Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

Centre for Rural Economy Post Graduate Co-ordinator 

Qualifications

BA (hons) Geography (University of Newcastle)
PhD (School of Geogrpahy, University of Leeds)

Previous Positions

2003-2005 Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

2005 - 2011 Runciman Research Fellow, Centre for Rural Economy, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 

Research Interests

Rural Development Policy

Rural Governance

National Parks 

Other Expertise

Networks and rural development

Countryside access and recreation policy

Postgraduate Supervision

I currently co-supervise three research students: 
Liz Juppenlatz is working on a PhD on rural regeneration and localism.
Richard Austin is working on a part time PhD on the governance of sustainable development in Northumberland National Park
Simon Wilson is working on a part time MPhil on forestry in the North Pennines AONB.

Funding

April 2008 - April 2011 Northern Rural Network - Phase Three 

April 2008 – December 2009 'Foresight Analysis for Rural Areas'. EU Specific Targeted Research Project Framework Programme 6.

March - July 2009 ‘An Inquiry into the future of England’s Upland Communities – Evidence Base’. Commissioned by Commission for Rural Communities

October 2008 – January 2009 ‘Market Research and Stakeholder Engagement Exercise to inform the Development of the Rural Development Programme for England National Network’. Commissioned by Commission for Rural Communities

January – February 2008 ‘Evaluating the potential of ‘The Sill’ to contribute to socio-economic development- preparing the consult with businesses’. Commissioned by Northumberland National Park Authority

October – December 2007 ‘Social and Human Capital on Rum and the Small Isles’. Commissioned by the Scottish Government

June 2007 ‘An evidence base for LEADER in the greater Northumberland National Park Area’. Commissioned by Northumberland National Park Authority

Oct 2006 – June 2007 ‘Rural Excellence Mentoring Programme Evaluation’. Commissioned by the Improvement and Development Agency

April – June 2006 ‘A Road Map for the Northumberland National Park Sustainable Development Fund’. Commissioned by Northumberland National Park Authority

April – October 2005 ‘Rural Areas: Contributing to Regional Competitiveness’. Commissioned by the Local Government Rural Network

Undergraduate Teaching

ACE1049 Global Challenges, Controversies and Citizenship (module leader) 

ACE 3093 Special Study (contributor)

Postgraduate Teaching

ACE 8047 Work Placment in Rural Development (module leader)
ACE 8095 Dissertation (module leader)
ACE 8050 The Contemporary Countryside (module leader)

• Hewitt S, Thompson N. Regionalisation and Rural Policy. In: Shucksmith, M., Brown, D., Shortall, S., Vergunst, J., Warner, M, ed. Rural Transformations and Rural Policies in the UK and US. Abingdon: Routledge, 2012, pp.253-268.
• Furmankiewicz M, Thompson N, Zielinska M. Area-based partnerships in rural Poland: The post-accession experience. Journal of Rural Studies 2010, 26(1), 52-62.
• Thompson N. National Parks in England. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Centre for Rural Economy Policy, Newcastle University, 2010. Centre for Rural Economy Policy and Practice Briefing Papers.
• Atterton J, Thompson N. Rural Businesses in the North East of England. Edinburgh, UK: Rural Policy Centre, 2010. SAC Rural Policy Centre Research Briefing.
• Thompson N, Atterton J, ed. Rural Prospects: A Report on the Future of Rural Development in the UK. Newcastle University, UK: Centre for Rural Economy, 2010.
• Thompson N, Atterton J. Twenty First Century Clientalism? State and Community on the Isle of Rum, Scotland. Sociologia Ruralis 2010, 50(4), 352-369.
• Atterton J, Thompson N. University Engagement in Rural Development: A Case Study of the Northern Rural Network. Journal of Rural and Community Development 2010, 5(3), 123-132.
• Thompson N. Analysis of the Structure, Dynamics and Diversity of Upland Communities. Newcastle upon Tyne: Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University, 2009. Report to Commission for Rural Communities Inquiry into the Future for England's Upland Communities.
• Carruthers P, Thompson N, Carroll T, Webster S, Harper A, Sloane I. Developing the English Uplands: A report to the Commission for Rural Communities' Inquiry into the Future for England's Upland Communities. Cheltenham: Commission for Rural Communities, 2009. Inquiry into the Future for England's Upland Communities.
• Thompson, N. Exploring the relationship between engagement and research, insights from the experience of the Northern Rural Network. Centre for Rural Economy, University of Newcastle upon Tyne: CRE, 2009. CRE Discussion Paper.
• Atterton J, Thompson N, Carroll T. Mentoring as a mechanism for improvement in local government. Public Money and Management 2009, 29(1), 51-57.
• Thompson N. National Parks and the governance of the rural environment. In: Woods M, ed. New Labour's Countryside: Rural Policy in Britain Since 1997. Bristol: Policy Press, 2008, pp.241-255.
• Atterton J, Carroll T, Thompson N. Social and Human Capital on Rum and the Small Isles. University of Newcastle upon Tyne: Centre for Rural Economy, 2007. Report to Scottish Government.
• Thompson N. The contribution of the social sciences to knowledge based development. Newcastle upon Tyne: Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University, 2007. Discussion Paper Series 13.
• McCarthy M, Brennan M, Kelly AL, Ritson C, de Boer M, Thompson N. Who is at risk and what do they know? Segmenting a population on their food safety knowledge. Food Quality and Preference 2007, 18(2), 205-217.
• Thompson N, Bell DR. Articulating political knowledge in deliberation. Contemporary Politics 2006, 12(3-4), 287-300.
• Thompson N. Governing England's National Parks: challenges for the 21st century. International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management 2006, 2(3), 193-195.
• Thompson N. The practice of government in a devolved Scotland: The case of the designation of the Cairngorms National Park. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 2006, 24(3), 459-472.
• Bell DR, Thompson N, Deckers JWP, Brennan M, Gray TS. Deliberating the Environment: Scientists and the Socially Excluded in Dialogue. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, Centre for Rural Economy, 2005.
• Thompson N. Inter-institutional relations in the governance of England's national parks: A governmentality perspective. Journal of Rural Studies 2005, 21(3), 323-334.
• Thompson N, Ward N. Rural Areas and Regional Competitiveness. Local Government Rural Network, 2005.
• Thompson N, Ward N. Rural areas and regional competitiveness. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2005. Centre for Rural Economy Research Report.