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan) and Southeast Asia (Vietnam). 

I have also undertaken commissions from the UNECE examining the implementation of the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and the Kiyv Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment.

PhD Supervision

  • Susan Wasswa Nanfuka, Oct 2022-ongoing. Knowledge co-creation for adaptation to drought among agropastoral farming communities of Uganda’s cattle corridor. Supervised with  David Mfitumukiza (Makerere University, main supervisor).
  • Fatuma Mutesi, Oct 2022-ongoing. Collaborative learning for local adaptation to agricultural drought in Uganda. Makerere University, Uganda. Supervised with  David Mfitumukiza (Makerere University, main supervisor).
  • Karen Wanseka de Jesus, Sept 2022-ongoing. Green buildings development: a decolonial analysis. Supervised with Roberta Cucca (NMBU, main supervisor) & Esben Leifsen (NMBU).
  • Edwige Marty, Sept 2020-2024, Societal transformations and changing access regimes in Kenyan livestock systems: a political ecology approach to social differentiation dynamics in adaptation. Supervised with Siri Eriksen (NMBU), Todd Crane (ILRI, Kenya), Rene Bullock (ILRI, Kenya).
  • Elizabeth MacAfree, 2018-2021, Assembling drinking water quality and inequality: the case of Kaolack, Senegal. Supervised with Synne Movik (NMBU, main supervisor), Tim Richardson (NMBU).

Administration & Leadership

I was head of the PhD Programme in Society, Development and Planning at the Faculty of Landscape and Society between February 2021 and January 2024. 

 

 

    • Cirkus buildin
    • Ås: Office C208
  • Liste med publikasjoner fra min forskning. (Cristin)

    Recent publications

    Marty, E., R. Bullock, M. Cashmore, T. Crane & S. Eriksen (2022) Adapting to climate change among transitioning Maasai pastoralists in southern Kenya: an intersectional analysis of differentiated abilities to benefit from diversification processes. Journal of Peasant Studies, DOI: 10.1080/03066150.2022.2121918.

    Cashmore, M., Hilding-Rydevik, T., Smutny, M. and E. Stephansson (2020) Remaking science-policy interfaces in the quest for effectiveness. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, DOI: 10.1080/14615517.2020.1724004.

    Nielsen, H., Aaen, S., Lyhne, I., and M. Cashmore (2020) Confronting institutional boundaries to public participation: A case of the Danish energy sector. European Planning Studies, 27 (4), 722-738, DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2019.1569594.

    Jensen, J. S., Cashmore, M. and P. Spath (2019) (eds) The politics of urban sustainability transitions: Knowledge, power and governance. Routledge, London.

    Cashmore, M., Jensen, J. S. and P. Spath (2019) Introduction: the knowledge politics of urban sustainability transitions. In Jensen, J. S., Cashmore, M. and P. Spath (eds) The politics of urban sustainability transitions: Knowledge, power and governance. Routledge, London.

    Cashmore, M. (2019) Governing radical societal change: politics, power and knowledge. In Jensen, J. S., Cashmore, M. and P. Spath (eds) The politics of urban sustainability transitions: Knowledge, power and governance. Routledge, London.

    Jensen, J. S., Spath, P. and M. Cashmore (2019) Conclusions and perspectives. In Jensen, J. S., Cashmore, M. and P. Spath (eds) The politics of urban sustainability transitions: Knowledge, power and governance. Routledge, London.

    Cashmore, M., D. Rudolph, Larsen, S. H. (2018) International experiences with opposition to wind energy siting decisions: Lessons for environmental and social appraisal. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2018.1473150.

    Jensen, J., M. Cashmore & M. Elle (2017) Reinventing the bicycle: How calculative practices shape urban environmental governance. Environmental Politics, 26 (3), 459-479. DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2017.1311089.

    Lyhne, I., F. van Laerhoven, M. Cashmore & H. Runhaar (2017) Theorising EIA effectiveness: A contribution based on the Danish system. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 62, 240-249. DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2015.12.002.

  • I convene the following two courses:

    APL380 - Environmental Governance for Planners, 10 ECTS (Masters level course). You can read about the course here: https://www.nmbu.no/course/APL380

    SDP415 - Theory of science for environment, development and planning studies, 5 ECTS (course for PhD candidates).

    I also contribute to a number of other courses at NMBU, including ones on:

    • Climate change and society (EDS 355)
    • Framing your PhD (SDP405)
    • Academic writing  (SDP406)