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The University of Southampton
Geography and Environmental Science
Phone:
(023) 8059 9097
Email:
B.J.Hracs@soton.ac.uk

Dr Brian J Hracs PhD, MA, BA

Associate Professor in Human Geography

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Dr. Brian J. Hracs is an Associate Professor in Human Geography. He joined Geography and Environmental Science in September 2014. He is originally from Toronto and received his PhD in Geography from the University of Toronto. Prior to coming to Southampton he worked as a research fellow at the Department of Social and Economic Geography at Uppsala University in Sweden. He is interested in the iterative relationship between markets, technology and space. In particular, he focuses on key questions in economic geography related to entrepreneurship in the creative economy, the mobility of ‘talent', the relationships between physical and virtual spaces, intermediation and the mechanisms through which distinction and value(s) are created and communicated.

Qualifications

2015: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PCAP), Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit, University of Southampton

2010: PhD, Human Geography, University of Toronto, Canada

2005: MA, Human Geography, York University, Canada

2003: BA Human Geography & Political Science, Brock University, Canada

Employment

2019-Present: Associate Professor in Human Geography, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton

2014-2019: Lecturer in Human Geography, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton

2011-2014: Research Fellow, Department of Social and Economic Geography, Uppsala University, Sweden

2010-2011: Research Fellow, Martin Prosperity Institute, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Canada

 

 

 

 

Research interests

As an economic geographer I am interested in the iterative relationship between markets, technology and space. My research examines the ways in which the creative economy is evolving in the contemporary digital age and understanding three interrelated themes 1) the evolving nature of work and collaboration in the creative economy 2) the relationships between work and specific spatial dynamics including physical, virtual and temporary spaces and 3) the processes through which value(s) are created and communicated in the creative economy.

PhD Supervision

I would welcome potential PhD applicants interested in the following areas:

General areas: economic geography, creative economy, urban geography, qualitative methods.

Specific topics: music, fashion, digital technologies, creativity and knowledge, creating distinction and value, consumption, intermediation/curation, entrepreneurship, labour, aesthetic labour, networking practices, locational choice.

PhD Supervision

2016-Present: Peipei Chen ‘Artist-led Rural Regeneration in China.’ (University of Southampton with Nick Clarke)

2018-Present: Timo Koren ‘All under one roof raving? Navigating nightlife in gentrifying Amsterdam.’(University of Southampton with Suzanne Reimer)

2019- Present: Charlotte Campbell ‘Exploring the roles of physical and virtual space in trans-local cultural scene uniformity.’ (University of Southampton with Peter Sunley)

MSc Supervision

2018-2019: Charlotte Campbell: ‘Investigating Interactions in Stokes Croft: The What, How and Why of Trans-Local Scenes, Anchors, and Mechanisms for Uniformity.’

2019: Ellena Parsons ‘How has the Web Affected the Tangibility of Music?’ (With Seth Giddings)

2020: Sofia Condes ‘A consumer perspective on greenwashing in the ‘green’ beauty and cosmetics industry.’

Research Projects

Understanding and Supporting Creative Economies in Africa: Education, Networks and Policy

Exploring the trans-local nature of cultural scenes through a case study of ‘Record Store Day

 

Research group

Economy, Society and Governance

Research project(s)

Intermediation, place and value creation: Exploring the processes and spaces of ‘curation’

BA Programme Lead (Human Geography)

Modules:

GEOG 3063 The Creative Economy (Convener)

GEOG 1004 A Global World

GEOG 1010 Geographical, Quantitative, and Field Skills

GEOG 3018 Geography Research Project

GEOG 2008 Researching Human Geography

GEOG 6097: Field-based Data Collection for Assessing Sustainability

ENVS 3019: Individual Project

ENVS 3024: Literature Review

ENVS 6009: Advanced Research Project

GEOG 1004 A Global World

Areas of supervision:

General areas: economic geography, creative economy, urban geography qualitative methods.

Specific topics: music, fashion, digital technologies, creativity and knowledge, creating distinction and value, consumption, intermediation/curation, entrepreneurship, labour, aesthetic labour, networking practices, locational choice.

Prospective students with ideas for PhD projects in any of my research areas should feel encouraged to contact me for an informal chat.

 

Dr Brian J Hracs
Building 44 University of Southampton University Road Southampton SO17 1BJ

Room Number : 44/Level 2


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