On May 12–16, members of the Research Centre for Energy and Environmental Challenges — Dr. Karolina Dziubata-Smykowska, Dr. Marek Jaskólski from the Department of Anthropology and Cultural Studies, and Dr. Przemysław Pluciński from the Department of Sociology — took part in the Global Coal Transitions Workshops organized by CRC Time at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The conference and accompanying field visit to the Bowen Basin were part of the Global Coal Transitions Research Network, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Karolina Dziubata-Smykowska and Marek Jaskólski presented a paper during the session “Communities, Stakeholders and Collaborative Processes,” titled “The Role of Grassroots Initiatives and Social Capital in the Dynamics of Decarbonisation of Lignite Mining Areas in Poland: Cases from the Konin and Bogatynia Regions.” The researchers showcased the project “ERICA: Environmental Monitoring through Civic Engagement” and shared a preliminary analysis of grassroots initiatives in the context of just transition in Konin.
The following day, in the session “Post-Mining Outcomes and Perspectives,” Przemysław Pluciński presented the paper “Navigating the Energy Crisis at the Household Level in a Post-Coal Region: Insights from Konin, Poland,” featuring results from sociological research conducted among residents of Konin.
From May 14 to 16, the team participated in a field trip to the Isaac Plains Mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, operated by Stanmore. Mine employees guided workshop participants around the open-pit site, discussed the local community’s involvement in rehabilitation efforts, and showcased reclaimed areas.
The visit also included a tour of the Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence, which houses a unique training facility with a coal mine simulation. The Centre’s staff shared their plans for decarbonization and initiatives to retrain employees for emerging industries, including biomanufacturing.
