A conversation with Dr Katie Manning

My academic background spans both past and future perspectives on climate and society. I started out in palaeoecology, looking at how human societies have responded to environmental and climate change over long timescales. My PhD focused on demographic and dietary responses to climate change during the Holocene, so I’ve always been interested in how people adapt to shifting environments and what we can learn from that deep history.

Then in 2020 I took a break from academia to work in government at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs where I led on the systems analysis of the recently published land use framework. This was an invaluable experience in terms of seeing how these issues play out in practice—working across policy, science, and a wide range of stakeholders to navigate the trade-offs between food production, biodiversity, and climate goals.

Those two strands—understanding long-term human–environment relationships and applying systems thinking in real-world policy—have shaped how I have led the development of the CCSS programme at KCL. I’ve been particularly focused on making sure it connects strong scientific understanding with practical, applied skills, and that systems thinking runs throughout.

First, this is a multidisciplinary and applied degree. We’re not just looking at climate change from a purely scientific perspective—we bring together science, policy, and business, and really focus on how those areas interact. So it’s ideal for students who are comfortable thinking across disciplines and are interested in solutions, as well as the problems.

Second, the programme is delivered fully online and part-time, so it’s designed to fit around busy lives. At the same time, that does require good time management and self-motivation, as you’ll be structuring your own learning week to week.

Another important point is the emphasis on practical, real-world skills. You’ll be working on things like systems thinking, carbon literacy, and developing data analysis skills, all of which are directly relevant to careers in climate and sustainability. It’s a programme that’s very much geared towards employability and impact.

Finally, because it’s delivered through King’s College London, you’ll be part of a global learning community. Your peers will come from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, which really enriches discussions and reflects the collaborative nature of tackling climate change.

I think what’s really striking is that we’re living in a period of profound uncertainty. Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract issue—it’s something we’re experiencing right now—but it is also interacting with wider global shocks, particularly to energy systems, food supply, and economies.

Those disruptions have really highlighted how interconnected and fragile our current systems are. Issues like energy security, food production, and global development are no longer separate conversations—they’re deeply tied to climate change, and the need to develop more sustainable socio-economic systems.

At the same time, there’s been a clear shift from simply understanding the problem to actively delivering solutions. Governments, businesses, and organisations are under increasing pressure to respond, but there’s a real need for people who can navigate that complexity—who understand systems, can work across disciplines, and can translate knowledge into practical action.

That’s very much how we’ve shaped the programme at King’s College London. It’s designed for this moment—where there’s both urgency and opportunity—to help students think not just about climate change in isolation, but about long-term sustainability in the context of energy and food systems, resilience, and global development.

One of the key things we’ve focused on in designing this programme is ensuring that it genuinely supports students in progressing or pivoting their careers.

Many of our students are already working in related fields—whether that’s policy, business, or the environmental sector—and are looking to deepen their expertise and take on more strategic or leadership roles. Others are looking to transition into climate and sustainability from different backgrounds. So we’ve built the programme to support both of those pathways.

A big part of that is the emphasis on practical, transferable skills. Students develop capabilities in areas like systems thinking, carbon literacy, R coding, and analysing complex supply chains—skills that are directly relevant across a wide range of roles and sectors.

We also place a strong emphasis on real-world application. Assessments are designed to reflect the kinds of challenges students might encounter in their careers, so they’re not just learning concepts—they’re applying them in meaningful, professional contexts.

Ultimately, our aim is that students leave not just with knowledge, but with the confidence, skills, and perspective to move forward in their careers and make a tangible impact in the climate and sustainability space.

I think one of the most important things for students to be aware of is that online study offers a great deal of flexibility—but it also requires a different kind of discipline and mindset. With that flexibility comes the need for good time management and self-motivation. You’re not attending scheduled lectures in the same way as on campus, so it’s important to be proactive in structuring your study time and staying engaged week to week.

That said, online doesn’t mean studying in isolation. This programme has a strong emphasis on building community. There are regular opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and interaction with both peers and academics, and those conversations are a really valuable part of the learning experience.

I’d also say that students should come prepared to engage actively. The more you contribute—whether that’s through discussions, group work, or applying your own professional experiences—the more you’ll get out of the programme.

I think what I’m most looking forward to is meeting and learning from the students themselves. Because the programme is fully online and attracts a global cohort, we’ll have people coming from a wide range of professional, cultural, and disciplinary backgrounds—and that diversity really enriches the learning experience.

I’m particularly excited to see how students bring their own perspectives and experiences into the programme. Climate change and sustainability challenges look very different depending on where you are in the world and the sector you’re working in, so those discussions are incredibly valuable.

We have specifically designed the programme to be quite interactive and applied, so I’m also looking forward to seeing how students engage with the material and start applying it to real-world challenges—whether that’s in their current roles or in shaping where they want to go next.