Research areas
I am a political ecologist investigating land use conflicts and environmental politics. I have a particular interest in those struggles associated with net-zero strategies, such as renewable electrification and ecosystem restoration.
Most recently, I have been conducting research with communities on the Scottish Islands to explore current restrictions to the central energy grid in delivering social and environmental benefits to the region, and potential solutions. This project has been supported by the Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods.
I have co-led the interdisciplinary research project 鈥淐ommunity priorities in the creation of sustainable futures: an exploration of community-led decision making in peatland restoration projects in rural Scotland鈥� which seeks to understand the potentials and challeneges for communities to make desicions reflecting own socio-economic but also ecological interests in the case of peatland restoration and carbon offsetting.
I have a track record of working with rural farming communities and researching their struggles for recognition as environmental-conscious actors with rights and responsibilities to their lands. This fascination has been sparked in Colombia where I collaborated with organisations addressing rural land conflicts since 2011. My recent book discusses the role of the environmental impact assessment as a tool to legitimise controversial energy infrastructure and proposes the Energy Data Justice Framework to assess energy projects.
Selected publications
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Helmcke, C., Hooker, S., Roney-Dougal, C., Skrzypek, E., Reid, L., Wishart, L. J., Russell, S., High, M., Lawson, I., Cole, L. E. S., Hope, J., Sfrappini, E., Christie, E., Paul, F., Mallows, C., Auxtova, K., Twist, B. & Gregnanin, G., 2026
Research output: Other contribution
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Helmcke, C., Hooker, S., Roney-Dougal, C., Skrzypek, E., Reid, L., Wishart, L. J., Russell, S., High, M., Lawson, I., Cole, L. E. S., Hope, J., Sfrappini, E., Christie, E., Paul, F., Auxtova , K., Gregnanin, G., Twist, B. & Mallows, C., 2026
Research output: Other contribution
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Open access
Helmcke, C., Christie, E., Twist, B., Mallows, C., Roney-Dougal, C., Sfrappini, E., Skrzypek, E., Paul, F., Gregnanin, G., Joubert, G., Lawson, I., Hope, J., Auxtova, K., Reid, L., Wishart, L. J., Cole, L. E. S., High, M., Conlan, P. J., Hooker, S. & Russell, S., 27 Mar 2026, Online: University of 黑料吃瓜网. 11 p.
Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Commissioned report
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Open access
Helmcke, C., 4 Jun 2025, UK Parliament. 3 p.
Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Other report
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Helmcke, C., High, M., Sapochetti, L. & Sudmant, A., 16 Jul 2025, (Submitted)
Research output: Other contribution
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Helmcke, C., High, M. M., Skrzypek, E. & Sudmant, A., 22 Oct 2025, Scottish Government.
Research output: Other contribution
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Helmcke, C., High, M. & Sudmant, A., 19 Sept 2025, (Submitted)
Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Other report
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Open access
Helmcke, C., 12 Feb 2025, UK Parliament. 4 p.
Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Other report
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Open access
Helmcke, C., Jenkins, E. & Cole, L. E. S., 20 Mar 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Scottish Geographical Journal. Latest Articles, 42 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
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Open access
Helmcke, C., 1 Jun 2025, In: Journal of Political Ecology. 32, 1
Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Book/Film/Article review 鈥� peer-review