CCSE Associates
The Centre for Culture, Sport and Events is part of the wider University of the West of Scotland research community, Many staff and PhD students from the School of Business and Creative Industries undertake research which is relvant to the four themes of the Centre.
Dr Liz Carlin
Lecturer in Sports Coaching & Development
Dr Liz Carlin is a research assistant working on parasport participation and the legacy of integrated/ non-integrated parasport major events. Liz has previously worked at UWS on a social impact study of a Dementia Friendly Walking Football program in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Scotland and is also a member of the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Research Network working on a European wide study of the social inclusion of Special Olympics athletes within their local communities. Her PhD was a cross-cultural analysis of the management and motives of volunteers within Special Olympics.
Previous work has involved collaborations with Public Health England as part of the evaluation of a large scale, national clinical champions physical activity program at Loughborough University. Liz is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercises Sciences (BASES) and also of the UK Sport Volunteer Research Network (SVRN). Externally, Liz works as a coach educator with Sport Northern Ireland and Coaching Ireland as well as a casual teaching associate within Ulster University’s School of Sport.
Trent Kim
Lecturer in New Media Art
Trent is lecturer in New Media Art at the University of the West of Scotland and has guest lectured at other HE institutions including Glasgow School of Art, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal College of Art and Yale University. As a creative practitioner, he primarily worked in theatre since 2002 as a lighting designer, production manager and consultant, particularly working with arts and cultural organisations in South Korea and Japan. He continues showcasing his arts through exhibitions and theatre projects and his recent projects include his solo exhibition, LUMIA: PERFORMING LIGHT at the Art Department in Paisley and ‘TWA’ and ‘Home is not the place’ as a video/lighting designer for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022. In addition, Trent is currently completing his PhD, researching an early 20th century Avant-Garde art form, Lumia at the Royal College of Art in London.
Aside his artistic research and practices, he has been involved in community-based research projects including Xnational Xarts Xchange 2017 (with Busan Cultural Foundation), Hi/stories in Dunure (with South Ayrshire Council), Paisley School of Arts (with OneRen), Bridging Digital (with Fablevision and Intercult and funded by ERASMUS).
Also, he currently holds external positions, including a board director in Vanishing Point theatre company, science committee member for xCoAx, publication awards panel member in TaPRA, and digital project editor for Revolution or Nothing.
Dr Carlton Brick
Lecturer in Sociology
Dr Carlton Brick joined UWS in 2003 as a lecturer in sociology. Before becoming a full time academic he has had a varied and wide-ranging employment history, including amongst others, book restorer, and sports journalist.
Prior to joining UWS he was Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Social & Cultural Studies of Sport & Leisure, at the University of Surrey Roehampton, where he completed his PhD in 2002. His particular areas of academic expertise and interest are drawn from fields of sociology of leisure, fan cultures, identity and consumption, and social theory. His work has appeared in a variety of publications including Spiked, Four Four Two, Living Marxism, and a wide range of scholarly journals and publications.
He was a founding member of Libero, the civil rights campaign for football supporters, and was editor of the fanzine Offence until 2000.
His current research is driven by an interest in the relationships between culture, society, and the individual, with particularly focus on the intersections of identity, memory and place. In the recent period his main focus has been on the role of cultural memory in the (de) politicisation of urban spaces – an increasingly prominent, but not unproblematic narrative within regeneration policies as urban spaces seek to reposition themselves within increasingly post-industrial service led globalised economies.
He was a member of the Scotland ITF Taekwon-Do squad that competed in the 2019 EITF European Championships in Rimini, Italy.
Dr Carlton Brick UWS PURE Profile
Dr Carlton Brick personal website
Oluwaseyi Aina
PhD student
Sport and play are a crucial part of every child’s life. And over the years, it has been discovered that children go through series of rights abuse during Mega Sporting Events, such as the Olympics, FIFA, World Cup, and so on. Hence, my research aims to analyse the mechanism through which children’s rights can be protected and promoted in Mega Sporting Events, drawing on the context of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dr Conor Wilson
Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Criminology
Conor Wilson is a Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Criminology within the school of School of Education and Social Science at the University of the West of Scotland. Conor has a varied research and teaching interest, which is reflected in his diverse academic background. Conor recently completed his PhD with the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events and holds and MSc Applied Social Science (Criminal Justice and Community Practice) from UWS (with distinction) and a BA (hons) in Sociology. Conor’s PhD thesis explored how discourses of cultural regeneration were formed and projected through representations of Paisley between 2014-2020. Throughout his PhD study, Conor has published and present his work in academic journals, books, and conferences including Soccer and Society and the 2021 Annual British Sociological Association Conference.
Len McCaffer
PhD student
Len has worked as an actor, writer and producer in Theatre, film and television for over 25 years, initially training at Manchester Metropolitan University. His theatre company White Rabbit Cowboys had several sell-out Edinburgh fringe shows winning awards and touring. As a producer he ran Firefly Arts film and media department and for the last eight has worked as Arts Officer with West Lothian Council, managing several concurrent Community Arts projects with a specific remit of Wellbeing. He has a MA in film production from Edinburgh Napier University and is currently studying a PhD at the University of West of Scotland.
PhD Outline:
His PhD is a Practice as Research project studying the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. This research aims to capture the Intangible Cultural Heritage, people’s informal associations and attachments with the theatre. What does the theatre mean to the people of Ayr? It analyses community interactions and the theatre’s impact. Data for this study includes oral histories, immersive heritage techniques and drama workshops, all designed to gain insights into the theatre’s relevance. The data collected will inform an immersive promenade theatre performance informing new audiences on the theatres heritage and utilising the building in a radical new way. The research aims to discover how the theatre can have continued relevance to the community; analyse and challenge the theatres output, its community engagement and sustainability into the twenty first century.
Callum McCloskey
PhD Student
My PhD project focuses on the United 2026 FIFA World Cup, exploring to what extent human rights promises made as part of the successful bid have been enshrined in planning and delivery processes, and with what implications for the host nation(s) and awarding body (FIFA). The project will also investigate governance arrangements around human rights at the level of FIFA, which has developed a new model for delivery of the World Cup for the 2026 event.
Prior to commencing my doctoral study at the School of Business and Creative Industries at the University of the West of Scotland, I completed a BSc in Sport Studies at Ulster University, Jordanstown, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Science Research at Queen’s University, Belfast; both in my native Northern Ireland. During my undergraduate degree, I also spent a year in Madrid completing a Diploma in Professional Practice (International).
Nasser Alkubaisi
PhD Student
Greis Cifuentes
PhD Student
Greis Cifuentes is a PhD candidate from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). Her research into peace-building processes explores the role that artistic processes and activities in Colombia can play in providing context-specific solutions.She holds an MA in International Cooperation from the Université de Montpellier, and a BA in Governance and International Relations from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Through her extensive work experience Greis has gained a deep appreciation for arts and culture as essential tools to promote social change in post-conflict environments. She has previously worked for the Colombian Ministry of Culture, the Fulbright Commission in Colombia and Germany, the EU Delegation to Colombia, and the Colombian Consulate in New York.
Greis was part of the research project for the British Council on the Contribution of Art and Culture in Global Security and Stability (2018). She has authored a chapter on the role of arts and culture in the peace building process in Colombia for the academic journal ‘Memorias’ (Forthcoming in 2019). She also has blog dedicated to the potential that arts have in the Colombian peacebuilding process. Besides her academic work, Greis is a columnist for the newspaper El Olfato in Colombia.
Dr Jenny Flinn
Lecturer in Events Marketing
Jenny Flinn joined UWS in 2020 as a Lecturer in Events Marketing having previously designed, developed and led programmes in events at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her research interests lie in the area of festivals and events with a particular focus on the experiential aspect of events, community impacts of events and safety/security for events. Jenny has published a number of articles and book chapters and has experience of undertaking consultancy projects and designing CPD products for industry. She is currently the module leader for the CCSE CPD module The Future of Events which is delivered in conjunction with the Centre for Business Innovation and Transformational Technology.
Jenny also has a strong interest in the relationship between the events industry and Higher Education and is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate, examining how universities and industry can collaborate to enhance the student experience and increase graduate employability. She has been a member of the Executive Board of the Association for Events Management Education since 2009 and has recently been re-elected to the role of Secretary.
Dr Alison Clifford
Reader in Digital Art
Alison Clifford is an artist, researcher and Reader in Digital Art at UWS.
Her research focuses on the new creative possibilities that emerge through processes of translation and interpretation between media, realised through her digital art practice. This includes: audiovisual installations, experimental moving image digital artworks, interactive artworks and electronic literature.
She has exhibited widely in various international new-media and electronic art festivals and exhibitions, and has received several awards and commissions. These include a BAFTA nomination for interactive media, a commission from SFMOMA, and inclusion in the second edition of the Electronic Literature Collection (USA).
Her current practice-based research continues her interdisciplinary collaboration with composer and sound artist Graeme Truslove. Through collaboration, they investigate how natural systems can be used to propagate relationships between audio and visual elements in immersive audiovisual art practice.
Alison has a PhD from Glasgow School of Art, (title: ‘Articulating the Interstitial: Interpretive Responses in Digital Art Practice’); a Master in Digital Art from the Audiovisual Institute, University of Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), and an MA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Alison Clifford’s UWS Pure Profile.
Gemma Lumsdaine
Masters Student
Gemma is a 24 year old wheelchair athlete from Monifieth, who is a member of the GB Wheelchair Rugby Talent Squad which helps to prepare athletes to make the step to the Paralympic Squad. Gemma is also in the Scottish Disability Sport Athlete Academy. Prior to competing in wheelchair rugby Gemma played wheelchair basketball at a national level. She also coaches wheelchair sports for Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and won the COVA Young Coach of the Year in 2018.
As well as being athlete and coach Gemma sits on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board and has been a member of the Scottish Disability Sport Young People’s Panel. She now supports and mentors the newly formed board.
During the pandemic Gemma worked tirelessly to provide support and engagement opportunities for people with a disability which included weekly workout sessions and talks by Paralympians. She has been also run workshops and delivers training on areas related to disability sport, mental health and well-being. Gemma has spoken at conferences and events about issues relating to disability and inclusion and has been recognised as one of the most inspirational young women in Scotland by the YWCA. Gemma has recently completed a degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Abertay University and hopes this will help to progress her career in disability sport.
Solomon Ilevbare
PhD Student
I have just begun my doctoral study with the School of Business and Creative Industries at the University of the West of Scotland. My PhD is in the area of Sport and Cultural Diplomacy, on creating Soft Power change and Nation Branding. My research includes examining sport as a tool for promoting closer dialogue and integration in a multicultural society, a tool to surge for development and the promotion of a peaceful relationship in the international community.
Prior to commencing my PhD study, I had attended Babcock University in Nigeria for my bachelor’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy and completed my MSc programme in Security, Peace-building and Diplomacy at Loughborough University London. My PhD research is a reflection of my diverse academic background and knowledge acquired over the past few years.
Francis Adams
Researcher
Francis Adams recently completed his doctoral thesis on promoting and protecting indigenous African cultural heritage through digital and cultural diplomacy. Francis undertook case study research based on convergent mixed-methods in Platfontein, South Africa.His case study examined the benefits of Cultural Diplomacy, alongside Digital Media, as a medium, through which sustainable Indigenous African Cultural Heritage can be promoted and protected. Specifically, the purpose of the case study is to investigate and explore sustainable and effective ways that could use the global digital infrastructure as an instrument of Cultural Diplomacy to safeguard the San/Bushman Cultural Heritage. The work posited that, with the power of Digital Media, Cultural Diplomacy linked to Indigenous Cultural Heritage could positively influence global public opinion and the ideology of individuals, communities, cultures or nations on the values of African Indigenous Cultural Heritage
Yara Moulla
PhD Student
Yara Moualla has MA degree in Art and Archaeology from the Lebanese University, Beirut and another MA degree in Cultural Heritage for development from the University of Turin, Italy in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Center. She was the Arts project manager at the British Council in the United Arab Emirates in 2008. In 2009 she made a return to Syria where she worked with civil society to shift the national agenda to mobilise culture as a pillar for development. She is part of the UNESCO expert pools and consulting the Syria Trust for development in their role in evaluating the nomination files for intangible cultural heritage at the UNESCO 2003 convention. Moualla lives in Berlin and preparing a PhD with the University of the West of Scotland in collaboration with Institute of Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin; examining the soft power of cultural heritage through the theory of change with a special focus on the Syrian context.
Reem Kassem
PhD Student
Reem Kassem is a PhD candidate at the University of West Scotland, and a cultural manager with 17 years of experience in the cultural sector, including in performing arts, community arts, economic development, and cultural policies.
In her previous appointments, her roles included: the Head of Performing Arts at the Library of Alexandria (Egypt), Manager of Programming & Cultural Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation ADMAF, Manager of Community and Education, and Director of AGORA for Arts and Culture NGO. Currently she is a theatre programmer at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi. Reem’s research project explores cultural engagement as a framework to facilitate a role for Ministries of Culture to act as enablers between ministries, while developing policies to counter violent extremism. The model will frame policy recommendations in new innovative approaches, skills and tools concerning complex environments impacted by conflict and violence, suggesting policy-level cross-sectoral collaboration with culture at the heart of these strategies.
The research will look at two different cultural policies models; firstly, where the state is a strong supporter of culture and secondly, the case where the state’s support of culture is minimal. The research will also include a review of best practice from grassroots initiatives in locations such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. In addition, data will be gathered from Bab Elbahr international festival, taking the event to new locations, examining new target groups by developing a community engagement methodology.