Please see below for details of a further PhD studentship at Cardiff University. Note the closing date for this is 1st February.
Best wishes,
Chris
ESRC and Cardiff University President's Research Scholarship (PhD Studentship)
Community animal farming: food production, therapeutic agriculture and more-than-human justice
Closing date: 1 February 2013, 4pm GMT
Duration: 3 years
Funding Amount: Full UK/EU fees plus stipend of £13,590 p.a. and further research allowance
The School of Planning and Geography has been awarded nine President’s Research Scholarships as part of a Cardiff University scheme that aims to promote excellence and impact of research in all academic disciplines. Six of these scholarships have already been filled.
CPLAN has invested these highly-prestigious PhD scholarships to strengthen and expand its ongoing and internationally renowned research on Food and Sustainable City-Regions. The scholarships have been devised to support research around one cutting-edge question: ‘what is the role of different actors, governance levels, spatial scales and pro-poor planning strategies in reconnecting cities (physically, economically and socially) with their surrounding countryside?'
Proposals are welcomed for the final studentship, supervised by Chris Bear ([log in to unmask]) and Paul Milbourne ([log in to unmask]), which will be around the topic of Community animal farming: food production, therapeutic agriculture and more-than-human justice.
Research Brief
Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a small but expanding niche sector of the British food system. Developing across Europe since the 1970s, their growth in the UK has been slow, though the Soil Association (2011) estimates that there are around 50 CSA enterprises in England, with a combined annual turnover of £7m. They are often established on the basis of ‘values and principles covering areas pertaining to social, economic and environmental justice such as community relationships, co-operation, sustainable production, reconnection between the land and people, associative economy, and shared responsibility’ (Charles, 2011). CSA is attracting increasing academic scrutiny, with work to date focusing on the role of CSA as an example of alternative food networks, as a form of ‘caring practice’ (Wells and Gradwell, 2001), and has examined issues of social and cultural diversity within CSA and economic difficulties faced by CSA.
This PhD studentship will focus on a specific area of CSA that has been little studied within the existing literature: community animal farming. An important aspect of many community farms, animals play a frequently ambiguous role – they are often used as a public face of the farms and are a way to engage children and families, but are also reared for food production. Because of this ambiguous role, specific animal welfare codes have been established for community farms. Many community farms, through their aim for ‘caring practice’ are also developing an interest in ‘therapeutic agriculture’, with the farm animals often playing a central role. Using qualitative research methodologies, this PhD will examine the various roles played by animals on community farms. It will develop existing work around CSA and social justice but expand the focus to develop the notion of a ‘more-than-human’ justice, involving not only the humans but also the farm animals.
Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
The School of Planning and Geography (CPLAN) is the largest planning school in the UK and takes a wide definition of planning which encompasses the policy areas of economic development, environment, housing, urban design, transport, health as well as land-use planning. The School strives to be a centre of excellence in research, teaching and policy and practice associated with the planning and management of cities and regions. The main goal of this scheme is to establish the School of Planning and Geography as a globally-recognized PGR training centre in the area of food and sustainable city-regions. The School is uniquely positioned to take on a leading role in this emerging research field, given its inter-disciplinary environment, its international research focus (involving developed and developing countries), and its worldwide reputation in the areas of planning, agri-food studies and regional, urban and rural development.
Funding
This studentship is funded in part through the Cardiff University President's Research Scholarship programme and in part by the Economic and Social Research Council through a block grant awarded to the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Centre. The award includes full UK/EU tuition fees plus a doctoral stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum (£13,590 p.a. for 2012/13, updated each year). The studentship also includes a research expense allowance of £ 1875 (£750 p.a. in years 1 and 2, £375 in year 3).
Further Information and Application
Futher information on the President’s Scholarships, and on the application process, is available at http://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/funding/R943.html. In the first instance, please submit a CV and covering letter to Sian Moseley at the School of Planning and Geography ([log in to unmask]) to register your interest. Following initial correspondence applicants will then be required to submit a formal application to the school using Cardiff's online application service (www.cardiff.ac.uk/apply). Applicants should also submit a 500 word research proposal and two academic references. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the primary supervisor (Chris Bear: [log in to unmask]) to discuss their proposal prior to applying.
________________________________
Dr Christopher Bear
School of Planning and Geography
Cardiff University
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3WA
Wales UK
Tel +44(0)29 2087 6181
Fax +44(0)29 2087 4845
Home page: www.cardiff.ac.uk/cplan/about-us/staff/christopher-bear
Twitter: @bear_chris
Academia.edu: http://cardiff.academia.edu/ChrisBear