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Tirion Jenkins   BA, MSc

Miss Tirion Jenkins

(she/her)

BA, MSc

Graduate Tutor

School of Geography and Planning

cymraeg
Welsh speaking

Overview

My research is interested in the relationship between (cold-water) surfing, (mental) health and wellbeing. This research is primarily situated within Health Geographies and is particularly influenced by the ontological post-human turn in considering how we as humans and bodies are ‘affected’ by the material (or natural) world (Andrews 2019).

Within Health Geographies, I am particularly interested in what Foley et al (2019) describe as the ‘hydrophilic turn’, referring to the emergence of ‘Blue Space’ Geographies. ‘Blue Spaces’ are increasingly recognised for their potential for health and wellbeing (Foley and Kistemann 2015) and my research is situated in what has come to be known as the ‘Blue Health’, ‘Blue Care’ (Britton et al 2018) or ‘Blue Mind’ movement.

For my thesis, I am focusing on the case study of women surfers (the 'Gower Women's Surf Society') on the Gower Peninsula, Wales. This is a group of approximately 40 women who meet and surf regularly. Through this case study, my research has evolved to become interested in ideas around surfing, gender and women’s groups as ‘safe spaces’. I have documented their journey moving through the winter of 2022-23 and has seen themes emerge around community, access, inclusion nature connection, spaces of fear and ‘sisterhood’.

Teaching

• Tirion is passionate about teaching alongside her studies and has assisted on field study visits to Los Angeles in 2020 & 2023 (Researching Contemporary issues in Human Geography) and North Wales 2022 (Geographies of Welsh identity). She has also led seminars on Developing Research Methods and Development Geographies. 

• Tirion is confident writing and proofreading copy at a PhD level and has experience marking and assessing undergraduate work.

 • Responsible for the creation of A-level content as part of the 'Cardiff Case Studies' project (2022) which involved mentoring five undergraduate students to plan, write, film and edit short videos on contemporary issues in human geography.

• Experienced in public engagement work around her research such as speaking on the Shaka Surf ‘Ocean Woman’ podcast (July 2023), delivering ‘Blue Health’ workshops at TYF Adventure (March 2022 & March 2023) and was invited to participate at the ‘Blue Mind’ symposium at The Wave in Bristol in November 2022. The purpose of this event was to facilitate knowledge exchange between research and practice around the topics of blue health, surf therapy and surfing to promote health.

Biography

2022
Panel speaker, 'How to swim: Researching bodies in nature', QRSE Conference 2022 Durham University with Rebecca Olive, Kate Moles, Charlotte Bates and Ronan Foley

2021 
(Start) PhD Social & Cultural Geography, Cardiff University, funded by the ESRC
MSc Social Science Research Methods, Distinction, Cardiff University, funded by the ESRC

2019
Postgraduate Certificate Arts, Health & Wellbeing, University of South Wales (USW)

2013
World Arts & Cultures Major, Year Abroad, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

2012
BA Geography (International Programme), First Class Honours, University College London (UCL)

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Sports science and exercise
  • Gender and representation
  • surfing
  • Feminist methodologies