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Ashley HopkinsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Digital Privacy
• Social Media Ethics
• Media Effects
• +7 more

Ashley Hopkins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism & Public Relations at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where she teaches courses in media literacy, multiplatform reporting, media law and ethics, social media convergence, and public speaking. Prior to joining CSULB, she worked as an assistant professor at Augusta University and served as a county reporter for Miami Today. Her research focuses on digital privacy, media effects, and political communication, with emphasis on social issues like immigration, healthcare, and transgender media coverage. Bachelor’s in Media Arts and Design (Print Journalism), James Madison University Master’s in Journalism (Magazine Writing), Northwestern University Ph.D. in Journalism, Ohio University Dr. Hopkins’ experimental research investigates how users interact with terms and conditions of mobile applications, analyzing information commodification through varying motivation and opportunity. She also studies media framing of social and political issues, including immigration, healthcare, and transgender representation. Her career bridges academic rigor with practical journalism experience, having reported on political developments in major metropolitan areas like Chicago and Miami. Office Location: LA4-105.

• Urban development and sustainability
• Place and area development
• Urban ecology
• +9 more

Celine Motzfeldt Loades is a researcher at Oslo Metropolitan University's Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR), specializing in Housing, Location and Regional Research. She holds a PhD and MA in Social Anthropology from the University of Oslo, and a BA in Social Anthropology and Communication Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Teaches Political Anthropology, Ethnographic Methods, and Environment-focused courses at UiO and University of Dubrovnik Active in urban ecology advocacy as leader of Oslo and Akershus Urban Ecology Working Group Key research areas: urban sustainability, heritage conflict resolution, and socio-environmental dynamics Her work examines intersections between socio-cultural, environmental, and spatial conditions in urban transitions. Current projects include Mysen area analysis and the SMACREG initiative on smaller urban regions. Publications focus on Dubrovnik's UNESCO heritage conflicts and Oslo's urban ecology, featured in outlets like Berghahn Books and Journal of Urban Culture Research. She contributed to the Horizon 2020-funded FUSILLI project on urban food systems. Professional roles include editorial board member of the Journal of Urban Culture Research and network organizer for Urban Culture Plaza. Her ethnographic fieldwork spans Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Orvieto (Italy).

• Conservation
• Political Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• +7 more

Bram Büscher is Professor and Chair of the Sociology of Development and Change at Wageningen University and a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg. His academic work bridges political ecology, conservation studies, and critical analyses of digital technologies' impact on environmentalism. His research interests focus on the critical examination of contemporary conservation practices, particularly how platform capitalism and post-truth politics reshape environmental discourse and action. He investigates the contradictions in mainstream conservation approaches, especially the tension between market-based solutions and genuine biodiversity protection. His fieldwork in Southern Africa, particularly in Lesotho, has informed his critique of neoliberal conservation models and his advocacy for radical alternatives. Büscher's publications reveal a consistent analytical thread examining how digital technologies, particularly social media platforms, transform environmental advocacy. His work shows how platform capitalism mediates environmental concerns, often reinforcing rather than challenging the structural drivers of ecological destruction. He has developed a sophisticated critique of 'techno-solutionism' in conservation, including blockchain applications and cryptocurrency approaches to environmental protection. His influential books, including The Conservation Revolution (co-authored with Robert Fletcher) and The Truth about Nature: Environmentalism in the Era of Post-Truth Politics and Platform Capitalism , have shaped contemporary debates about radical alternatives to mainstream conservation. His special section on 'Political Ecologies of Extinction' demonstrates his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that connect theoretical innovation with empirical fieldwork. Büscher actively engages with policy debates, critiquing international conservation agreements like the 30x30 biodiversity treaty for failing to address root causes of environmental destruction. His field research along the Lewis and Clark heritage trail examines historical connections between settler colonialism, conservation practices, and capitalist development patterns in the United States.

• State Crime
• Resistance
• Abolition Feminism
• +7 more

Rachel Seoighe is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent's School of Social Sciences. She is a criminologist whose work focuses on state violence, resistance, memory, and abolition from a decolonial, feminist perspective. Her academic roles include being SSPSSR's Athena SWAN champion and EDI lead, founder and leader of the division's Reflexive Teaching Working Group, and co-chair of the Visual and Sensory Research Cluster. Her research interests span several interconnected areas: State violence and resistance, particularly in the context of Sri Lankan state crime and denial The Tamil justice struggle and memory activism in the diaspora Abolition feminism, women's imprisonment, and the closure of Holloway Prison Border criminologies, "race" and racialization Postcolonial and decolonial thought Social and transformative justice Environmental justice and community responses to issues like sewage pollution Dr. Seoighe's research follows a transdisciplinary approach aligned with scholar-activist and creative methodologies. Her recent work includes the Flow.Walk.Drag. project exploring community responses to sewage and water-borne bacteria in Margate and Liverpool. She is co-founder and director of Hearth Consultancy Ltd and Tend Toward Justice CIC, which provide support for social justice organizations and conduct social research. Her scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on understanding systems of power, state violence, and community resistance. The trajectory of her work shows an evolution from examining post-war Sri Lanka to broader explorations of carceral systems and abolitionist futures, with a strong commitment to methodological innovation that bridges academic research and activist practice. Dr. Seoighe is actively involved in several organizations beyond her university role: Chair of trustees for Beauty out of Ashes Trustee for Women at WISH Consultant and researcher for Tamil Information Centre As an educator, she teaches a popular module on State Crime and Resistance at the undergraduate level and convenes a course on Prisons and Penal Policy at the postgraduate level. Her teaching is informed by her research and activist commitments, emphasizing critical perspectives on state power and social justice.

• Gender Studies
• Media and Cultural Studies
• Sport Sociology
• +7 more

Michelle Helstein is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Lethbridge, where she also serves as Provost & Vice President (Academic). She holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Physical Education, focusing on critical analyses of sport, media, and gender. B.A. in Physical Education Ph.D. in Physical Education Her research explores intersections of gender, sport, and cultural studies, emphasizing media constructions of athletes, poststructural feminist theory, and the politics of desire in advertising. Key themes include body representation, knowledge production, and colonial narratives in sports. Helstein's publications span critical analyses of Nike advertising, concussion debates, and labor politics in professional sports. Her work highlights how media discourses shape athlete identities and perpetuate systemic inequalities. She has received research funding from the University of Lethbridge Research Fund and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), including projects on active females and cultural studies of sport.

• Political Economy
• Indigeneity
• NGOs and Development
• +5 more

Patrick C. Wilson is an Associate Professor in the Modern Languages and Linguistics Department at the University of Lethbridge , Canada. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Anthropology from Augustana College, Illinois , a Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies and a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh . Research Interests: Political Economy Indigeneity NGOs and Development Social Movements and Resistance Race and Ethnicity Gender and Development Fair Trade and Indigenous Social Movements Geographically, his work centers on Ecuador, Colombia, the Amazon, and the Andes . Grant Funding: SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2008-2011): CAD $91,551 – “Transnational Fair Trade, Indigeneity, and the Cultural Politics of Development” University of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant (2007): CAD $4,500 – “Fair Trade, Indigeneity, and the Cultural Politics of Development” University of Lethbridge Research Fund Envelope (2006): CAD $4,500 – “Fair Trade, Indigeneity, and the Cultural Politics of Development” University of Lethbridge Teaching Development Fund Grant (2005) – “Understanding Faculty-Student Interaction in the Classroom” University of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant (2004) – “Indigenous Peoples, Multinational Oil, and the State in Amazonian Ecuador” Publication Trends: Wilson’s scholarly output spans monographs, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed articles that interrogate neoliberal development, indigenous mobilization, and the cultural politics of fair trade and extractive economies in Latin America. His recent work critically examines fair-trade markets, indigenous leadership, and the commodification of culture. Office & Contact: Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM Phone: (403) 329-2523 | Fax: (403) 380-1855 Email: patrick.wilson@uleth.ca

• Craft History
• Craft Theory
• Material Culture
• +4 more

Andrea Peach serves as Professor in Crafts and Research Leader in History and Theory within the Department of Crafts at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design. Her academic focus centers on the historical and theoretical dimensions of craft practices across diverse cultural contexts. Her research interests span craft history, craft theory, and material culture with specialized investigations into traditional crafts, craft diplomacy, and the emotional dimensions of making. Key areas include the politics of Vietnamese craft in American diplomatic contexts, souvenir production and invented traditions in Scottish Highlands, knitting communities and care practices, and contemporary intersections of craft with social media. Her theoretical work examines aesthetic judgment, sensory engagement in craft, and the word-object relationship in material creation. Analysis of her publications (2019-2024) reveals consistent thematic threads connecting historical craft movements with contemporary practices. Geographically, her work traverses Scotland, Vietnam, and Orkney, examining how craft functions within power structures, tourism economies, and community health initiatives. A notable evolution appears in her recent focus on digital craft culture and social media's impact on maker identities, while maintaining deep engagement with emotional and embodied aspects of craft production as seen in studies on 'knitted knockers' and vitality in making. Professor Peach's scholarly output demonstrates significant contribution to craft studies through refereed journal articles in Journal of Design History and Craft Research , book chapters in academic collections, and presentations at international conferences including Konstfack Research Week and Souvenirs 2021. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical craft applications across diverse material contexts from textiles to writing practices.

Josef KaiserView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Governance
• Collective Action
• Social-Ecological Transformations
• +5 more

Dr. Josef Kaiser is a postdoctoral researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ (since 2024) and a guest researcher at the Landscape Ecology Lab, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (since 2024). His work focuses on environmental governance and collective action for social-ecological transformations , analyzing how property regimes , commodification processes , and power structures affect environmental policy outcomes. His research spans both urban and rural contexts, with significant contributions to the Urban Transformations towards Blue-Green Infrastructures project and the uVITAL initiative. He has collaborated with institutions like the Stockholm Resilience Centre and contributed to major publications including the Faktencheck Artenvielfalt report and the REGREEN NBS Handbook . Current affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ Previous affiliations: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (PhD, 2019-2024), Stockholm University (visiting scholar) Research Trends from his 15 most recent articles (2018-2025) show: 12 articles on Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and commodification analysis 9 papers addressing urban resilience and nature-based solutions 7 publications examining land tenure systems and property diversity 5 contributions to climate adaptation policies in housing estates 4 articles on transdisciplinary research methods in environmental projects 3 studies analyzing human-wildlife conflicts in conservation efforts Scientific Contributions include Co-authorship in Ecology and Society , Ecological Economics , and Journal of Environmental Management Key role in the Helmholtz project on Urban Transformations Methodological expertise in mixed-methods research and transdisciplinary approaches

Alba del PozoView profile

Lecturer

• Fin de Siècle Spanish Literature
• Gender Studies
• Medical Discourse in Literature
• +5 more

Alba del Pozo is a Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Leeds , specializing in 19th-20th century Spanish and Catalan literature. Her research bridges gender studies , medical discourse analysis , and language pedagogy . Key affiliations: ADHUC (postdoctoral researcher since 2017), UNESCO Chair Women, Development and Cultures (2014-2017), and editorial roles at Lectora: Revista de Dones i Textualitat . Research focuses on fin de siècle subjectivity , gendered illness tropes , and CLIL methodologies for Spanish language acquisition. She has extensively published on authors like José María Llanas Aguilaniedo, Emilia Pardo Bazán, and Enrique Vila-Matas. Her article trends analyze spas as chronotopes, medicalization of leisure, and intercultural challenges in language education. Current projects explore transatlantic female travel writing and modernist subversion of scientific paradigms.

Matthew LovettView profile

Associate Professor

• Music Innovation
• Blockchain Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• +7 more

Dr. Matthew Lovett is an Associate Professor in Music Innovation at Bath Spa University, where he serves as Head of the Bath School of Music and Performing Arts. He operates at the intersection of creative practice and academic research, exploring music through blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, and continental philosophy. His work has been recognized by a BAFTA award and exhibited at the Venice Biennale. PhD in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London MMus in Creative Music Technology, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama BA in English Literature and PGCE, both from Cardiff University Matthew Lovett’s research investigates the evolving nature of music and sound practices, focusing on: Music economies and digital platform commerce Emergent music rights and governance structures Blockchain applications in music streaming AI in creative labor and composition Ecomusicology and political ecology Quantum theory in musical creativity His academic outputs (including 15 most recent publications) reveal interdisciplinary trends across music innovation, blockchain, and environmental ethics. Scientific Awards BAFTA Award for Film Soundtrack (2014) Exhibited at Venice Biennale (2015) BBC Radio 3 Broadcast (2014) Lovett supervises PhD candidates in music economies, creative labor, and ecomusicology. His funded projects include: Sustainability in Digital Institutions (2018) Blockchain for Music Ecosystems (2018) Immersive Audio Practice (2021) He leads the Bath School of Music and Performing Arts, fostering environments for innovative research and teaching in global creative sectors.

• Criminology
• Policing
• Private Security
• +5 more

Professor Adam White is a Professor of Criminology and Director of Research at the University of Sheffield's School of Law. He joined the institution in 2016 after serving as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the University of York (2010-2015). His multidisciplinary research spans criminology, politics, and socio-legal studies, with particular focus on policing, private security, terrorism, and counterterrorism dynamics. Education includes: PG Cert Academic Practice, University of York (2013) PhD Politics, University of Sheffield (2008) MA Research Methods, University of Sheffield (2005) MA International Political Economy, University of Leeds (2003) BA (Hons) Geography, University of Leeds (2002) His research examines the political economy of security, regulatory frameworks, and the societal impacts of privatization in policing. Recent publications focus on comparative security governance, labor dynamics in private security, and pandemic-era security work. Article analysis reveals consistent themes: marketization of security services, regulatory challenges, cross-national comparisons, and trauma management in security professions. Professional recognition includes: Fellow, Higher Education Academy As Director of Research, he leads major projects including the ESRC-funded Centre for Vulnerability and Policing Futures (£8.23m, 2022-2027) and previously co-directed the N8 Policing Research Partnership (£6.64m, 2015-2020). He teaches undergraduate/postgraduate modules on Criminology and War, Drugs and Crime Control, and Global Terrorism. He serves on editorial boards for the British Journal of Criminology and Security Journal, and actively contributes to the British Society of Criminology Policing Network.

Jose Mª Valcuende Del RioView profile

Professor

• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Tourism Studies
• +7 more

Jose Mª Valcuende Del Rio is a Professor at Pablo de Olavide University, affiliated with the Department of Social Anthropology, Basic Psychology, and Public Health. He is associated with the Interdisciplinary Center for Feminist Studies, Gender, and Women (CINEF) and leads the GISAP Research Group (Social Research and Participatory Action). Specialties: Social Anthropology, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Tourism Studies, Indigenous Cultures, Environmental Anthropology Key Collaborations: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Universidade de São Paulo His research explores intersections of gender, sexuality, and tourism, particularly focusing on historical and contemporary dynamics in Andalusia, Ecuador, and Amazonian regions. He examines human-animal interactions, neoconservative ideologies, and memory construction in marginalized communities. Recent publications analyze topics such as the criminalization of intersexuality in Spain, queer heritage in tourism, and Andalusian masculinity norms. His work often combines ethnographic methods with critical theory to address social justice issues. Key Themes: Queer Theory, Indigenous Architecture, Environmental Activism, Digital Social Spaces, Historical Repression

• Social Anthropology
• Cultural Studies
• Urban Sociology
• +5 more

Francisco Aix Gracia is an Associate Professor at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville, Spain, affiliated with the Department of Social Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health. His academic work bridges cultural production analysis, urban mobility studies, and social movement research. Doctorate from Universidad de Sevilla (2012) on flamenco as cultural production Supervised by Dr. Gerhard Steingress Member of GISAP Investigación Social y Acción Participativa research group Email: faix@upo.es Research spans: Cultural sociology of flamenco art Urban mobility and tourism impacts Sustainable development applications Gender dynamics in artistic production Recent publications focus on: Urban transformations through tourism Electric mobility in public spaces Sustainable food forests in cooperatives Feminist spatial interventions His work connects cultural studies with practical urban policy challenges, emphasizing participatory approaches and social justice.

• Class
• Emotion
• Material Culture
• +3 more

Professor Julie-Marie Strange is a historian specializing in Modern British History, currently serving as Head of Department at Durham University. Her work bridges social, cultural, and gender history, with a unique focus on emotions, material culture, and human-animal relationships in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. PhD from the University of Liverpool (2000) Previous roles at Birkbeck, University of London (2000-2003) and University of Manchester (2003-2019) Affiliations: Institute of Advanced Study (Associate Fellow), Centre for Death and Life Studies (Advisory Board Member) Her research explores the emotional and socio-economic dimensions of working-class life. Key projects include: Death and Grief: Analyzing bereavement practices in poverty-stricken families ( Death, Grief and Poverty, 1870–1914 ) Fatherhood: Reassessing Victorian paternal stereotypes ( Fatherhood and the British Working Class, 1865–1914 ) Humanitarianism: Investigating late 19th-century charity markets ( The Charity Market and Humanitarianism ) Pet Culture: Studying pet bereavement and the rise of pet cemeteries (AHRC-funded Pets and Family Life project) Recent work examines the interplay between capitalism and emotional expression through her Leverhulme-funded project Love in the Time of Capitalism . Her publications span books and journal articles, with a focus on death, class, and animal-human bonds. Scientific Awards: Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2020-2023) Supervision: Mentoring students on topics including cremationism, lascars, and working-class heritage.

Joel BourlandView profile

Part-Time Lecturer

• History of Philosophy
• Aesthetics
• Media Studies
• +5 more

Joel Bourland serves as a Casual Teaching staff member (Part-Time Lecturer) in the Humanities and Arts at The University of Western Australia, teaching courses including Cinema Classics, Modernism and the Avant-Garde, and Continental Philosophy. He also holds teaching positions at Murdoch University (as Unit Coordinator for Communication and Persuasion), the University of Notre Dame, and Curtin University, demonstrating extensive cross-institutional engagement in philosophical and media studies education. Education: PhD in Philosophy, The University of Western Australia (2023, awarded 2024) - Dissertation: "Shock, illusion, and the commodification of experience: Walter Benjamin's theory of modernity" MA in Cultural Studies & Critical Theory, McMaster University (2017) - Thesis: "'To Win the Energies of Intoxication for the Revolution': Walter Benjamin On Hashish, Media S(t)imulation, and the Dialectics of Psychoactivity" Joel Bourland's research critically examines how images and consumer culture structure human thought and experience. His work deeply engages with the history of philosophy, aesthetics, and media theories, with particular emphasis on Frankfurt School critical theory and poststructuralist frameworks. His scholarship consistently explores Walter Benjamin's legacy across diverse contexts—from commodification and illusion to psychotropic media and queer anthropology—revealing a cohesive interdisciplinary trajectory that bridges philosophical inquiry with contemporary cultural analysis. This integrated approach manifests in publications spanning ethics of simulation, shamanic ideals, and the political dimensions of media intoxication.