Personal Profiles
Dr Justin Spinney
Justin joined CES in March 2008 as a research fellow in the multidisciplinary research group on Lifestyles, Values and the Environment (RESOLVE). Working across the social-psychological and sociological strands of the project, Justin's research focuses on the producer/ consumer interface and the negotiation of meaning in relation to lifestyles, environmental values and everyday life. In particular Justin's work explores (i) the role of consumers as producers of cultural meaning within organisational and business contexts, (ii) the importance of embodied and affective understandings in shaping everyday cultural practices and values, and (iii) the influence of social networks on behaviours and values.
Prior to arriving at Surrey Justin studied in the Geography department of Royal Holloway University of London where he completed a PhD in Cultural Geography entitled 'Cycling the City: Movement, meaning and practice'. Taking the overwhelmingly instrumental production of urban space as its point of departure, this research conducted in London (UK) used mobile ethnography to investigate a variety of urban cycling cultures in order to highlight alternative spatial practices and the production of contingent cultural meanings by cyclists in their everyday practices.
Research Interests:
- The relations between instrumental, embodied and symbolic aspects of consumption.
- The role of space and place in (re)producing values and behaviours.
- The use of video within ethnographic methodologies and particularly in relation to mobile and embodied practices.
- The construction and negotiation of environmental meanings within businesses and stakeholder organisations.
- Sustainable mobilities.
Selected Publication/Conference Presentations:
Publications:
- Spinney J, 2008 (forthcoming) "Cycling between the traffic: mobility, identity and space" Urban Design Journal, www.udg.org.uk
- Spinney J, 2007 "Cycling the city: non-place and the sensory construction of meaning in a mobile practice" in Horton D, Rosen P & Cox P (Eds) Cycling & Society (Ashgate, Aldershot), p25-46
- Spinney J, 2006 "A place of sense: a kinaesthetic ethnography of cyclists on Mt Ventoux" Environment and Planning D; Society & Space, Vol. 24, No. 5, p709-732
- Spinney J, 2008 "Ways of waiting: constructing the time-space of the urban cyclist" paper presented in session 4: 'Senses and the rhythms and temporalities of the city' of the ESRC funded seminar series 'Senses and the City', January 30th 2008
- Spinney J, 2006 "So what does that feel like? Evoking and representing the unspeakable" paper presented in the session 'Mobile Methodologies: researching mobile experiences' at the Royal Geographical Society International Geography Conference, September 1st 2006
- Spinney J, 2006 "The mobile community: circulating knowledges in everyday urban practice" paper presented in the session 'Urban Mobilities: movement, practice and meaning' at the Association of American Geographers Conference, March 10th 2006
- Spinney J, 2005 "Intense spaces and non-places: movement, meaning and cycling in the city" paper presented in the session 'Urban Sustainability: rethinking senses of place' at the Royal Geographical Society International Geography Conference, August 31st 2005
Contact Details
| j.spinney@surrey.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +44 (0)1483 682187 |
| Fax | +44 (0)1483 686671 |
| Postal Address | Centre for Environmental Strategy Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences University of Surrey (D3) GU2 7XH United Kingdom |