I am currently involved in several research projects, exploring the intersections of materiality, consumption and diverse economies.  These include:

One Bin to Rule Them All 2020-2023 (funded by UKRI Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Grant)

This project originally began life as an EPSRC grant exploring Reuse and Recycling in 2019-2020 and has since developed into a three year project involving over 25 partners from across the plastics supply chain.  The project unites social science with material science and economics to explore opportunities for the circular economy of plastic waste.  Involving key stakeholders from business, policy and local authorities it is focused on using empirical research to develop innovations in plastic waste management.

The Waste Tip 2022-2023 (funded by University of Manchester Interdisciplinary Research Grant)

This 12 month interdisciplinary pilot project draws together social science and material science to explore the phenomenon of fly-tipping.  Whilst waste has been a topic of much investigation in recent years, little attention has been paid to circumstances when waste infrastructures are deliberately disregarded and disrupted.  Through the lens of circular economy this project explores the impact of fly-tipping within the UK, why it is occurring, from what sources, and how it may be tackled. 

Rave Renaissance 2018-2023 (funded by School of Social Science Small Grant and John Rylands Pilot Grant)

The first part of this project (2018-2020) explored the revival of dance music and the changing creative economy.  Focused on Manchester, it drew on empirical research with older clubbers and music professionals and DJs to examine how the night time economy has changed since the 1990s dance music heyday.  The second part is an extension of the first, (supported by a John Rylands Research Institute and Library Grant) and is focused on using the newly formed British Pop Archive.  Drawing on the archives of Tony Wilson, Rob Gretton and Andy Spinoza, amongst others, the project will explores the influence of Manchester's night time economy (circa 1990) on rave's contemporary importance and heritage.  

Previous Projects:

Exploring Lost Property 2018-2020 (funded by a Sustainable Consumption Institute grant)

This pilot project explores how everyday object loss is experienced, drawing on empirical research with lost property offices, members of the public and cultural institutions to illuminate lost property stories. For this project I developed a unique form of object interviewing, which overcomes the subject-object binary (more can be found about this in my edited collection Mundane Methods, with Dr Sarah Marie Hall).  The research engages with debates on sustainable resource use, circular economy and consumption practices.

Makers, make do and mend: a newly thrifty consumer? 2015-2018 (funded by a UoM Hallsworth Fellowship)

This 3 year fellowship explored contemporary thrift, developing a critical understanding of thrift through a focus on lived everyday experience, materiality and practice.  It drew on empirical data gathered through qualitative techniques including participant observation in a number of community economies, 30 household interviews, and a Mass Observation Directive on the 'Being thrifty'.  The project produced several key journal articles in Sociology, Geoforum, The Sociological Review and Sustainability, an award winning impact event 'The Make do and Mend Expo', a good practice booklet 'Novel ways to provide for your community' co-produced with 10 third sector organisations and a website.