We have four theme leads who support our work by developing interdisciplinary research clusters. The theme leads work with colleagues from across the university to develop strategic opportunities and projects. The clusters are open to anyone interested in cultural approaches to the grand challenges and are led by early to mid-career researchers.
Theme lead: Dr Lexi Webster
Research in this theme explores the complexities of our shifting relationships with technology. We examine its influence — both positive and negative — on society and culture.
We explore how technology shapes and interacts with climate awareness, social justice, data ethics, and artistic integrity. Our focus spans across industry, policy, academia, and creative fields.
Research on, with, and about technologies is often driven by technology and is reliant on people and culture’s response to it. By centering humans in our approach to research, knowledge exchange, and enterprise, we necessarily position people as agents of their own experience, conditions, and values.
Theme lead: Dr Mike Bintley
This strand fosters collaboration between colleagues in the arts, humanities, and other disciplines. It explores artistic and cultural responses to interactions between humans and environment across time. We highlight the role of creative practice, humanities research, and cultural resources in addressing current and future environmental issues.
Our environmental projects bring together researchers from different fields. They involve creative practitioners focused on biodiversity, climate, and environmental policy. Our projects often focus on specific regions or historical contexts.
Past projects include Creative Writing Against Coastal Waste and Cultures of Ocean Literacy. We are a key partner in the new Environmental Humanities Research Hub. This is led by the School of Advanced Study.
Our aim is to bring together research that cuts across environment and sustainability, considering the vital human aspect of these issues. We explore how artistic and cultural productions show how humans interact with and think about the places we inhabit, and show how these sources of knowledge and experience can be incorporated into current and future projects.
Theme lead: Dr Joan Tumblety
This strand develops a critical approach to culture and wellbeing. We live in a world saturated with references to wellbeing. It’s there in corporate language, in discussions about mental health, and in relation to a commercialized ‘wellness industry’.
The emergence of this discourse is interesting in itself. It provides important opportunities for those with arts and humanities training to apply the critical perspectives of our respective disciplines.
Theme lead: Dr Kwame Phillips
We develop new approaches to using culture to address inequalities in place. We work with civic partners and community groups in Southampton and Winchester.
Our theme examines place from an arts and humanities perspective. We seek to highlight the lived, geographic, and economic aspects of place. Our aim is to understand how to use culture to support local ambitions and identities.
We want to promote understanding of how places and people create shared meanings. We will also emphasise social impact and community engagement.
This theme supports socially-engaged research across academic disciplines, and ambitious grant opportunities. We will foster collaboration with international academic and cultural institutions. Additionally, we will seek to involve local grassroots organisations and community groups.
My vision for this research theme is to create a vibrant research cluster that advances knowledge and tackles societal challenges through interdisciplinary, socially-engaged work. I aim to foster inclusive internal collaboration, secure ambitious grants, and build strong partnerships with both international institutions and local community organisations.