معرفی
Jamie Barnes is an Associate Professor in Sociology (Sociology and Criminology) at the University of Sussex, affiliated with the School of Law, Politics and Sociology. He holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Sussex and has a strong background in qualitative, autoethnographic, and phenomenological research methods. His work bridges sociology, anthropology, and religious studies, with a focus on lived experience, embodiment, and ontological inquiry.
- BA (Hons) Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge (1995)
- MSc in Comparative & Cross-Cultural Research Methods, University of Sussex (2010)
- PhD in Social Anthropology, University of Sussex (2015)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Distinction, 2018)
- Associate Fellow and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Jamie Barnes' research centers on ontology, embodied perception, and the shifting nature of subjective reality, particularly within religious and spiritual contexts. Drawing from personal and ethnographic experience, he employs autoethnography to explore how devotional worlds are constituted through sensory experience, narrative, metaphor, and charismatic relationships. His work contributes significantly to the Sociology of Religion and the Anthropology of Christianity. Recently, he has extended this inquiry into ecological sensibilities, investigating the intersections between environmental awareness, embodiment, and social ontology. His teaching reflects these interests, with modules such as 'Transcendence, Devotion & Desire' and supervision across sociology, criminology, and gender studies.
His recent publications reveal a consistent engagement with autoethnographic methodology, the phenomenology of belief, and ecological thought. Articles like 'Sand in sculpture: creatively rewilding ecologies of health' (2024) and 'The ecological sensibilities project' (2022) indicate a growing focus on environmental and health-related sociological inquiry. Earlier works such as 'Stories, senses and the charismatic relation' (2020) and 'The ontological implications of spirit encounters' (2019) establish his foundational contributions to understanding religious experience through reflexive ethnography. His scholarship often appears in qualitative and interdisciplinary journals, emphasizing narrative, embodiment, and methodological innovation.
Jamie Barnes has received recognition for his teaching excellence, including a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education with Distinction and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He is a dedicated advocate for autoethnographic methods, having organized the 4th British Conference of Autoethnography and co-convened the South Coast Autoethnography Network (SCAN). He also serves on the organizing committee of the International Conference of Autoethnography (ICAE), contributing to the growth of this methodological approach in the UK and internationally.
As an educator, Jamie Barnes has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students and has convened key modules across sociology and criminology. His academic service includes membership on the Social Sciences and Arts Cross-Schools Research Ethics Committee at the University of Sussex. He leads the 'Ecology, Economy and Ecosystems' research project, which includes the podcast 'The Ecological Sensibilities Project,' demonstrating his commitment to public engagement and innovative scholarly communication.
Jamie Barnes is actively involved in research networks centered on autoethnography and interdisciplinary sociology. He co-convenes the South Coast Autoethnography Network (SCAN) and contributes to the international ICAE network. His podcast project exemplifies a creative approach to disseminating sociological research, blending academic rigor with accessible media formats. These initiatives reflect his broader vision of sociology as a reflexive, embodied, and socially engaged practice.
