More-than-Human Neighbouring - socio-microbiological engagement in research

Speaker(s):

Paul Hurley, University of Southampton

Abstract:

Using interdisciplinary approaches innovated in the team's previous research on Covid-19 on buses, 'More-than-human neighbouring' aims to support a paradigm shift in the microbiological sciences, health sciences and social sciences. It helps researchers to think socio-microbiologically about the shaping of human-microbial relations by material, social and cultural contingencies.

This 50 minute webinar will provide a short overview of the methodology, and create an opportunity for participants to undertake practical activities in their own workspace (whether at home or in the office) around the idea of (human and nonhuman) neighbouring, and the intersections of the social and microbiological. Participants will reflect in discursive breakout groups about potential relevance of the methodology in their own contexts, and how thinking with more-than-human neighbours might support different ways of doing research and intervention.

The webinar is intended for researchers of any discipline at any level, and there is no expectation for prior engagement with social or microbiological science.