Social and Cultural Geography
The Social and Cultural Geography Research Group is one of the largest in the UK and is at the cutting-edge of international agendas focused on critical thinking.
We engage with feminist, Marxist, postcolonial, post-structural, ‘more-than-human’ and ‘non-representational’ theories and geohumanities. Our cross-cutting themes, which underpin our activities, include the geographies of inequality and injustice; human-non-animal relations and biosecurity; and human mobilities, embodiment and identity.
Our research encompasses a broad range of empirical topics, including breastfeeding, gentrification, housing and homelessness, drugs and alcohol, cycling, food banks, Fairtrade, religion and spirituality, surfing, fashion, soundscapes, humour, dance and community gardening.
Influence and impact
Funding by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Leverhulme Trust, British Academy and the Wellcome Trust has enabled the Group to undertake research (underpinned by ethnographic, innovative and participatory methods) that has delivered positive social and policy changes.
Recent research has sparked positive legislative change on homelessness in Wales and England; helped protect the rights of religious minorities across English planning authorities; raised awareness amongst UK policy-makers about the challenges facing mothers as they seek to integrate breastfeeding into their daily lives; and re-oriented ways of thinking about the ‘right to the city’ for marginalised groups.
