The mobilities research group is a network of researchers interested in all aspects of mobility: movements of people, objects and ideas, the meanings attached to these movements and the ways in which they shape society. The intention is that the group orients around active research, research dissemination and research development.
The group aims to:
- establish connections between people with common or overlapping research interests
- support ongoing research
- develop new research and collaborations
- provide a forum for discussion
Supporting ongoing research
The group has members from a range of perspectives and disciplinary backgrounds, and as such provides a dynamic forum for research exchange, discussion and theory-building. It is in this diversity that robust and innovative ideas about mobilities arise. Practical support in ongoing research involves reading and critically engaging with each others' work. This involves theoretical and empirical assistance and suggestion. It is intended that the group is of particular use to early career researchers. Another function is to alert group members to sources of funding or collaboration with individuals/bodies inside and outside of academia during existing research projects.
Developing new research and collaborations
The group provides the opportunity for sharing ideas and data with a view to collaborative writing and publication. It encourages researchers to develop new research in both academic and non-academic settings. The group will work up grant applications and share expertise and contacts in order to maximise the potential impact of research into mobilities.
Forum for discussion
The group provides a supportive forum for discussing current concerns in mobilities studies. This is done in organised meetings and also electronically.
Current research interests include:
- Walking, physical activity and the environment (Michael Cahill)
- Health and mobility (Michael Cahill, Karolina Doughty)
- Gender and generational aspects to mobilities (Lesley Murray)
- Risk and mobility (Lesley Murray)
- Mobile methodologies (Lesley Murray, Karolina Doughty, Frauke Behrendt)
- Movements and rhythms in spaces of mobility (Karolina Doughty)
- Bodily movement and therapeutic relationships (Karolina Doughty)
- Everyday mobile practices (Lesley Murray, Karolina Doughty)
- City mobilities (Lesley Murray)
- Transport and social inequalities (Michael Cahill, Andrew Church, Lesley Murray)
- Mobilities of information and knowledge (Mary Darking)
- Mobility aspects of student retention (Stephanie Fleischer)
- Afghan identity and diaspora, transnationalism, everyday mobility and subjectivity in the UK and Peshawar (Nichola Khan)
- Mobile media cultures (Frauke Behrendt)
- E-bikes/electrically-assisted bicycles (Frauke Behrendt)
Current projects
- RCUK Energy Programme funded project: Disruption: Unlocking low carbon travel (Lesley Murray, Karolina Doughty)
- RCUK Energy Programme funded project: Understanding how commuters and communities engage with electrically-assisted cycling (Frauke Behrandt)
- RGS-IBG 2012 session Mobile urban lives (organisers Lesley Murray and James Faulconbridge, University of Lancaster)
- Journal article 'Exploring the negotiation of gendered discourses of parenting through the mobilization of family' submitted to special edition: New geographies of parenting and policy of Children's Geographies (Lesley Murray)
- Journal article 'Travelling near and far: researching children's mobile emotions' in preparation for special edition of Emotion, space and society (Lesley Murray and Kanwal Mand)
- Journal article 'Restorative rhythms: the rural walkscape through a geography of rhythms' in preparation for Social & Cultural Geography (Karolina Doughty) Journal article A Moving Heart: Violence, Affect and the Problem of 'Immobility' in Afghan Migration (under review)
- Journal article Chakar! Tasting Freedom in Afghan migration (in preparation) (Nichola Khan)
- Journal article From refugees to the world stage': sport, civilisation and modernity in Out of the Ashes and the UK Afghan diaspora (under review) (Nichola Khan)
- Links with health and migration research group at University of Sussex - special issue Ethnic and Racial Studies on Healthcare and Immigration – Understanding the Connections Volume 35, Issue 1, 2012 (Nichola Khan)
