Richard Phillips

Professor Richard Phillips is a distinguished academic at the School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield, specializing in postcolonial, cultural, and political geographies. His work bridges creative methodologies with critical social theory, focusing on the intersections of sexuality, empire, and spatial politics.

• Academic Rank: Professor of Human Geography
• Research Themes: Postcolonial Geographies, Muslim Spaces, Creative Methods, Curiosity Studies

His research on creative fieldwork and storying methodologies challenges traditional academic writing through experimental approaches like animation workshops and literary analysis. Key projects include:

• Storying Relationships (2021): AHRC-funded exploration of Muslim youth's experiences with sex and love
• Liverpool '81 (2011): Analysis of anti-racism resistance through historical riots
• Curious with Humanity (ongoing): Book project connecting mindfulness to geographical inquiry

Recent publications span geographies of loneliness during pandemics, anti-imperial networks, and vernacular resistance. He contributes to policy debates on Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in post-secular classrooms.

Phillips supervises doctoral students in the Culture Space and Difference Research Group, exploring topics like:

• Decolonizing cinematic spaces
• Intersectional Black British Muslim identities
• Postcolonial cities and emotional geographies