Methodological support for PhD students

My research interests have always been threaded with the theme of children and young people – their conceptualisations and experiences of places, spaces and environments. I am fascinated by children’s tacit knowledge of the spaces they inhabit and I have a strong belief in children’s abilities to communicate what they know and experience.

Currently for our Leverhulme project, we ask: what do spatial designers learn from creative dialogue with children and what impact does this have on the design process itself? The first output of this project is to be a unique online data bank of spatial design projects with children. Ultimately an edited book with contributions from project partners will include analysis and discussion of interviews with architects and 3 ‘live’ design processes in which children and young people have engaged in spatial design together.

James, A., Curtis, P., Birch, J.C. (2008) Care and control in the construction of children’s citizenship. In Invernizzi, A. and Williams, J. Editors. Children and Citizenship. London. Sage.

Birch, J.C., Curtis, P., James, A. (2007) ‘In search of the child-friendly hospital’ Built Environment 33 (4) Built Environment 33 (4)

Ellis, B and Birch, J.C. (2006) ‘Revisiting the Role of Values and Attitudes in Geographic Education: The use of ethnographic methodology and materials’. Geography. Volume 91(13).

Palmer, J.A. and Birch, J.C. (2005) ‘Changing Academic Perspectives in Environmental Education: From Within and Outside the Field’. In Johnson, E.A. and Mappin, M.J. Editors Environmental Education or Advocacy: Perspectives of Ecology and Education in Environmental Education. New York. Cambridge University Press.

Palmer, J.A. and Birch, J.C. (2004) Geography in the Early Years -Teaching and Learning in the First Three Years of School. Second Edition. London. Routledge

Palmer, J.A. and Birch, J.C. (2003) ‘Education for Sustainability. The Contribution and Potential of a Non-Government Organisation’. Environmental Education Research Vol. 9. No. 4.

Presentations and Conferences

Birch, J.C., Curtis, P., James, A. ‘Depending on how infectious you felt…’ Social interactions in children’s hospitals. Presented at The British Sociological Association Annual Conference, University of East London. 12th-14th April 2007

Birch, J.C. Hospitals for children: Considering age, gender and the construction of childhood in hospital spaces. Invited for presentation within a seminar series at The Centre for Children and Youth, University of Northampton. 11th December 2006.

Birch, J. C. Hospitals as distinct and challenging settings for research with children. Presented at the Childhood and Youth: Choice and Participation. International Conference, University of Sheffield. 4th-6th July 2006.

James, A., Curtis, P., Birch, J.C. ‘Children’s hospitals or hospitals for children’. Presented at the Childhood and Youth: Choice and Participation. International Conference, University of Sheffield. 4th-6th July 2006.

Birch, J.C., Curtis, P., James, A. ‘It feels like a nursery instead of a scary hospital’ – Children’s Perception and Use of Hospital Spaces. Presented at the New Directions in Children’s Geographies Conference. Centre for Children and Youth, University of Northampton. 7th-8th September 2006.

Curtis, P., James, A., Birch, J. Hospitals for children – what impact do age and gender have upon children’s perceptions of hospital spaces. BSA Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference. Heriot-Watt University. 14th – 15th September 2006.

James, A., Curtis, P., Birch, J.C. Children’s Everyday Life- Agency or Structure? Copenhagen COST Project Seminar on Children’s Welfare June 2006.

James, A., Curtis, P., Birch, J.C. Children’s Citizenship – A Thin Red Line. Presented at the University of Swansea Construction of Children’s Citizenship Conference. May 2006

Bell, S., Birch, J.C. and Wallace, G. ‘Scientists are Stakeholders Too. Quantitative and Qualitative Findings of an EU Fifth Framework Project: Integrated Management of European Wetlands 2001-2004’ Poster Presented at Royal Society Conference: Beyond Extinction Rates. Royal Society London 19th-20thJuly 2004.

Tonder, M., Salmi, P., Birch, J.C. and Oughton, E.A. ‘Paradigmatic Changes and Different Constructions of Conservation and Rationality in Finnish Fisheries’. Conference paper submitted for XX Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology 18-22 August, 2003, Sligo.