Dr Mark Casey
Lecturer in Sociology

Background

I have been involved in Sociology since 1993 when I took A'level Sociology, and since then I have been hooked. After reading Bev Skeggs work on sexuality, the city and class I developed an interest in these areas which took me onto my ESRC PhD at Newcastle University. I have been lecturing here since 2005.

Roles and Responsibilities

UG Teaching - the development and delivery of the UG modules Comparing Cultures, The Sociology of Tourism and Regulating Sexuality. I have also delivered the MA on Gender Research.

I am the disability liaison officer for Sociology.

Qualifications

Degree BA Hons Sociology - Teesside University 1995-1998

MSc Social Research Methods - Teesside University 1998-2000

PhD - Newcastle University 2000-2004

ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Newcastle University 2004-5

Research Interests

My current areas of research interest rest within sexuality studies, 'the city and rural', gender studies, gay male travel and tourism and social class. In particular these interests developed during my PhD (2000-2004) - 'Researching the experiences of lesbians and gay men of queered and heterosexualised spaces in Newcastle upon Tyne'.

During 2004-2005 I was awarded an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in which I undertook research on gay men, sex and travel in Australia.

I am currently writing in the area of travel, tourism and social class.

Other Expertise

Theorising medical understandings of gay men's mental health and identity from a social science perspective (see Critical Public Health, 2009).

Current Work

I am involved in writing and publishing from the Australian research project, most recently in Leisure Studies (2009). I am also beginning to produce papers from a small scale study on the democratization of air-travel through low cost airlines.

Along with Prof Yvette Taylor (at LSBU) I am undertaking the research project 'Bright Lights, Big City: Transformations and Transitions in Lesbian and Gay Socio-Spatial Sites in the NE of England' that is funded by the British Academy. This project is running from 2009-11.

Future Research

I intend to continue to develop my research in the field of travel, tourism and social class, and the development of tourism within Spain. I welcome any interest in this from academics or potential PhD students.

Postgraduate Supervision

I am the joint-supervisor (along with Mr John Vail) of a PhD student who is undertaking his PhD focused upon the Boar War, in which he is analysing the diaries of the British male fighters from this era.

Funding

British Academy Small Research Grants (2009)

Projects

Undergraduate Teaching

I teach the following UG modules. Stage 3 - Regulating Sexuality (Soc 3045), Stage 2 - The Sociology of Tourism (Soc 2080) and Stage 1 Comparing Cultures (Soc 1027).