GGM358 Geographies of the Body

This is my specialist Year 3 option and was written as an evolution of my old module Gender, Body & Performance.  Sometimes it's good to shake things up.

We're exploring  a bunch of interesting issues building on my current work including questions around atmospheres, creativity, physiological response to environments, privacy and videogaming.  Yes, it's eclectic, but it's methods-led which is what my research is all about, so that makes it okay.  Some of the student projects undertaken through this module subsequently found their way into different publications.

Fieldcourses

I designed and run our Year 1 fieldcourse to Rotterdam.  This is a research focused trip, with first years developing their own projects and undertaking field research in the sixth week of their time at Birmingham.  This is part of a commitment to producing undergraduate researchers rather than just undergraduate students.

The trip involves our entire first year cohort (geographers and planners together) which means getting somewhere upward of 200 young people onto coaches at seven in the morning.  I do a block of teaching on project design and research methods in advance of the fieldcourse, testing skills in writing, poster design, video and audio production.

I've also been involved with a number of different fieldcourses over the years (Snowdonia, Coniston, Amsterdam, Berlin).  When in Kreuzberg I have been known to talk about the late and (very) great David Bowie...

Dissertation lab

All undergraduate dissertation students that I supervise become affiliate members of my Playful Methods Lab.  We have weekly meetings  to exchange ideas, refine projects and hone skills as researchers.  Sometimes there's snacks...