(Goldsmiths, University of London)

Primary mentor: Professor Nirmal Puwar

Second mentor: Dr Sobia Ahmad Kaker

Research topic title: Towards an activist creative sociological imagination: Utilising politically and socially engaged visual research methods

Research project description:With this post-doctoral fellowship (PDF), I seek to expand the academic impact of my research and establish myself as a visual scholar bridging academia, arts and activism.

The main aim of this PDF is to publish in peer-reviewed academic journals and make a significant contribution to literature on gentrification, displacement and housing activism as well as visual research methods. The main output of this fellowship is a series of stand-alone academic journal articles rewritten from thesis chapters (see planned publications).

Another aim is to enhance my skills in writing academic articles, thus helping me achieve my main aim. I’ll be working with a professional academic writing consultant through one-to-one tutorials and attend two writing retreats to obtain individual feedback on drafts. I will also attend free training sessions on writing and publishing at Goldsmiths.

I will continue engaging with a range of different audiences and build networks to develop impact opportunities and further development. As such, I will attend networking opportunities with housing campaigners, residents, artists and academics to sustain existing and build new networks (e.g. Gentrification Project at Public Interest Law Centre, LSE Cities Programme, UCL Urban Lab). I will also attend and present at a high-profile conference (IVSA or RGS-IBG) to communicate my research findings, get feedback, network and identify potential opportunities for further impact or development and/or potential collaborations

Finally, I will develop a funding application to work on an independent research project after this fellowship.

Publications:

2024 CUCR: My Spiritual And Intellectual Home, online article on StreetSigns

2024 Trader Tales at Deptford Lounge,  online article on StreetSigns

2024 Visibilising gentrification-induced dis-placement: a visual essay on the role of a socially and politically engaged photo-graphic practice in housing activism,Visual Studies 39(1-2), pp.118-126, DOI:10.1080/1472586X.2023.2241424

2023 (In)visible mountain infrastructures, online article on StreetSigns

2021 The Stone Sea: a walk through mountain research, editorial and article in Walking Places: Conference Proceedings, e-book published by DINÂMIA'CET-IUL, The Centre for Socio-economic and Territorial Studies at University Institute Lisbon, pp.I-III; 7-23

2020 Deptford is Changing: a creative exploration of the impact of gentrification, self-published resource book

2018 Deptford is Changing: The impact of regeneration on local residents, article in Capital City, pp. 44-47, publication by University of the Arts London

2018 A Neighbours’ Event: building community through socially-engaged photography, article published in Ethical Record, 123(1), pp.18-20, Conway Hall Ethical Society, London                   

2017 Using Photographic Research to facilitate social interaction, article in fLIP 38, pp.12-15, published by London Independent Photography

2013 Deptford High Street, article in StreetSigns 2012/2013, pp. 20-22, published by the Centre for Urban and Community Research at Goldsmiths, University of London

2011 Deptford High Street, article in fLIP 18, p. 55, published by London Independent Photography

2011 Deptford High Street, self-published book

Planned publications:

- An article for Qualitative Research. ‘Repoliticising participatory arts to work towards social justice on the ground’ advocates a return of participation to its oppositional origins, redressing depoliticised participatory art and research practices.

- A visual essay for Visual Communication. ‘Campaign material as empirical data’ introduces campaign material from housing campaigns as valuable data on the psychosocial effects of gentrification-induced displacement, emphasising the insights visual data can offer about the lived experience.

- An article for Visual Studies. ‘Towards Radical Visual Studies: supporting housing activism through gentrification and displacement research’ argues for more activist-oriented visual research methods and for research to get directly involved in political struggles.

- An article for Housing Studies. ‘Visibilising the emotional trauma of gentrification-induced displacement’ demonstrates how a politically and socially engaged research methodology reveals deeper insight into lived experience.

- An article for Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. ‘Conflictual Place Attachment: moving beyond traditional understandings of place attachment’ introduces political struggle as a way of developing place attachment.

Contact details:

Email: anitastrasser@gmail.com

(Goldsmiths, University of London)

Primary mentor: Aminul Hoque

Second mentor: Tracey Costley

Research topic title: Sylheti speakers and language heterotopias in London's East End

Research project description: This project centres multilingualism in Tower Hamlets, east London, with focus on the importance of Sylheti in the public place. I expand on my work in migrant language education and education research to explore multilingualism outside education spaces, Sylheti is widely spoken in east London but is often positioned as a ‘home language’ with little relevance for social life outside and, like with other racialised minority languages, it is at the sharp end of negative tropes about multilingualism. My research challenges these discourses, showing that Sylheti is integral to local communication practice - often central, at times peripheral, and rarely entirely absent, with repertoires continually changing as speakers respond to shifting patterns of daily life and new migrations.

Using ethnographic walking methods and linguistic landscaping, my research explores everyday multilingual practices in places such as cafes, shops and markets, investigating the relationship between language and place. The Fellowship work will strengthen this orientation by bringing Foucault’s notion of ‘heterotopia’ (1986:24)- spaces where normative discourses are upturned and counternarratives flourish. The inherent challenge to deficit discourses around multilingualism and the highlighting of the importance of Sylheti repertoires in social life brings an activist sociolinguistic focus.

Public engagement is a core element of the project and I will produce a monograph, an interactive exhibition and a portable exhibition kitfor schools and community work. The strong focus on stakeholder engagement and local participation takes inspiration from my PHD, an AHRC (CHASE) funded Collaborative Doctoral Award, conducted in close collaboration with community organisation, The Osmani Trust (https://osmanitrust.org/). I will continue to work with the Osmani Trust for this Fellowship project and they will host the exhibition.

Publications:

Cooke, M. Rampton, B, Winstanley. B. and Bryers, D. (2023) Participatory ESOL: Taking Stock. Working Papers in Urban Language and Literacies. King’s College London. Paper 310

Winstanley, B. (2022) Walking Interviews, visual diagramming and participatory ethnography. Working Papers in Urban Language and Literacies. King’s College London. Paper 299

Cooke, M, Bryers, D. and Winstanley, B. (2019) ‘Our Languages’: towards sociolinguistic citizenship in ESOL. In M. Cooke and R. Peutrell (eds) Brokering Britain, Educating Citizens: exploring ESOL and citizenship (pp. 137-153) Bristol: Multilingual Matters

Cooke, M. Winstanley, B. and Bryers, D. (2014) ‘Whose Integration? A participatory ESOL project in the UK’ in Simpson, J. & Whiteside, A. Adult Language Education and Migration: Challenging Agendas in Policy and Practice Routledge.

Cooke, M, Bryers, D and Winstanley, B. (2014) ‘Participatory ESOL’ In D. Mallows (Ed.), Language Issues in migration and integration: Perspectives from teachers and learners. (pp. 9-19). London: The British Council.

Cooke, M, Bryers, D and Winstanley, B. (2014) ‘The power of discussion’. In D. Mallows (Ed) Language Issues in migration and integration: Perspectives from teachers and learners. (pp. 35-54). London: The British Council.

Planned publication:

- Winstanley, B. ‘Bangladeshi Italians and sociolinguistic change in an east London market’, in Goglia, F and Villa, V (eds) Onward Migration, Languages and Education (forthcoming).

- Winstanley, B, ‘Onward Bangladeshi migration from Italy and Sylheti language maintenance in east London’. Multilingua (volume forthcoming)

Contact details:
Email: Beckywinstanley71@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-winstanley-5367545b

(University of East Anglia)

Primary mentor: Professor Nitya Rao

Second mentor: Professor Roland Hardenberg

Research topic title: Precarious mutualities: agroecological relations, family livelihoods, and inequality at the margins of the Anthropocene

Research project description: TBC

Publications: TBC

Planned publication: TBC

Contact details: TBC

(University of East Anglia)

Primary mentor: Professor Philip Leach

Second mentor: Professor Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos

Research topic title: Strengthening Research Skills, Securing Funding Opportunities and Engaging in Global Research Collaboration

Research project description: TBC

Publications: TBC

Planned publication: TBC

Contact details: TBC