Michelle Newman

Dr. Michelle Newman is an Associate Professor in Human Geography at Coventry University’s School of The Environment. Her research focuses on children’s geographies, school environments, community arts, and youth engagement through music. She has led projects like the AHRC-funded study on children’s participation in school design and a Coventry University-funded initiative exploring community music’s social impacts.

Her PhD developed a user-centered method to evaluate primary school environments, emphasizing inclusivity for marginalized groups. She collaborates with institutions like the National Rural Tour Forum (NRTF) on rural arts’ community impacts. Newman’s work addresses UN SDGs related to quality education and reduced inequalities.

Key research themes include the emotional geographies of schools, music’s role in youth social networks, and intergenerational communication through arts. She has authored/co-authored papers on topics like sexual consent among youth and media representation of traveller communities.

Newman has presented at conferences such as the Ergonomics Association Annual Conference and the International Conference on Design Principles and Practices. Her teaching covers cultural geographies and marginalized groups, aligning with her research on inclusive spaces and equitable participation.