Thematic Research Groups

As we move across boundaries and forge new areas of inquiry, we foster a research culture that is open, ambitious, flexible, and adventurous. In Human Geography our work is currently exploring five thematic research foci:

De/Anti colonial Group 

The De/Anticolonial Thematic Group  (DAT Group) is a space for scholars at any and every stage to explore from a variety of disciplinary (and undisciplined) perspectives the theories and praxes of decolonisation and what it means in different contexts, within and beyond academia: How is decoloniality deployed and (im)mobilised in our context of worldwide political crises, rise of right wing nationalisms and genocidal violence? How can we dialogue with and learn from de/anticolonial projects across the world? Our current activities include a reading group, a work in progress seminar and a collective de/anticolonial reading list.

For further details please contact Dr. Silvia Hassouna  silvia.hassouna@durham.ac.uk or Dr. Diego Astorga de Itadiego.astorga-de-ita@durham.ac.uk

Digital Geographers Workshop

There is increasing interest in the department for topics related to, mediated through or impacted on by “digital technologies” writ large. From platforms and online communities to remote sensing and mapping, from machine learning to blockchain and crypto, from smart urbanism to the digitalization of critical infrastructures, and everyday encounters with data, the digital, and their materialities, more and more people are working in or another of “digital geographies". In this Thematic groups we take up this interest to explore what the digital means for/in our work.

For further details please contact Dr. Ludovico Rella ludovico.rella@durham.ac.uk

Elemental Kinship

The "elemental kinship" thematic group aims to experiment and think with the elements. This encompasses research with air, water, fire, smoke, dust, earth, sand, weather, and soil  (the list is not exhaustive) through poetic, creative and phenomenological approaches.  We discuss, think, and play with the elements in formal and informal settings and formats, including, but not limited to guest lectures, reading groups, chats, and workshops.

For further details, please contact Dr. Aya Nassar aya.m.nassar@durham.ac.uk  or Dr. Marijn Nieuwenhuis marijn.d.nieuwenhuis@durham.ac.uk

Urban Life

While urban life is a foundational concept in the history of thought and politics in and beyond the city, it is rarely itself taken as a central focus of engagement. This group brings together a small group of academic staff, postdocs and postgrads to consider how ‘urban life’ features in their work and to explore possibilities for new ideas, writing, and projects.

For further details please contact Prof. Colin McFarlane colin.mcfarlane@durham.ac.uk or Dr. Sam Nowak samuel.l.nowak@durham.ac.uk

Affect Theories Today

The present political moment and the crises that animate it are often diagnosed in strikingly affective terms. At the same time, affect related research and thinking across the social sciences is undergoing a period of significant disruption and revision, as a consequence of ongoing engagement with queer, trans, and black studies work. In this context, the purpose of the ‘Affect Theories Today’ group is to support the affect related empirical, theoretical and methodological work in the department. We do so by engaging with the most exciting and intellectually and politically challenging affect related scholarship from across the social sciences and humanities. The group is composed of staff and postgraduates and runs a range of events, including a reading group.

For further details, please contact Prof. Ben Anderson: ben.anderson@durham.ac.uk or Prof. Anna Secor  anna.j.secor@durham.ac.uk   

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