Reader in Political Sociology
Having taught at the University of Wolverhampton (1992-2001) and Nottingham Trent University (2001-7), I joined Aston in 2007, first as Head of French, and then as Head of Languages and Translation Studies, before joining the Sociology and Policy group in 2015.
My teaching and research focus is primarily on social movements, and on environmental sociology, and in particular the collective responses to climate change and to genetically-modified crops. I am especially interested in the criminal trials of social movement activists, and on civil society activism over abortion in the UK. I welcome research proposals, and am available to speak to the media, on these or related topics.
In 2015, I received the University’s Aston Excellence Award of Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and in 2014 was awarded ‘Most Engaging Academic’ by Aston LSS students.
I am an Editor of Social Movement Studies, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Environmental Politics and a member of the Editorial Board for the Amsterdam University Press book series, Protest and Social Movements.
Blog
- Deportation and direct action in Britain: the ‘terrorist trial’ of the Stansted 15
- Genetic Modification in Flanders: The Appeal of the Wetteren 11
- Growing pro-life movement presents a challenge to defenders of abortion rights
- Regimes and Spaces of Austerity: Inside the British University
- Should we have buffer zones around abortion clinics?
- The ‘new’ climate politics of Extinction Rebellion?
- What Now for Extinction Rebellion?
- Why Heathrow 13 verdict could lead to more radical climate activism, not less