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Leslie Mabon

@ljmabon.bsky.social

500 followers 180 following 180 posts

Senior Lecturer in Environmental Systems, Faculty of STEM, Open University, UK. Sustainability science for resilient and just coastal places. Scotland - Japan - Taiwan. Future Earth Coasts Fellow. Big Raith Rovers fan. resilientcoastal.zone

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jun 25

New paper on relationships and responsibility in Fukushima coastal fisheries, and treated water releases from the Daiichi nuclear plant. We share interviews from before and during releases with fishers, managers, sellers +more working on the Fukushima coast.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

ABSTRACT
Treated water releases into the Pacific from the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear plant in Japan have drawn opposition from fishing communities, who accused proponents of acting irresponsibly in commencing releases before gaining local support. The controversy reflects questions in social licence to operate and social impact assessment about how proponents' responsibilities to host communities encompass knowledge production and fit with broader visions for a locality. Research into geographies of responsibility—how society takes care and enacts responsibility across space and place—helps think through what it means to take responsibility for host communities. Focusing on the Fukushima Dai'ichi treated water releases, we therefore aim to explore how relational responsibility becomes manifest in a complex and emotive environmental situation. Through interviews with people working in coastal Fukushima fisheries, we find that alongside economic motivations, a desire to ‘defend’ the Fukushima coast for future generations drives cooperatives to continue fishing and demonstrate safety and quality of Fukushima seafood. Those working in fisheries understand marine radioactivity cannot neatly be managed across scales, and that providing more and better scientific data is unlikely to bring others on-side if proponents are not seen as taking responsibility for the Fukushima coast. We argue that in a complex and emotive environmental situation like Fukushima Dai'ichi, multiple actors may hold responsibilities to place and people, and that intermediary organisations are important in enabling relational responsibility. However, proponents must be cognisant of power and resourcing differentials, and ensure those assuming responsibility for place receive financial and technical support.

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · 6d

This is hardly surprising when the operators of many social media platforms have filled their sites with so much advertising, clickbait and junk that you hardly see any of the content you signed up to see. In a desire to generate revenue, they've rendered their platforms unattractive and unusable.

Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 6d

Have we passed peak social media? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com here www.ft.com/content/a072...

Reposted by Leslie Mabon

National Centre for Resilience @nationalresilience.bsky.social · 9d

The Ferret’s article gives a sobering look at the lived experiences of communities like Brechin, which are still grappling with the aftermath of Storm Babet and inputs from Carol Raeburn from the Scottish Flood Forum & @uofglasgow.bsky.social's Prof Larissa Naylor.
theferret.scot/communities-...

How communities are struggling to recover after flooding and coastal erosion – The Ferret

theferret.scot

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Reposted by Leslie Mabon

Japan Beyond Coal @beyond-coal.jp · 9d

A study published in Nature stated that the global carbon storage capacity is 10 times less than the amount fossil fuel companies claim can be processed by CCS.

beyond-coal.jp/en/news/ccs-...
#beyondcoal #脱石炭

【News】CCS Can Safely Store 10 Times Less Carbon than Previously Thought

A study published in Nature stated that the global carbon storage capacity is 10 times less than the amount fossil fuel companies claim can be processed by CCS.

beyond-coal.jp

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · 13d

A very full week in Aceh as part of @britishacademy.bsky.social supported study into evidence + policy for seawalls in Indonesia, building on @raeng.org.uk research. Great to see students of our partner Universitas Syiah Kuala learning how to check the characteristics and performance of seawalls.

A seawall built out of boulders between a blue sea, a beach, and a mixed forest.

A team of students measures distances and angles of a mound of tetrapods on a beach, between the sea and some low trees.

Two men measure a seawall, holding opposite ends of a measuring tape.

A concrete curved seawall on a coral beach, in front of a tall broad-leaved tree, in Sabang, Indonesia.

Reposted by Leslie Mabon

Dr (of rocks) Marcus Badger @climatebadger.bsky.social · 17d

📢We're hiring!📢

We have a permanent Lecturer in Earth Sciences position available in @OU_EEE
@OpenUniversity

£47,389 to £56,535
Closing Date: 20 October 2025*

We are a friendly, research intensive school with supportive colleagues and great labs.

jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Lecturer...

Lecturer in Earth Sciences

jobs.open.ac.uk

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · 22d

A pleasure to be in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, to progress @britishacademy.bsky.social work on evidence-driven policy for seawalls with @openuniversity.bsky.social, Syiah Kuala Uni + London South Bank Uni. Honoured to deliver keynote for Aceh Intl Symposium on Civil Engineering today during our visit.

A man in a grey suit stands on a podium in front of a large projector screen showing coastal erosion.

A group of people in a room looking at a projector screen.

A public building in Indonesia, with green vegetation and white walls.

Four people stand on a seawall in Indonesia. It is a low rubble wall, with the sea on one side and a port on the other.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · 22d

Maybe I'm being too grumpy, but I foresee a time in the near future in the UK where only the most elite unis and depts are allowed to apply for open research funding, with the rest of us only eligible for select industry- and policy support calls.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

UK research ‘trying to do too many things’, warns new UKRI leader - Research Professional News

Ian Chapman wants funding emphasis on world-leading areas, but experts warn of system “inertia”

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Sep 6

Cycled from Oban to the former aluminium smelting town of Kinlochleven and back, 100 miles all-in including a couple of scenic detours on the way home. Now incapable of any form of movement.

A former aluminium smelter building in Kinlochleven, Scotland.

A bicycle leaning against a tree, with a brown mountain in the background and grey sky.

A bicycle leaning against a granite bench, with Castle Stalker on a small island in the background.

A small river flows into a loch, with forested hills on either side.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Sep 1

Mitsubishi Shoji's president visits Akita Prefecture to apologise for withdrawing from large-scale offshore wind projects. I am not an energy economist, but it is clear there is a LOT of disappointment among local government and potential supply chain companies:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgLF...

三菱商事・洋上風力発電撤退問題「秋田の中小企業も背伸びして投資した。社会的道義的責任を果たしていただきたい」

YouTube video by ABS秋田放送

www.youtube.com

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Aug 29

Mitsubishi has pulled out of 3 big offshore wind projects in Japan. Meanwhile, other Japanese companies are investing in Scotland's offshore wind. The will and knowhow for Japanese businesses to do offshore wind is there - what's needed is supportive domestic policy.

asia.nikkei.com/business/ene...

Mitsubishi Corp., partner to pull out of offshore wind projects in Japan

Rising material costs and low bid prices have made ventures unprofitable

asia.nikkei.com

Reposted by Leslie Mabon

mulboyne.bsky.social @mulboyne.bsky.social · Aug 27

Mitsubishi Shoji is withdrawing from major wind power projects off the coast of Akita and Chiba. The firm says projected costs have doubled since it won the bid in 2021. The government will have to put the work out for tender again. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Mitsubishi plans to scrap offshore wind projects as costs increase | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Amid surging construction costs, Mitsubishi Corp. is withdrawing from planned offshore wind power projects off the coasts of Chiba and Akita prefectures, according to sources.

www.asahi.com

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Aug 7

At some point I'll do a wee thread about Oshima Shipbuilding, as it's a remarkable company in a very unique geographical location.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Aug 7

Oshima Shipbuilding of Saikai City - one of the biggest builders of bulk carriers in Japan - has released a new series of commericals featuring former pop idol and Nagasaki native Neru Nagahama as their 'specially appointed director of PR':

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgfd...

大島造船所CM「特命広報部長任命」篇（30秒）

YouTube video by 大島造船所　公式チャンネル

www.youtube.com

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Aug 2

Something quite unsettling about how impacts of climate change filter through into very banal and everyday aspects of our lives.

Screengrab of BBC News article saying "What to do if your planned holiday destination is affected by wildfires"

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 31

It's been exactly 10 years to the month since I first visited the Institute of Human Geography at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Great timing to have our fourth paper together published, this time on just transitions and resource-dependent livelihoods:

doi.org/10.3390/worl...

Abstract text reads: The aim of this research is to identify policy and practice interventions that support a just transition towards resilient practices for resource-dependent communities. We focus on Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, two provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountains of Vietnam. The region is reliant on agriculture but is assessed as highly vulnerable to climate change. We surveyed 105 farming households. A Likert-type questionnaire asked respondents to self-assess their experiences of weather extremes and of changes they had made to their farming practices. Our results show that for both Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, farmers see the effects of climate change on their crops. Respondents in Thai Nguyen were more likely to report technically driven adaptation and engagement with extension services. Respondents in Pho Tho were more likely to continue traditional practices. For both, use of traditional knowledge and practices was related to taking measures to adapt to climate change. Our main conclusion is that at least three actions could support a just transition to resilient livelihoods. First is incorporating natural science and traditional knowledge into decision-making for just transitions. Second is considering long-term implications of interventions that appear to support livelihoods in the short term. Third is tailoring messaging and engagement strategies to the requirements of the most vulnerable people. The main message of this study is that a just transition for resource-dependent communities will inevitably be context-specific. Even in centralized and authoritarian contexts, flexibility to adapt top-down policies to locals’ own experiences of changing climates is needed.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 30

Something I find really curious is that this comes off the back of a spate of offshore wind projects being postponed or cancelled in Japan. Japanese companies are notably more enthusiastic about pursuing offshore renewables in Scotland than they are in Japan.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Japanese investor completes takeover of Port of Nigg

Mitsui, formerly a minor investor in the Port of Nigg, has completed a full takeover from the Global Energy Group.

www.bbc.co.uk

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 22

This is an excellent point and, as with many posts about academia in other countries, holds true for the UK too if you change some of the wording.

Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · Jul 21

Hey folks sizing up academic jobs, one thing I'd like you to know:

-Faculty at PUIs spend more time on research than most people realize.
-Faculty at R1s spend more time on teaching than most people realize.

I think the biggest difference between these jobs is the career stage of your mentees.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 22

Also potentially gives rise to a scenario where, if you're looking for jobs elsewhere or think you might need to be on the job market soon, it makes sense to sit on a paper or two that you can offer to a future employer as a carrot. That's not good for anyone.

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 21

My life in a nutshell: searching for information on the development of Onahama port in Iwaki, Japan for a book chapter takes me to Getty Images, where the "More Search Results" heading offers me a library of photos of Gregory Tade circa 2010.

A screengrab of a Getty Images page, with a truck driving over a bridge above some industrial ships and cranes.

A screengrab of a Getty Images page, showing former Raith Rovers footballer Gregory Tade.

Reposted by Leslie Mabon

Dr Rebecca Williams @volcanologist.bsky.social · Jul 18

NERC: We need to open up environmental science! Why is it not diverse?

Also NERC: We're scrapping Independent Research Fellowships, New Investigator Grants, Small Grants, are limiting applications from institutions based on past success rates and will only allow you to submit your proposal once.

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 18

Not surprising that one of the conditions of the 'climate visa' Australia is providing to Tuvaluans is an effective veto over Tuvalu's national security decisions. Remember that Tuvalu is one of the nations that formally recognises Taiwan as a country, too.

asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Im...

Escape to Australia: Tuvaluans pin hopes on world's first climate visa

Bilateral agreement grants Canberra veto over Pacific nation's security pacts

asia.nikkei.com

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Reposted by Leslie Mabon

Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · Jul 17

we would be in a much better state in this country if we stopped focusing on anointing a chosen few working class students into Oxbridge, and instead properly funded all the different sorts of universities that attract students from a wide range of backgrounds already

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · Jul 17

Oxford University and @cam.ac.uk have each received a £6.25 million gift to expand their outreach work with socio-economically disadvantaged students in STEM subjects.

Find out more ⬇️

Joint donation to Oxford and Cambridge helps young people overcome

The University of Oxford has received a £6.25 million gift to expand its outreach work with socio-economically disadvantaged students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

www.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Leslie Mabon

Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research @tyndallcentre.bsky.social · Jul 17

🎉Tyndall Centre's Roger Few + co-authors have won the Richard Macrory Prize for Best Article in the Journal of Environmental Law for 'Protecting Everyday Nature'. Judges called it 'conceptually fascinating': doi.org/10.1093/jel/...

@drsophiah.bsky.social @ljmabon.bsky.social @odirilwes.bsky.social

Photo by Mike Erskine via Unsplash of closeup of meadowsweet herb in Llandough, Cardiff, Wales

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Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 16

I do not in any way disagree that the academic publishing model is overstretched, or that paying for-profit publishers is a poor use of public funds. But let's not pretend that publishing is some value-free meritocracy where the best stuff always rises to the top.

Leslie Mabon @ljmabon.bsky.social · Jul 16

I started reading this in strong agreement. But by the end I felt uncomfortable. "Useless papers" and "nothing new to contribute" are subjective judgements that smack of gatekeeping - especially as all but one interviewed are from 'prestigious' UK institutions.

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published

Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention