Examining the role of Social Media in promoting/educating about green lifestyle and in facilitating an environmentalist public sphere

The University of Worcester is seeking to expand its research strength in Media and Cultural Studies. In the government’s last Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), Research Fortnight identified Worcester as the most improved university in the UK. Researchers in our Media and Culture course team contributed to that success and continue to produce publications of regional, national, and international significance. We are now seeking aspiring researchers who will benefit from that environment and who could, at the same time, consolidate and re-shape our existing research specialisms. As a postgraduate researcher you could also help enhance our University-wide focus on producing distinctive research in Arts, Culture and Heritage.

This studentship offers an exciting opportunity to help expand media and cultural studies in new discrete areas of study which are beginning to receive critical attention. It is, therefore, an important element of this studentship that the direction of the project should primarily be determined by the skills, knowledge and interests of the applicant. Seeking applications that address the topic listed, we also welcome enquiries from anyone thinking creatively and uniquely around the areas specified or who might wish to propose an alternative angle.

Social Media, Environmental Activism, Green Lifestyle

Researchers in the burgeoning area of green media and cultural studies have argued that online media has potentially re-energised an environmental activism invariably shut out from mainstream media discourse. Evidenced by the ubiquity of social media in environmental activism, and the emergence of high profile websites (from Ecorazzi to 350.org), internet and social media has also become a valuable resource in promoting/educating about green lifestyle and in facilitating an environmentalist public sphere. At the same time, critics question the effectiveness of social media given, for example, ‘content flood’, the potentially superficial nature of online activism (so-called ‘clicktivism’), and the continued influence of mainstream media. Proposals are invited that address any dimension of this emergent and urgent topic.

For further details and for an application form visit: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/researchstudentships

For an informal discussion about the studentship please contact Dr John Parham (email: [Email Address Removed])

For questions regarding the application process, please contact the Research School (email: [Email Address Removed] or tel: +44 1905 54 2182)