Ben Purvis
@benpurvis42.bsky.social
Undisciplined scholar. Researching in and around the politics and philosophy of sustainability assessment. Some sort of Eco-Marxist. Perpetual Research Associate. Branch Secretary @SheffieldUCU.bsky.social
(they/he) 🏳️⚧️🍉
(they/he) 🏳️⚧️🍉
Pinned
Ben Purvis
@benpurvis42.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Ben Purvis
Ben Purvis joined the Grantham Centre’s Sustainability Assessment Team as a Research Associate in January 2025.
grantham.sheffield.ac.uk
New job, new bio, new message to the group chat asking if anyone has a work appropriate photo of me.
'Interdisciplinary critical social scientist, with expertise relating to discourses of sustainability, particularly social, economic, and political aspects'
grantham.sheffield.ac.uk/team/ben-pur...
'Interdisciplinary critical social scientist, with expertise relating to discourses of sustainability, particularly social, economic, and political aspects'
grantham.sheffield.ac.uk/team/ben-pur...
Reposted by Ben Purvis
JOINT RALLY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM
JOINT RALLY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.
Spending my Friday night lost in UK renewable fuel statistics for some more 'Sustainable' Aviation Fuel work..
Some good news is the UK seems to be on track to meet the target of 2% SAF use by 2025 (provisional data indicates being very close to meeting this in 2024)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Some good news is the UK seems to be on track to meet the target of 2% SAF use by 2025 (provisional data indicates being very close to meeting this in 2024)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation statistics: data tables
Data on the supply of renewable fuel, as required under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
www.gov.uk
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Spending my Friday night lost in UK renewable fuel statistics for some more 'Sustainable' Aviation Fuel work..
Some good news is the UK seems to be on track to meet the target of 2% SAF use by 2025 (provisional data indicates being very close to meeting this in 2024)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Some good news is the UK seems to be on track to meet the target of 2% SAF use by 2025 (provisional data indicates being very close to meeting this in 2024)
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Ben Purvis
"𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻"
October 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻"
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Last week we brought together academics, artists and activists for the @sheffielduni.bsky.social Sustainability Symposium 2025 🌎
The day was full of fascinating discussions about interdisciplinarity, communities of practice, and the role of art and storytelling in activism. #SheffSustSymp 1/4
The day was full of fascinating discussions about interdisciplinarity, communities of practice, and the role of art and storytelling in activism. #SheffSustSymp 1/4
October 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Last week we brought together academics, artists and activists for the @sheffielduni.bsky.social Sustainability Symposium 2025 🌎
The day was full of fascinating discussions about interdisciplinarity, communities of practice, and the role of art and storytelling in activism. #SheffSustSymp 1/4
The day was full of fascinating discussions about interdisciplinarity, communities of practice, and the role of art and storytelling in activism. #SheffSustSymp 1/4
Reposted by Ben Purvis
BREAKING: Our members at the University of Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly for strike action against the University Executive Board’s ongoing campaign of job cuts, and the threat to staff workload and wellbeing that they represent.
September 30, 2025 at 3:22 PM
BREAKING: Our members at the University of Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly for strike action against the University Executive Board’s ongoing campaign of job cuts, and the threat to staff workload and wellbeing that they represent.
Reposted by Ben Purvis
@sheffielducu.bsky.social member? This is your last chance to vote. Whatever your views, please protect democracy in your union, and do so immediately. Thank you. Please share. @ucu.org.uk #UCUstrike
Here goes my vote for strike action at the University of Sheffield. When your management treats staff & students as disposable commodities, it's your duty, even more than your right, to respond. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @zooarchlabsheff.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk #sheffield #university #workersrights
September 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
@sheffielducu.bsky.social member? This is your last chance to vote. Whatever your views, please protect democracy in your union, and do so immediately. Thank you. Please share. @ucu.org.uk #UCUstrike
Reposted by Ben Purvis
University of Sheffield @ucu.org.uk members, have you voted? If you haven't, please do so immediately as the deadline is soon. Trade union solidarity is one the most important tools we've got left in our much troubled world. Don't waste it. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucuhallam.bsky.social
Here goes my vote for strike action at the University of Sheffield. When your management treats staff & students as disposable commodities, it's your duty, even more than your right, to respond. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @zooarchlabsheff.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk #sheffield #university #workersrights
September 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
University of Sheffield @ucu.org.uk members, have you voted? If you haven't, please do so immediately as the deadline is soon. Trade union solidarity is one the most important tools we've got left in our much troubled world. Don't waste it. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucuhallam.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Purvis
The Reform UK led #Kent County Council is on the verge of ditching its #climate emergency declaration, despite the motion being at odds with the latest research.
@richsulley.bsky.social from our #GreenWatch team shares his expert views. Read the full story here ⬇️
tinyurl.com/bdyz5zfs
@richsulley.bsky.social from our #GreenWatch team shares his expert views. Read the full story here ⬇️
tinyurl.com/bdyz5zfs
Ditching the declaration: the real cost of Reform UK's plans to rescind the climate emergency in Kent
Reform UK look set to rescind the climate emergency declaration in Kent. But does the motion align with the latest research? Our Green Watch team share their views.
tinyurl.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The Reform UK led #Kent County Council is on the verge of ditching its #climate emergency declaration, despite the motion being at odds with the latest research.
@richsulley.bsky.social from our #GreenWatch team shares his expert views. Read the full story here ⬇️
tinyurl.com/bdyz5zfs
@richsulley.bsky.social from our #GreenWatch team shares his expert views. Read the full story here ⬇️
tinyurl.com/bdyz5zfs
An unwelcome boost to our ongoing @sheffielducu.bsky.social industrial action ballot as our VC announces more work areas to be targeted by cuts.
It is unclear that this has much to do with finances, but is more an ideological push to change the University's "size and shape".
It is unclear that this has much to do with finances, but is more an ideological push to change the University's "size and shape".
September 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
An unwelcome boost to our ongoing @sheffielducu.bsky.social industrial action ballot as our VC announces more work areas to be targeted by cuts.
It is unclear that this has much to do with finances, but is more an ideological push to change the University's "size and shape".
It is unclear that this has much to do with finances, but is more an ideological push to change the University's "size and shape".
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Kinda good (but also infuriating in a told ya so kind of way) to see #CCS being more widely recognised for the techno optimist tool of distraction it always was. Political ecologists & many others have called out CCS BS for years. Good to have this new study⬇️
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/255614/...
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/255614/...
Study finds limits to storing CO2 underground to combat climate change | Imperial News | Imperial College London
Imperial research has found limits to how quickly we can scale up technology to store gigatonnes of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface.
www.imperial.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Kinda good (but also infuriating in a told ya so kind of way) to see #CCS being more widely recognised for the techno optimist tool of distraction it always was. Political ecologists & many others have called out CCS BS for years. Good to have this new study⬇️
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/255614/...
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/255614/...
Really recommend this by @emilymbender.bsky.social & @alexhanna.bsky.social
Incisively cuts through dangerous big tech bullshit surrounding so-called 'AI'
Worth emphasising that 'AI' is a marketing term for a wide range of tools that are pretty shit outside of very specific uses
thecon.ai
Incisively cuts through dangerous big tech bullshit surrounding so-called 'AI'
Worth emphasising that 'AI' is a marketing term for a wide range of tools that are pretty shit outside of very specific uses
thecon.ai
THE AI CON
How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want
thecon.ai
September 1, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Really recommend this by @emilymbender.bsky.social & @alexhanna.bsky.social
Incisively cuts through dangerous big tech bullshit surrounding so-called 'AI'
Worth emphasising that 'AI' is a marketing term for a wide range of tools that are pretty shit outside of very specific uses
thecon.ai
Incisively cuts through dangerous big tech bullshit surrounding so-called 'AI'
Worth emphasising that 'AI' is a marketing term for a wide range of tools that are pretty shit outside of very specific uses
thecon.ai
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Here goes my vote for strike action at the University of Sheffield. When your management treats staff & students as disposable commodities, it's your duty, even more than your right, to respond. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @zooarchlabsheff.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk #sheffield #university #workersrights
August 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Here goes my vote for strike action at the University of Sheffield. When your management treats staff & students as disposable commodities, it's your duty, even more than your right, to respond. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @zooarchlabsheff.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk #sheffield #university #workersrights
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Don’t like to have to keep doing this, but management has left us again with no choice. We will vote again to take action and massive numbers will again be out on picket lines. And like last year, management will again back down. All of that can be prevented if management chooses to negotiate.
Ballot papers drop today for local industrial action to defend jobs at the University of Sheffield against redundancy and further workload pressures.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
Strike ballot opens at University of Sheffield staff over job cuts
Staff at the University of Sheffield are being asked to vote for strike action, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The ballot opened yesterday and will close on Tuesday 30 September.
www.ucu.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Don’t like to have to keep doing this, but management has left us again with no choice. We will vote again to take action and massive numbers will again be out on picket lines. And like last year, management will again back down. All of that can be prevented if management chooses to negotiate.
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Ballot papers drop today for local industrial action to defend jobs at the University of Sheffield against redundancy and further workload pressures.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
Strike ballot opens at University of Sheffield staff over job cuts
Staff at the University of Sheffield are being asked to vote for strike action, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The ballot opened yesterday and will close on Tuesday 30 September.
www.ucu.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Ballot papers drop today for local industrial action to defend jobs at the University of Sheffield against redundancy and further workload pressures.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
Reposted by Ben Purvis
OpenAI is an evil company and should be shut down.
there are no words for how evil, craven & abhorrent this is
August 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
OpenAI is an evil company and should be shut down.
Reposted by Ben Purvis
if you see someone shoplifting food or baby formula or nappies, no you didn’t
800 shoplifting cases a day unsolved — should the public step in?
As retailers say the epidemic is spiralling out of control, one police chief suggests shoppers can ‘physically intervene’
As retailers say the epidemic is spiralling out of control, one police chief suggests shoppers can ‘physically intervene’
800 shoplifting cases a day unsolved — should the public step in?
As retailers say the epidemic is spiralling out of control, one police chief suggests shoppers can ‘physically intervene’
www.thetimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
if you see someone shoplifting food or baby formula or nappies, no you didn’t
Reposted by Ben Purvis
With the advent of powerful new synthetic opioids, health workers fear we could be about to see an explosion in the rate of drug deaths in #Sheffield.
Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution?
@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️
Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution?
@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️
Drug death epidemic: Is it time to bring legal consumption rooms to Sheffield?
A pioneering new project in Glasgow aims to cut the number of overdose deaths by providing a safe environment for injecting powerful opioids. Could this model work in South Yorkshire?
nowthenmagazine.com
July 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
With the advent of powerful new synthetic opioids, health workers fear we could be about to see an explosion in the rate of drug deaths in #Sheffield.
Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution?
@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️
Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution?
@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️
Reposted by Ben Purvis
We are so thoroughly cooked.
OpenAI signs deal with UK to find government uses for its models
Wide-ranging agreement with artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT comes after similar UK deal with Google
www.theguardian.com
July 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
We are so thoroughly cooked.
Reposted by Ben Purvis
One really consistent pattern whenever I look at the energy and financial data for large big tech companies is that energy + revenue are being decoupled. They keep having to buy more and more energy each year to make the same $1 of revenue.
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
July 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
One really consistent pattern whenever I look at the energy and financial data for large big tech companies is that energy + revenue are being decoupled. They keep having to buy more and more energy each year to make the same $1 of revenue.
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
This is a pretty new thing
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/31/t...
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Three months ago, we were told that workers at the Uni of Sheffield’s AMRC had been overheard joking about making nuclear weapons. There couldn’t be anything to it – could there?
THREAD 1/n
THREAD 1/n
July 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Three months ago, we were told that workers at the Uni of Sheffield’s AMRC had been overheard joking about making nuclear weapons. There couldn’t be anything to it – could there?
THREAD 1/n
THREAD 1/n
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Great article from @sheffielducu.bsky.social on how, despite what university leadership might suggest, the data clearly shows any financial issues at the institution are not a result of 'sector-wide' problems, but a result of their mismanagement. Please read!
ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/campaigns/st...
ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/campaigns/st...
Why the University of Sheffield’s problems are made in Sheffield
University management claims the current financial situation is entirely down to external factors. The evidence suggests otherwise.
ucu.group.shef.ac.uk
July 4, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Great article from @sheffielducu.bsky.social on how, despite what university leadership might suggest, the data clearly shows any financial issues at the institution are not a result of 'sector-wide' problems, but a result of their mismanagement. Please read!
ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/campaigns/st...
ucu.group.shef.ac.uk/campaigns/st...
Great to have collaborated with José Bruno Fevereiro, @ecoclassical.bsky.social, and colleagues on this review, now published in Ecological Economics.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#CircularEconomy @ussee.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#CircularEconomy @ussee.bsky.social
Macroeconomic models for assessing the transition towards a circular economy: A systematic review
The Circular Economy (CE) paradigm has gained traction in both academic discourse and industrial practice. While a transition towards a CE is generall…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Great to have collaborated with José Bruno Fevereiro, @ecoclassical.bsky.social, and colleagues on this review, now published in Ecological Economics.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#CircularEconomy @ussee.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#CircularEconomy @ussee.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Great day of #SUCUstrike action at the University of #Sheffield. Today we started our #Palestine support roving picket, which much solidarity around the campus. Join us! ucu.group.shef.ac.uk @drvaleriehobbs.bsky.social @lisastampnitzky.bsky.social @amnakaleem.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Great day of #SUCUstrike action at the University of #Sheffield. Today we started our #Palestine support roving picket, which much solidarity around the campus. Join us! ucu.group.shef.ac.uk @drvaleriehobbs.bsky.social @lisastampnitzky.bsky.social @amnakaleem.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Purvis
Huge rally of staff and students today rejecting cuts at Sheffield 💥
April 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Huge rally of staff and students today rejecting cuts at Sheffield 💥
New job, new picket line! Some things never change…
New University Management next please!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/benp...
New University Management next please!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/benp...
April 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
New job, new picket line! Some things never change…
New University Management next please!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/benp...
New University Management next please!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/benp...