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I relish opportunities to spend time with others who have a love of story, to share my experiences, learn from and be inspired by them. My doctoral research was an interpretive, qualitative exploration of young people’s relationship with nature, by considering how young people make sense of outdoor learning experiences that have been provided for them as part of a targeted intervention. 

 

Findings from my research emphasise a need for playful, creative and emotional approaches, which enable young people to feel comfortable being in nature, rather than always doing things to, in and for nature.

 

The natural world can be a magical, enchanting, playful place for children, however it becomes all too serious as we grow older and become aware of the state of the world, and the urgent need to protect it. This message is very important, however we need to think more carefully about how we convey it.

For me this involves the use of story – to elicit research data, interpret it and then to disseminate so that it stimulates inter-disciplinary dialogue in an engaging and understandable way. It necessitates challenging more traditional forms of academic research and writing, and embracing more creative approaches.

 

I aim to make my work as accessible as possible, and to avoid the use of technical jargon or overly academic language. This has not been easy; aiming to be different can be an isolating and lonely experience and I seek out opportunities for companionship and collaborations. 

 

My own childhood was shaped by Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton. It is fair to say that I’m more interested in Faraway Trees than Ivory Towers. My ultimate aim is to share my wonder and excitement of being in nature with others so that together we can conserve it. 

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Collaborative Research (last 5 years)

2023 -2024: Co-researcher on BERA Brian Simon Research Project (funded). Smith, M., Hayes, T.A., Leather, M, Milner, A., Major-Smith, K & Fewings, G. (2024). Far away from the ivory tower: The impact of university education on disadvantaged people & their communities, ​

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2023 - ongoing: Co-researcher in Digital Youth Work Practice, led by Rob Reynolds, collaborating with local youth work organisations.

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2023 – 2024: Co-lead on Virtual Rewilding: Interdisciplinary Community-Based Learning through Minecraft, with Co-lead Adam Hart, The University of Salford. In 2023, this included research in a Salford Primary School; 2024, this included collaborative research with Plymouth City Council Poole Farm and Youth Service. 

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Dec 2021 – 2024. A Picture Of Me: PI on collaborative research evaluation with Prism Arts, funded by Arts Council England, with a range of organisations and artists to provide a creative exploration of self, drawing on my research into story-crafting. It was for adults and young people with autism and learning disabilities, who worked with specialist artists, using either dance movement, film or street art.

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​Dec 2020 – April 2022: Therapeutic Horticulture and Therapeutic Agriculture: Co-researcher on NIHR ARC Research. Collaborative applied research with organisations and schools in NE and NW England into how therapeutic horticulture (TH e.g. school gardens) and therapeutic agriculture (TA e.g. care farming) may benefit young people identified as being at risk of educational failure and later negative outcomes. There were three locations: one working farm offering alternative provision for young people; and two gardens in specialist secondary schools for young people with a wide range of complex needs, including learning difficulties and autism spectrum conditions, with Education, Health and Care Plans and/or additional, specific pastoral support. Our research aimed to understand young people’s perspectives on these experiences and how it contributed to their health and wellbeing, personal development and educational outcomes. This led to an online publication: Feeling thankful: Therapeutic and educational benefits of agriculture and horticulture

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Jan 2020 - 2022: Intergenerational Responses To Climate Change: This was collaborative research, bringing together and sharing findings and methods from a range of projects across the country through conference presentations and publications resulting in a published journal article: In it together! Cultivating space for intergenerational dialogue, empathy and hope in a climate of uncertainty

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2017 – 2022: Playing With Words... Connecting Through Story, ECR project. This post-doctoral study continued my aim to understand people’s relationship with nature through transdisciplinary research. It included auto/ethnographical writing about my experiences of accessing public environmental education in the UK and Canada.

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