Geography Newsletter - March 2019

GEOGRAPHY 2013

GEOGRAPHY 2019 Issue 7, March 2019

What our Alumni and Students are up to StARs 2018-19 Our current Student Academic Representatives (StARs) are:

Doing a PhD in Geography at Durham University slides and debris flows in upland and mountain environments, as well as the major geomorphological changes these can generate.

Level 6: Megan Rundell-Evans Level 5: Lydia Gardiner Level 4: Morgan Evans Islay Rhys-Davies

@BathSpaGeog

Inside this issue:

What our Alumni and Students are up to

1

Student-led Conference

2

Geography Research

3

Geography Staff at Conferences and Events

6

Recent Research Publications by Geography

7

Get Involved with Geog- 8 raphy

I am currently undertaking a NERC-funded PhD Studentship on bare peat patches and carbon loss from upland peatlands, within the Geography and Earth Science departments (in collaboration with the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership) at Durham University. I completed my BSc (Hons) in Geography in 2017 at Bath Spa University and in January 2019 I was awarded my Master of Science degree in Risk from Durham University. My research interests have focused on evaluating the impacts caused by floods, land-

During my time at Bath Spa University my research interests were mainly linked to upland flooding and the reconstruction of historical and contempory flood events within the English Lake District. My Undergraduate Dissertation evaluated the significance of Storm Desmond floods in comparison to palaeofloods in selected HelvellynThirlmere sub-catchments, contributing to existing research work at Bath Spa and Durham Universities with

United Utilities. My research during my MSc Risk at Durham University examined different landslide susceptibility methods, in order to investigate whether certain landslide events could have been anticipated, to understand the potential economic, social and environmental impacts associated with landslide hazards and the mitigation and management strategies needed to reduce the risk of landslides within an area. My Master Thesis compared two landslide susceptibility methods: Fuzzy Logic and the Factor of Safety to assess the Thirlmere-

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Helvellyn landslides caused

by Storm Desmond. The aim of my PhD research is to understand the connectedness, size and distribution of bare peat patches and to identify the value of restoring these fragmented bare peat patches.

Upon completing my doctorate, it is my intention to continue research into hazards and risks associated with peatland erosion, floods, landslides and debris flows in

upland and mountainous environments, with the hope in presenting my research at both national and international conferences. My ultimate goal however, is to work within academia, so that I can teach, encourage and enrich students in physical geography and continue to develop my research interests.

By Cher Bradley-Smith (photo credits: Cher BradleySmith)

Student-led Conference on Communicating Disasters and Humanitarianism On February 14th 2019, third year Geography and Global Development and Sustainability students orchestrated a poster conference and invited many external speakers to inform and discuss their experience in field.

We were enticed by 6 speakers throughout the day, each very different, with a new perspective on what entails working in the development and emergency response sector. In the breaks and over lunch we were able to absorb information from the posters created by our peers.

British Red Cross - Fiona Harvey gave a presentation on the work the British red cross does, and the many issues volunteers face when working overseas. Her project the AVAIL (Amplifying the Voices of Asylum Seekers) programme works to help refugees integrate into society through co-production with other refugees that have already been through the process.

Send a Cow - interestingly this charity first began in 1988, when dairy tariffs where placed on UK farmers on the amount of milk they The speakers included many could produce. Instead of different charities and organislaughtering the cows, it was sations: decided to send the cows to

During the poster exhibition (Photo credit: R. Wadsworth)

Uganda, to help empower single women parents to produce enough food and milk to make a living and provide nutritious food for their children. Richie Alford is the son of one of the founding farmers and he explained how the charity has moved on from sending cows and aims to support growth and inspire hope of a thriving rural Uganda and several other African countries.

The Schumacher Institute this think tank works to help reduce socio-economic and environmental impacts with a focus on sustainable solutions. The insightful presenta-

The conference (Photo credit: R. Wadsworth)

tion Ian Roderick delivered, covered present sustainability issues and how we can work to overcome them. The think tank works to voice the opinions of people on a local scale to help with issues, creating sustainable and feasible solutions.

Serve On - Martin Phillips works as one of the fundraising managers based in Salisbury.

The charity works as one of the first responders in natural disasters, working to rescue trapped people and alleviate some of the pressures that disasters cause. They work in small teams and are usually the first on site, making their work vital to the initial search and

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rescue operations.

erwise known as doctors without borders, these brave men and women look to help those in conflict areas that have been seriously injured and are unable to fight.

The presentation Paul delivered spoke of some of the dangers he encountered while working overseas, and the difficulty of maintaining complete neutrality in these areas. Their goal is to provide medical assistance to anyone in need and alleviate some of the physical of conflict.

Shelterbox - Rebecca Swist was a very enthusiastic and passionate speaker, who has volunteered for the charity since 2012. Her accounts of some of the tasks she has encountered during deployment were inspiring to hear. Shelter box, works to deliver aid in the form of tents, equipment and healthcare in a 55kg plastic box.

They work alongside Rotary International in the affected country, and will go to extreme lengths to Overall, it was a very well informhelp those in need. ing and rewarding day for all third Medecins sans Frontieres - oth-

years at the conference giving us a wide variety of insight into potential real world jobs with the skills we are learning through this module.

By Greg Blake, Jack Downie, Molly Silva, Holly McAdam, Carys McKenzie (third year students) A Shelterbox (Photo credit: V. Groves)

Geography Research NEWS Research Project ‘HiFlo-DAT’ takes the next steps in Bath, London and Dorset in November 2018 In Issue 6 (October 2018) we brought readers news of Bath Spa Geography’s HRD (Hazard, Risk and Disaster Research Group) UGC-UKIERI funded research project HiFloDAT (Indian Himalayan Flood Database, for Disaster Risk Reduction), which began in Delhi in June and July 2018. The next phase of the project was here in the UK, in November and December 2018.

Visiting Indian faculty and post-

graduate students from The University of Delhi and Himachal Pradesh University (Shimla) worked with UK

dissertation students Victoria team members. Bath Spa’s Geography staff included Drs Phillips (2017-2018, now MSc Edwards, Jeffers and Johnson, Risk student at Durham Univeralong with BSU Geography

Figure 1: HiFlo-DAT team meets BSU CoLA colleagues in Bath, with appropriate Kullu dress.

Following our 2018 graduates and beyond...

Megan Bendall, Geography PGCE, BSU Cher Bradley-Smith, PhD at Durham University Vicky Harris, Geography PGCE, Durham University Matthew Lloyd-Ruck, MSc Urban Regeneration, UCL Vicky Phillips, MSc. in Risk, Durham University

Kelly Prosser, MSc Urban Regeneration and Development, University of Manchester Keziah Rookes, MSc Sustainablity and Management, University of Bath Elliot Rowan, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, Birmingham University Olivia Verplancke, MSc. in Risk, Durham University

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sity) and Jessica Seviour (20182019) (Figure 1).

Highlights from this UK phase included:

brary in London, a truly global resource (Figure 2). A very large amount of valuable digital data exploring historical floods was col1) A three-day project worklected through the susshop in Bath, at our Newtained efforts of the biton Park Campus, to dislateral team, but principally cuss project progress, esby the students (Jessica tablish our robust methSeviour [BSU], Victoria Philodology for archive data lips [Formerly BSU], collection at the British Himanshu Mishra (DU), and Library, continue the acaPushpanjali Sharma demic development of the [HPU]).Congratulations to HiFlo-DAT database dethem, it was a genuinely big sign, and wider discussion effort over a month, continof bi-lateral teaching/ reuing to building bonds besearch relationship opportween themselves but also tunities between BSU and our respective institutions.

Indian partner institutions. 4) A mini exploration of Char2) A celebration of Diwali in mouth and Lyme Regis; London on 7th November, some fresh air and a rare enjoying Indian Cuisine coastal experience for together. This is the Hindu Himanshu and Pushpanaji ‘Festival of Lights’ and (Figure 3).

Figure 2: BSU Geography graduate Victoria Phillips (far distance), forms an important part of the religious and cultural With the primary data collection BSU undergraduate Jessica Seviour (near distance) and Indian team members collecting archive newspaper accounts in the Newsroom calendar. phases complete (2 months in 3) Review of historical news- libraries), the bi-lateral team are at the British Library, London. papers at the British Linow starting the review of our materials to populate the HiFlo-DAT database. We have a busy 2019, culminating in academic conferences, public lectures, stakeholder workshops and production of a film.

We value this opportunity to be able to make a difference to understanding of flood disaster issues in the Kullu Valley. You will be able to follow this continuing journey via Twitter (@DrRichMJohnson) and on the project webpage, associated with the HRD research group.

Dr Esther Edwards, Dr Rich Johnson, Jessica Seviour (January, 2019).

Figure 3: A cultural experience- Indian postgraduate team members (Himanshu Mishra [left] and Pushpanjali Sharma [right]) exploring the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Dorset. Here standing on the Cobb Harbour wall, with Black Ven and Golden Cap landslide complexes in the distance.

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Linking Research and Teaching—Repair Cultures Bath In November 2018 students who had taken the second year Geography Future Cities module, were tasked with collecting information on repair activities in Bath. This project is part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research network examining the history and future of repair practices in the UK and in India (See www.repairacts.net).

For this project, repair mainly refers to the upkeep, maintenance, care and reuse of material items (e.g. clocks, electronic equipment, shoe, cars etc. ), but also of urban spaces and buildings. Working individually and also in groups, all students mapped current repair activity in Bath City Centre. In addition, some students carried out archival work in the Bath Records Office mapping repair from 1938 to 2018 (using Goad maps, plus trade directories).

Other students conducted ethnographic fieldwork, choosing a more in-depth examination of specific repair practices in-situ.

This fieldwork culminated in an individual report with the broad title Repair Cultures: Bath. The resultant reports included a number of different interpretations and dimensions of repair in this field context: repair of the built heritage; repair of electronic items; clothing repair; repair of urban space such as guerrilla gardening and community gardening.

The field based learning element acted as an enabling link between research, teaching and learning, which resulted in a better understanding of theoretical concepts, through making connections between student’s own observations in the field and lived experience. Pedagogically, students learned by doing, and through fieldwork and report writing, they con-

ceptualized their experience of repair through critical reflection.

Duration: Seminars; lectures; ity student, Oscar Williams field activities over a threeattended the final Repair Acts week period. event held in Bristol in February 2019. Oscar is carrying Date: November 2018 Number of students: 47 out his dissertation on the Tutors: Dr. Alma Clavin; Dr. Year Group: Yr. 2 topic of repair in Bristol, exChristoph Woiwode.

(Undergraduate) amining motivations for, and Discipline: Geography; Glob- In addition to this field-based barriers to repairing material al Development and Sustaina- activity, a third year Global objects. bility; Sociology; Criminology. Development and SustainabilMobile Repair Café set up during the 2nd RepairActs Workshop at the University of Exeter in Penryn (Photo credit: C. Woiwode)

Sign Board outside a Repair Shop on Walcot Street, Bath (Photo credit: A. Clavin)

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Geography Staff at Conferences and Events Second Indo-German Dialogue (IGD) on Green Urban Practices held in Freiburg from 8th to 10th November 2018 With this year’s focus on the theme “Education, Learning, Training and Awareness for Sustainable Development” the three day event attracted close to 40 academic and non-academic delegates from India and Germany.

Almost half of these had already attended the first dialogue event in March 2017 allowing for many participants to continue their discussions and connections while at the Figsame time expanding the network to new partners. The event was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with travel bursaries from the German Consulate General in Chennai.

Chennai, Pune or Cologne, Bochum and Freiburg.

Figure 1: Participants of the Event (Photo credit: M. Praktiknjo)

The first day saw an overview of the concept and objectives of the IGD series by its initiator Dr. Christoph Woiwode, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Visiting Professor of the IGCS (Indo-German Centre for Sustainability) in Chennai, India.

Several speakers introduced the audience to urban food and gardening in Freiburg by presenting on natural farming as well education and learning for sustainable development in India. The remaining day was used to allow for intensive sharing and listening to each other’s work and activities in two parallel sessions. This activity yielded in rich insights across sectors like urban farming as well as educational and pedagogical activities in places like Delhi,

Day two built on these insights to form thematic working groups around emerging core themes such as agro-food systems, cross-cultural and traditional knowledge systems, participation and governance, and carrying forward this network. The last day was devoted to exposure visits exploring Freiburg city, the Lokhalle innovation centre and two urban gardening initiatives in the famous Vauban neighbourhood. We are already looking forward to the third IGD which will be hosted and coconvened by Bharatiya Vidyapeet Environment Education Research Centre and the Centre for Environmental Education in Pune, India, in 2019.

The full report of the event can be downloaded here.

Dr. Christoph Woiwode

Figure 2: Interactive Workshop Session (Photo credit: C. Woiwode

Figure 3: Field Visit to an Urban Community Garden Project (Photo credit:: C. Woiwode)

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Leverage Points 2019 Conference on Sustainability Research and Transformation: Dialogue Sessions on Inner Transitions to Sustainability

Figure 1: Plenary Session (Photo credit: C. Woiwode)

Funded by BSU’s Research Centre for Environmental Humanities and Geography, Dr. Christoph Woiwode was co-convenor of two sessions at the Leverage Points 2019 Conference on Sustainability Research and Transformation that took place on 6th and 7th Feb, in Luneburg, Germany.

The workshops on Building and Strengthening a Re-

searcher-Practitioner Network on Inner Transitions to Sustainability engaged around 30 people on issues of cultural aspects underpinning sociotechnical sustainability transitions, especially those relating to ‘inner’ dimensions of human life, which are underrepresented in sustainability

research and praxis. Such unfathomable dimensions like worldviews, ethics, values, religion, consciousness, spirituality and self are increasingly seen by researchers and practitioners as inevitably important for profound and durable sustainability transitions at both the individual as well the societal plane.

Therefore, this emerging field may be considered a crucial leverage point towards transformational sustainability interventions within the socio -cultural realm. These dialogue sessions continue an initiative to build up a network of researchers/ practitioners on inner transitions to sustainability launched in 2016.

Figure 2: Workshop session on Inner Transitions to Sustainability (Photo credit: C. Woiwode)

Recent Research Publications by Geography Staff Jeffers, J.M. (2019) "Saving Cork City? Place attachment and conflicting framings of flood hazards" Geoforum (forthcoming) Bracking, S., Fredriksen, A., Sullivan, S. and Woodhouse, P. (eds.) 2018 Valuing Development, Environment and Conservation: Creating Values that Matter. London: Routledge Explorations in Development Studies. This was the final project output from The Leverhulme Centre for the Study of Value for which Sian Sullivan was a Co-Investigator from September 2012 to June 2017. Sullivan has an authoring role on five chapters in this book: Sullivan, S. Bonding nature(s)? Funds, financiers and values at the impact investing edge in environmental conservation, ch.6; Carver, L. and Sullivan, S. Creating ‘good biodiversity yield per hectare’? Calculating conservation yields in the English Biodiversity Offsetting Pilot, ch.7; Bracking, S. Fredriksen, A., Sullivan, S. and Woodhouse, P. ‘Introducing values that matter’, ch.1, ‘Value(s) and valuation in development, conservation and environment’, ch.2 and ‘Conclusion: the limits of economic valuation’, ch. 13).

Sullivan, S. 2018 Towards a metaphysics of the soul and a participatory aesthetics of life: mobilising Foucault, affect and animism for caring practices of existence. New Formations: A Journal of Culture, Theory & Politics 95: 5-21 https:// www.lwbooks.co.uk/sites/default/files/nf95_02Sullivan.pdf Woiwode, C. and N. Woiwode (2019). “Practical Spirituality and the Contemporary City: Awakening the Transformative Power for Sustainable Living”. Giri, A.K. (Ed.) Practical Spirituality and Human Development. Palgrave Mcmillan. ISBN: 978-981-13-3687-4 (forthcoming).

Get Involved With Geography At BSU There are plenty of ways to get involved with geography activities at BSU, beyond attending timetabled sessions. Here are some examples: Become a StAR: represent your peers and help to improve your course and university. You will receive training from the Students’ Union and you will be required to act as a liaison between students on your course and the geography lecturers. Your role involves gathering feedback, attending meetings each term and discussing new ideas. Find out more by visiting the Students’ Union website and stand for election as a Student Academic Representative in the autumn term.

Be an Ambassador: work as a BSU geography ambassador

during recruitment events.

Get paid to improve your communication skills, impart your knowledge of, and enthusiasm for geography at BSU, and add value to your CV at the same time.

Attend public lectures and seminars: learn more about current research and contemporary issues by attending lectures and seminars beyond your modules. These are organized by subjects across the university, are held regularly, and are advertised on the BSU website.

Be an RGS Ambassador: train as an ambassador for the Royal Geographical Society, and promote the benefits of studying geography to school pupils. Training is held every year at BSU and you will have an opportunity to design and deliver a session to a school

group. The experience will help you to gain valuable transferable skills.

Join the GeogSoc: become a member of the student-run Geography Society and get involved with geographyrelated activities. These can include participating in, or

even organising, social events, walks and other field excursions, and fundraising activities.

Watch out for emails and notices about these and other events and opportunities throughout the academic year.