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Staff Profile
Dr Audrey Verma
Lecturer in Sociology
- Email: audrey.verma@ncl.ac.uk
- Personal Website: http://awedwee.wordpress.com
- Address: School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
Room 4.124
Level 4, Henry Daysh Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Background
About
Lecturer in Sociology. Previously Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching activism and environmental participation in the digital anthropocene.
Education
- 2016: PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen; affiliated with dot.rural RCUK Digital Economy Hub and The James Hutton Institute
- 2011: Master's in Sociology (M. Soc. Sci.), National University of Singapore
- 2007: Bachelor's (first class honours) in Sociology (B. Soc. Sci. Hons), National University of Singapore
Previous posts
- 2019-2022: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
- 2022: Lecturer/convenor, Interdisciplinary research in practice, University of Groningen (summer school)
- 2021: Lecturer/co-convenor, Navigating research boundaries, University of Groningen (summer school)
- 2016-2018: Postdoc research associate - lead ethnographer on Creative Fuse North East
- 2016: Lecturer/co-convenor, Introduction to Psychology and Sociology, ESCP Europe
- 2016: Researcher, Citizen Sense project, Department of Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London
- 2013: Research assistant for National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) follow-on Work Package Report 6: Shared, plural and cultural values of ecosystems
- 2011: Research assistant to A/P Misha Petrovic, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
- 2010: Independent researcher, INSEAD Asia
- 2006-2007: Research assistant to A/P Volker Schmidt, Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
Awards/funding
- 2019-2022: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
- 2021: CHASE Climate Justice Network small grant 2021
- 2021: Pioneer Award, Newcastle University
- 2017-2018: British Sociological Association early career forum regional event fund
- 2017: AHRC-Creative Fuse North East Innovation Pilot Fund
- 2012 - 2016: University of Aberdeen scholarship to undertake PhD studentship
- 2008 - 2010: National University of Singapore Research Scholarship
- 2008 -2009: President’s Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore
- 2007: Rosie Heng-Ko Poh Choo Gold Medal (best female Sociology student in the Examination for the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours, National University of Singapore)
- 2006: Cambridge Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
- 2005: Max Lewis Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
- 2004: Shaw Foundation Scholarship (National University of Singapore)
- 2002-2005: Dean's List awardee 5 consecutive semesters (National University of Singapore)
Languages
- Malay (advanced spoken/written)
- Mandarin (intermediate spoken)
- Hindi (intermediate spoken)
- Arabic (beginner spoken/written)
Research
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship 2019-2022
This research considers what it means to be human and an environmental citizen in what may be called the 'digital anthropocene', using a comparative ethnography across three grassroots movements in Singapore, Scotland and India. A book entitled Environmental activism, hope and resistance in the digital anthropocene has been contracted by Palgrave-Macmillan.
Creative Fuse North East (AHRC-funded) 2016-2018
The Creative Fuse North East (CFNE) project revolved around connecting the creative, digital and IT industry (CDIT) sector in North East UK with the five North East universities. I conducted an ethnography of the project alongside Dr Cathrine Degnent between November 2016 and June 2018, documenting the processes, practices, networks and narratives within the project. Our aim was to critically understand the nature of interdisciplinarity in the (co)production of knowledge and innovation.
Teaching
I have taught students from diverse national and cultural backgrounds in three countries, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I also design and deliver bespoke short courses on interdisciplinary research.
2022
SOC2058 Understanding social change and transformation
Selected previous teaching
- lecturer and convenor, Interdisciplinary research in practice (undergrad summer school), University of Groningen
- guest lecturer/tutor, Researching Social Life (social research methods) and Sociology for the Anthropocene, Newcastle University
- lecturer and co-convenor, Navigating research boundaries: Disciplines, methodologies, environments, identities (postgrad summer school), University of Groningen
- lecturer and co-convenor, Introduction to Psychology & Sociology, ESCP Europe (for the school’s inaugural Bachelor in Management degree program)
I have also tutored on the following modules in Aberdeen and Singapore:
Humans & Other Animals, Oceans & Society, Social Inequalities, Anthropology & the Human Condition, Race & Ethnic Relations
Publications
- Blell M, Liu S-JS, Verma A. 'A one-sided view of the world': women of colour at the intersections of academic freedom. International Journal of Human Rights 2022, Epub ahead of print.
- Verma A, McKnight H, Gabriele G. A Digital Carekit: Developing activist communities of care online. Audrey Verma, 2021. Available at: https://audreyverma.com/digital-carekit-developing-activist-communities-of-care-online/.
- Verma A, Dargie T, Chakraborty S. Socio-legal implications for digital environmental activism. The Sociological Review, 2021. Available at: https://doi.org/10.51428/tsr.wqvi3092.
- Silk M, Correia R, Verissimo D, Verma A, Crowley SL. The implications of digital visual media for human–nature relationships. People and Nature 2021, 3(6), 1130-1137.
- Verma A. ‘It’s complex’ – Race-related inequalities and ignorance in UKHE. 2020. Available at: https://postpandemicuniversity.net/2020/09/16/its-complex-race-related-inequalities-and-ignorance-in-ukhe/. In Preparation.
- Verma A, James T, Faulkner A. ‘What a waste of a life being an honest, tax-paying citizen in this country turned out to be’: High Point Villages, Hayes representation on cladding and building safety. 2020.
- Verma A. A Clean-Up Crew for the Messes and Excesses of Neoliberalism. Social Science Space: SAGE, 2018. Available at: https://www.socialsciencespace.com/2018/04/audrey-verma-a-clean-up-crew-for-the-messes-and-excesses-of-neoliberalism/.
- Verma A, Degnen C. Creative Fuse North East: Knowledge production, interdisciplinarity and innovation. 2018.
- Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. New Technological Interventions in Conservation Conflicts: Countering Emotions and Contested Knowledge. Human Ecology 2017, 45(5), 686-695.
- Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. Imagining wildlife: New technologies and animal censuses, maps and museums. Geoforum 2016, 75, 75-86.
- Verma A, Van der Wal R, Fischer A. Microscope and spectacle: On the complexities of using new visual technologies to communicate about wildlife communication. Ambio 2015, 44(Suppl. 4), 648-660.
- Verma A. Black magic women: On the purported use of sorcery by female foreign domestic workers in Singapore. In: Bonavita, HV, ed. Negotiating Identities: Constructed Selves and Others. Amsterdam; New York: Rodopi Press, 2011, pp.25-50.