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Biography

My undergraduate degree is in philosophy from University College London. I gained an MA in philosophy and social theory from the University of Warwick before moving to the Sociology department at Warwick to undertake an MA in social research which I completed in September 2008. I am currently undertaking a part-time PhD in Sociology at the University of Warwick while also working as a private tutor and freelance researcher.

What motivated you to engage with the public?

Prior to my PhD I was heavily involved in advocacy, campaigning and outreach work on a voluntary basis. Since the start of my PhD I have drawn on the experiences and skills gained through such activities in developing a variety of ongoing public engagement projects. I am passionate about the potential value which much academic work holds for wider society  and, as well as engaging with the wider public on the basis of my own research, I have sought to try and disseminate the research of others to wider audiences. I am particularly enthused about the possibilities that social media presents towards this end.

Describe the public engagement work you have done

I am the founding editor of a website (sociologicalimagination.org) which explores political issues from a social science perspective. I co-ordinate a podcast project (go.warwick.ac.uk/thinkingaloud) funded by the University of Warwick which produces podcasts and videocasts presenting cutting edge research to a general audience. I write articles and reviews for a number of online magazines. I have a particular interest in reviewing art, films and books in a way that is informed by academic philosophy and social theory.

I am currently involved in a variety of media projects which disseminate my research on the asexual community to a general audience. I have collaborated with journalists producing articles in the Coventry Telegraph, the Times and Forum magazine. I have also discussed asexuality on the BBC Coventry and Warwickshire morning show. I conceived and pitched a television documentary about asexuality to a production company (Red Bird Productions) and am currently working with them to develop a documentary which we hope to present to television commissioners later this year. I am also working with a freelance photographer to produce an art exhibition (artsexual.tumblr.com) which explores sexual culture in contemporary society. The project incorporates a variety of media (video, photography, print) and attempts to bridge the gap between research and artistic production. We hope to display the final work in a number of gallery spaces across the country early next year.

I recently gave a number of talks at a local sixth form college about my research into asexuality. I am currently working with an asexual acquaintance to develop an educational  workshop aimed at sixth form students which aims to raise awareness and understanding of asexuality, as well as confronting some of the pressures which teenagers face in a highly sexualising modern culture. As with my other engagement projects relating to asexuality, the aims and content of the workshop are informed by my research.