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Sustainable and Resilient Cities: Liverpool

Sustainable and Resilient Cities: Liverpool

By Abigail O'Connor

Series Two: From the same team, exploring 'Doing a PhD during a global pandemic'.

Series One
This first collection of eight podcasts created by PhD students at the University of Liverpool, explores how we are doing research during the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to policy issues in the Liverpool City Region. Hosted by Abi O'Connor (@abioconnor_) and co-produced by Ronnie Hughes (@asenseofplace1), this podcast is part of the Sustainable and Resilient Cities (SARC) Research Theme.
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S2 Ep9: Talking about Writing - Abi O'Connor & Ronnie Hughes

Sustainable and Resilient Cities: LiverpoolJan 20, 2021

00:00
53:48
S2 Ep9: Talking about Writing - Abi O'Connor & Ronnie Hughes

S2 Ep9: Talking about Writing - Abi O'Connor & Ronnie Hughes

As students we’re all too aware of the fractious relationship that can develop with writing when doing a PhD. How difficult it can be to just ‘get writing’ and the fear of the blank page is something we have spoken about with PhD friends near and far. Something which may have become much more difficult in the past year.

So, inspired by Ronnie’s recent Methods North West workshop ‘Writing methods beyond the academy’, this episode is Abi talking to Ronnie about all things related to writing, what he’s learnt in his career as a writer – and how this helps him with his PhD. We talk through trying to make sense of academic writing, walking to get you writing, writing with friends and much more, in the hope that Ronnie’s expertise can help move even more of us move away from the blank page!

We refer to Ronnie’s paper throughout the episode, a version of which can be found here on his blog. And Ronnie’s highly recommended book if you want to read more about writing for pleasure is "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg.

Jan 20, 202153:48
S2 Ep8: Liam Markey – Inaccessible data sets & discussing the politics of funding

S2 Ep8: Liam Markey – Inaccessible data sets & discussing the politics of funding

Today Abi and Ronnie are joined by fellow SSPC PGR student Liam Markey. Liam’s PhD is a collaborate project with the British Library, which looks to chronicle the last  100 years of British ‘military victimhood’ following the First World War, through both print and digital cultural artefacts in the British Library collection.

Liam’s research involved monthly visits to the British Library in London to access hard copies of datasets, which inevitably changed as a result of the initial lockdown in March and on-going restrictions since. In this episode we talk through the difficulties this has caused Liam in terms of his academic work and how he’s adapted to these changes.

Later in the episode we open up a discussion around the financial implications of the COVID19 pandemic, first through reference to Liam’s experience before talking about the difficulties currently faced by PhD students more widely, and the ongoing issues around funding.2

Read Liam’s latest writing for the British Library here or you can find out more about his research via his blog. Liam can be contacted via email Liam.markey@liverpool.ac.uk or Twitter: @Liam_Markey94.

Get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved with the podcast! Contact Abi via Twitter: @abioconnor_ or email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk & Ronnie @asenseofplace1 or R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

*This episode was recorded in early December 2020, before the third national lockdown*

Jan 13, 202136:10
S2 Ep7: Pat Ballantyne – Moving the lab home: changes to data and research resulting from COVID19

S2 Ep7: Pat Ballantyne – Moving the lab home: changes to data and research resulting from COVID19

Today Abi & Ronnie talk to Patrick Ballantyne, a PhD student in the Geographic Data Science Lab, based in the Department of Geography & Planning. Pat’s research, centred around Retail Geography, employs methods both quantitative and spatial in nature, which come under the umbrella of 'Geographic Data Science'. The primary aim of his PhD is to gain a deeper understanding of the geography of retail centre space, demonstrating how such an understanding can be used to  respond to external pressures in the retail sector, such as changing consumer behaviours and the growth of online shopping.

When lockdown began in March, Pat’s access to the shared laboratory – and therefore his research – became restricted. He discusses how he’s adjusted to these challenges, giving an overview of his experience of working from home, whilst also highlighting  the opportunities COVID-19 has presented in terms of consumer data and changing research agendas.

You can get in touch with Pat via email P.J.Ballantyne@liverpool.ac.uk or via Twitter @pj_ballantyne

For code and updates on his projects visit: https://github.com/patrickballantyne

Get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved in upcoming episodes, we’d love to hear from you about life as a PhD student, your research, new projects you’re involved in or changes to your work resulting from COVID19 (this list is not exhaustive!) Contact Abi via Twitter: @abioconnor_ or email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk & Ronnie @asenseofplace1or R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

Jan 06, 202131:36
S2 Ep6 (Pt2): Adele Moore & Leah Molyneux – Quizzing Abi & Ronnie on life as a PhD student
Dec 17, 202023:43
S2 Ep5 (Pt1): Adele Moore & Leah Molyneux – Starting a PhD during a global pandemic

S2 Ep5 (Pt1): Adele Moore & Leah Molyneux – Starting a PhD during a global pandemic

In this episode Abi and Ronnie are joined by Adele and Leah, two CASE PhD students in the department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology. Adele’s research is a feminist exploration of contraception and reproductive rights, in collaboration with a local clinic in Liverpool. Leah’s work is a ethnographic study of discretion, working with the College of Policing.

Both Adele & Leah started their studentships in October, 2020 – so in this episode we talk to them about how they’ve found their first few months, whether they’ve had to make any methodological changes to their research already, and how they’re adapting to writing and working from home. You can get in touch with them via email hsamoor3@student.liverpool.ac.uk // Leah.Molyneux@liverpool.ac.uk

Part two of this episode will be released 17th December 2020!

Dec 15, 202030:12
S2 Ep4: Gavin Daly – Exploring the role of planners as political subjects in cities

S2 Ep4: Gavin Daly – Exploring the role of planners as political subjects in cities

Gavin Daly, a PhD student at the Heseltine Institute, joins Abi & Ronnie in today’s episode. Gavin currently works as a Senior Project Expert at the European Spatial Planning Observatory Network. His research explores the role that alternative planning discourses can have in the context of global environmental challenges, seeking to identify the place that grass-roots community movements can play in institutional change.

In the episode we discuss how he came to be involved in this research, the influence that his previous career in planning has on his work, and how the crises of the last decade (including the financial crash of 2008/9, austerity and the COVID19 pandemic) make visible some of the detrimental consequences that capital-led growth projects have on urban spaces and their populations.

You can read some of Gavin’s recent work here https://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/?s=Gavin+Daly and you can contact him via Twitter: @gavinjdaly or via email: gdaly@liverpool.ac.uk

Get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved! Contact Abi via Twitter: @abioconnor_ or email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk & Ronnie @asenseofplace1or R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

Dec 09, 202036:28
S2 Ep3: Emily Kearon-Warrilow – Moving from doing research in Bombay’s High Court Archives to working online & reshaping the PhD

S2 Ep3: Emily Kearon-Warrilow – Moving from doing research in Bombay’s High Court Archives to working online & reshaping the PhD

Emily Kearon-Warrilow, a History & Law PhD student and Graduate Teaching Fellow, joins us today to discuss the changes she’s made to her research as a result of the travel restrictions imposed since March 2020. Emily’s work explores the legal history of colonial India, examining sexual crimes involving children. Initially, her methods involved travelling to Bombay High Court’s extensive yet under-utilised archives, to uncover unpublished records, but COVID19’s impact on global travel meant her research and methods had to change.

In this episode we discuss how Emily has navigated these unforeseen circumstances, including some fundamental shifts she has made to her research questions/aims and some barriers she is facing due to the current political debate regarding academic freedom in India. We go on to chat about the highs and lows of working (and writing!) from home, being isolated from colleagues and the move to online teaching. Before asking Emily what her advice would be to new and current PhD students.

You can get in touch with Emily via email Emily.warrilow@liverpool.ac..uk or via Twitter @WarrilowEmily

Get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved with the podcast! Contact Abi via Twitter: @abioconnor_ or email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk & Ronnie @asenseofplace1 or R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

Dec 02, 202036:53
S2 Ep2: Cameron Byron – The (im)material politics of death in the context of COVID19
Nov 25, 202028:45
S2 Ep1: Emily McIndoe - From El Salvador to Skype, shifts in research methods due to COVID19

S2 Ep1: Emily McIndoe - From El Salvador to Skype, shifts in research methods due to COVID19

In this episode Emily McIndoe, PhD student in History, joins Abi and Ronnie to talk about how travel restrictions have impacted her research. Emily’s research explores British aid to El Salvador between 1970-2009, which was originally being conducted through a combination of archival research and oral history interviews in both Britain and El Salvador.

Emily discusses the changes she’s made in recent months, having started fieldwork in October 2019 before everything moved online. Emily tells us about both the benefits and difficulties which have arisen from this, before going on to discuss the uses of snowball sampling in the context of her research and experiences of finding alternative sources of data, from unexpected places.

You can get in touch with Emily via Twitter @mcindoeee or via email hsemcind@student.liverpool.ac.uk

The History Work In Progress seminar series (discussed in the episode) meets regularly throughout the semester and is an opportunity to present papers, problems and ideas in a friendly informal environment and receive feedback from fellow PGRs. The next meeting is Wednesday 2nd December (2.30 - 3pm), email emily.warrilow@liverpool.ac.uk for information on how to get involved - all welcome!

Get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved! Contact Abi via Twitter: @abioconnor_ or email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk & Ronnie @asenseofplace1 or R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

Nov 18, 202031:19
Series One Ep8: Mark Boyle - Review of Series 1

Series One Ep8: Mark Boyle - Review of Series 1

In this final episode of Series One Ronnie & Abi are joined by Professor Mark Boyle. Mark is the academic lead for the Sustainable and Resilient Cities research theme at the University of Liverpool, which is where the idea for this podcast series originated.

We reflect on the podcast so far, discussing some of the pertinent issues facing PhD students currently and talk about the importance of disseminating research widely, both within and outside the academic community. You can contact Mark via email mark.boyle@liverpool.ac.uk

As series 1 comes to an end, we wanted to thank everyone who’s listened in – we so pleased with the response that we’ve decided to return for a series 2! On 18th November 2o20 we will release the first of our ‘Doing a PhD during a global pandemic’ episodes. As always, please get in touch if you’d like to be involved or have any ideas you’d like us to discuss!

Abi: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk @abioconnor_ Ronnie: R.D.Hughes@liv.ac.uk

@asenseofplace1

Nov 04, 202045:41
Series One Ep7: Abi O’Connor in conversation with Ronnie Hughes, on her work - Liverpool, central government & the process of 'managed decline'

Series One Ep7: Abi O’Connor in conversation with Ronnie Hughes, on her work - Liverpool, central government & the process of 'managed decline'

Ronnie & Abi come together in this week’s episode to discuss Abi’s research in the context of Liverpool’s current circumstances: including having now entered tier 3 lockdown restrictions. Our conversation explores the relationship between central and local government, amid calls that this is a second round of ‘managed decline’, also the geographical inequalities which have come to characterise Britain, and how Abi’s work speaks to the consequences of the current political and social climate on Liverpool.

The latter half of the episode then moves to a conversation about what’s next for the podcast. Where we’ll be thinking about what ‘Doing a PhD in a pandemic’ really means. We touch upon topics we'll be discussing in ‘Series 2’, including our experiences of changing research methods, writing during lockdown and our lives beyond the PhD – amongst many other issues!

You can read more of Abi’s work here https://theconversation.com/liverpool-close-to-bankruptcy-how-decades-of-stigma-have-pushed-the-city-into-financial-ruin-138742. You can get in touch via email: aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk, or Twitter @abioconnor_

Plus, we’d love to hear from you if you're interested in doing an episode on the podcast or if you have any ideas topics you’d like to suggest for us to discuss, do please drop us a message.

Oct 28, 202039:30
Series One Ep6: Richie Kirwan - The Impacts of Decreased Movement during Lockdown
Oct 21, 202027:22
Series One Ep5: Lucy Dowdall - The Importance of the Upper Mersey Estuary
Oct 14, 202023:55
Series One Ep4 Chloe Spence: Digital Mental Health Services - Let's Keep Talking
Oct 07, 202016:43
Series One Ep3 Tilly Clough: Educational Inequalities in Independent & State Schools

Series One Ep3 Tilly Clough: Educational Inequalities in Independent & State Schools

Abi is joined by Tilly Clough, a PhD student in Liverpool’s Law School. Tilly’s research explores the charitable status of independent schools and whether this status can be justified. In this episode Tilly discusses the differential access to resources between independent and state schools discussing how this perpetuates inequalities, particularly in the context of the move to online teaching at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tilly’s article on Private School Policy Reform is available here: https://www.privateschoolreform.co.uk/opinion/tilly-clough. Tilly’s piece on the Impact of COVID-19 on Educational Inequality and the Attainment Gap is available here:  https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/law/research/european-childrens-rights-unit/campaigns/covid-19/

You can follow Tilly on Twitter @tilly_clough or contact her via email on Matilda.Clough@liverpool.ac.uk

You can get in touch with Abi via Twitter @abioconnor_ or email on aoconnor@liverpool.ac.uk

Sep 30, 202032:41
Series One Ep2 Olly Kennedy: Modern Slavery in Corporations
Sep 23, 202036:07
Series One Ep1 Ronnie Hughes: Better Lives in Better Places
Sep 16, 202027:11
Series One Intro: Abi O'Connor - Sustainable and Resilient Cities: Liverpool
Sep 16, 202002:36