School of Social and Political Science

Background

I am a social geographer with expertise in civic innovation and emergent forms of place-based activism. I combine long-term ethnography with detailed interaction analysis to understand how communities and practitioners negotiate, share, and revise understandings of how to build better forms of social and environmental life. At present, my research focuses on community responses to energy demand reduction initiatives as well as innovation in low-carbon public infrastructure, such as tool libraries and repair cafes. 

I am particularly interested in public sector and civil society data economies, and the strategies developed by community organisations to document, measure, evidence, and finance charitable activities. This has also led me to examine changing understandings of ‘the public good’ in historical and cross-cultural contexts. In previous research projects, I have studied activist cultures in Hungarian community centres, practices of public space co-design, and advocacy around climatic and seasonal mental health. I am committed to community-engaged and problem-led research that works with community members and practitioners to develop new resources for sharing and sustaining informed and inclusive civic cultures and public institutions.

Current Research

Everyday Talk and Energy Demand

This research is investigating the role of everyday interactions in mediating perceptions and uptake of energy demand reduction initiatives, with a focus on the existing and potential roles of community leaders to facilitate informed and empowered local and trans-local 'just transition' networks.

Rebuilding the Tool Library

This pilot project is being co-developed with partners from the Edinburgh Tool Library, Transition Scotland, and the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network to understand the ongoing and historical organisation of Tool Libraries as innovative forms of low-carbon infrastructure. The project will consider how understandings of 'public good' are developed, revised, and evidenced as Tool Libraries are established in different local communities. 

Previous Research

Living with SAD: Practicing Cultures of Seasonality to 'Feel Light' Differently

Studied lived experiences of Seasonal Affective Disorder and strategies for biosocial solidarity among climate- and season-affected communities. Outcomes and details about the project's interdisciplinary collaboration across geography, psychiatry and the arts is available on the project website.

Future of the High Street

Studied public space co-design strategies within a pilot project trialling creative interventions to reimagine possible futures of UK high streets. A project overview is available on the Edinburgh Future Institute's project webpage.

Works in progress: The practical accomplishment of activist spaces and political projects in Budapest

Doctoral research investigating the everyday organisational activities and strategies of community centres and activist group in Budapest, Hungary. Building on in depth interaction analysis of community events, activist meetings, and public protests, it examines how affordances and obstacles to political agency are negotiated in practice. The research is presented in my publicly accessible thesis.