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 Centre’s themes.
Dr Angela Beggan
Senior Lecturer, Division of Sport, Exercise & Health
Angela Beggan is senior lecturer and learning & teaching lead for the Division of Sport, Exercise, and Health at the University of the West of Scotland where she lectures in Physical Activity and Health. Angela entered academia from a career in clinical/commercial health and fitness that spanned the US and UK. Her academic interests combine practice-based experience with research skills in co-production, human-centred design, and postqualitative inquiry. She has employed these skills in collaboration with a range of stakeholders including NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Early Years Collaborative, and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Trust to develop the theory and practice of physical activity intervention, particularly for older adults and families. Her current research focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 with the funded studentship project, Transforming the Transition to Retirement, exploring ways to extend the healthy life years of older women by working with women to design fulfilling retirement transitions.
Professor Katarzyna Kosmala
Lead Researcher
Professor Katarzyna Kosmala holds a Chair in Culture, Media and Visual Arts at the University of the West of Scotland. She is also a curator, and art writer. Previously, Visiting Research Fellow at GEXcel, Institute of Thematic Gender Studies, Linköping University & Örebro University, Sweden and Visiting Professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since 2012 she has led the Interdisciplinary Research Network Regeneration and Waterfront Heritage Zones in Northern Europe. Her area of expertise includes participatory approaches to regeneration; heritage, communities and marginalization; intangible culture and representation, heritage and gender. Also researches and publishes on construction and representation of gender and identity in contemporary (visual) culture including video and new media arts, artists and meaning of work, creativity and enterprise in the context of cultural globalisation; art production; arts-run projects; art criticism; politics of representation.
Marlene Zijlstra
PhD Researcher
Marlene Zijlstra is a doctoral candidate in Creative Assemblages and Urban Space at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). Her PhD work looks at the inherent possibilities of decaying spaces in Paisley (Renfrewshire) and the usage of creative initiatives to leverage these as long-term urban assets. The research takes community resilience as a starting point to question how we can revive a deep sense of engagement to our urban environments. By curating a series of workshops and engaging in autoethnographic writing, she seeks to examine the configuration of derelict spaces and vernacular means of creativity in the current trajectory of Paisley’s regenerative placemaking.
Besides her PhD, she has worked as a cultural producer for an art and exhibition label in Amsterdam and is currently fulfilling the position of community builder at the Hague Campus of Leiden University.
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.
Callum McCloskey
PhD Researcher
Khrisnamurti
PhD Researcher
Khrisnamurti is a PhD student at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). His research examines the communication process of heritage interpreters and how it affects the attitudes and behaviours of visitors. The research also investigates how heritage interpreters acquire and develop knowledge to create the interpretation narrative.
Prior to commencing his PhD research, Khrisnamurti held an MSc in Tourism Management and Planning at Bournemouth University, UK, and completed his undergraduate degree in tourism management at the Bandung Tourism Institute in Indonesia. He is a tour & travel business lecturer at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Indonesia, and has worked as the head of public relations at UNJ. Khrisnamurti has been involved in several tourism projects with The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Aside from his academic career, Khrisnamurti is an executive committee member of the Doctoral Epistemic of Indonesia in the UK (Doctrine-UK) and a founding member of Interpretasi Indonesia, a heritage interpretation community in Indonesia.
Rui Jin
PhD Researcher
Rui is a PhD student at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), focusing her research on “Cultivating Sustainability within the Olympic Games via Endorsed Practices.” Her work explores into logical cognition regarding the cultivation and endorsement of sustainable practices to enhance public support and participation in the Olympic Games.
With a rich and diverse background, Rui’s journey began with an undergraduate degree in sports education, leading her to become a physical education teacher in China. She furthered her skills through a two-year full-time hospitality training course at John Wheatley College in Glasgow. This training paved the way for her to venture into entrepreneurship, where she established her own catering business and took the role of head chef. Her cuisine passion extends to exploring delicacies from around the world, experimenting with nutritious and delicious ingredients and cooking techniques, and developing her own food brand. After over 20 years of work, her yearning for knowledge drew her back to academic studies, culminating in her graduation with an MSc in international events management from UWS.
Rui is actively involved as the Student Union Chair, volunteering her time to serve fellow students at UWS. She also dedicates her spare time to tending to her allotment, cultivating a variety of green vegetables and fruits, all the while championing the principles of an organic diet. Her efforts contribute to a healthier lifestyle, environmentally friendly practices, and the promotion of overall well-being. Rui is a passionate long-distance runner and swimmer. She regularly participates in marathons and triathlons, constantly seeking fitness partnerships to further her athletic pursuits.
Her motto is to enjoy the process of living and learning.
Simone Cilia
PhD Researcher
Simone Cilia is a doctoral candidate at the University of the West of Scotland, and her research focuses on Place-based community festivals and territorial stigma. Prior to her PhD, Simone spent twenty years delivering events in Australia and the United Kingdom, including arts and culture festivals, business and academic conferences, and community events and festivals.
Currently, Simone resides in Scotland where she works as a lecturer for the City of Glasgow College. Simone completed her BA in Music Industry at RMIT in Australia and her Masters Degree in Management at the University of St Andrews in 2017.
Stephen Mills
PhD Researcher
Steve is an experienced General Manager with over 25 years working in the Sports, Health & Fitness industry. He has a passion for coaching and developing people and specialises in turning around struggling facilities.
He is returning to the world of academia after over a decade out of the classroom and is really excited to be part of the team!
His project will focus on the Olympic Games reform through the lense of legacy and sustainability and he will be supervised by Dr Adam Talbot.
In his spare time Steve coaches athletics, namely sprints and Pole Vault and enjoys travelling the world supporting his athletes whilst they compete.
Norman Duncan
PhD Researcher
Norman’s PhD research focuses on blending models of regenerative and community-based tourism for post-industrial towns and the capacity these have to mitigate the negative socio-economic impacts of deindustrialisation. At the core of the research is the potential for democratisation within the tourism industry to serve the needs or desires of local people. The project also seeks to understand if such democratic reforms can be reconciled with regenerative principals that work towards the undoing of social and environmental erosion occurring through a neoliberal policy landscape. His investigation is primarily concerned with Paisley and what potential exists here for such a form of tourism and how it may be implemented.
Prior commencing his PhD, Norman gained a BAcc in Accounting from UWS and a MSc in Environmental Policy from King’s College London. He has had an eclectic professional life, working in accounting and environmental fintech, as well as founding his own business as a an agent for sustainable fashion brands, running sales campaigns across the UK
Dr Oluwaseyi Aina
Researcher
Oluwaseyi Aina recently defended her doctoral thesis at UWS. Prior to starting her doctoral research, Oluwaseyi (Seyi) completed an M.A (Cultural Diplomacy and International Events) at the University Of The West Of Scotland. While undergoing Master’s studies, she had the privilege to be a part of the Paisley bid for Paisley 2021. Seyi’s first research experience with the Paisley 2021 bid committee team.
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, Seyi’s 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.
Reem Kassem
PhD Researcher
Dr 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
Dr Greis Cifuentes
Centre Associate
Dr Greis Cifuentes hails from in Ibagué, Colombia. She earned her Ph.D. from UWS. In addition, Greis has a Master’s in Cooperation International and Development from the University of Montpellier, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Her research has focused on the role of culture and the arts in peace-building contexts. She has also been instrumental in the creation of a Master’s program in Management of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Ibagué.
Professionally, Greis has held various prestigious institutions such as the Ministry of Culture of Colombia, the Fulbright Commission in Colombia and Germany, the Delegation of the European Union in Colombia, and the Consulate of Colombia in New York. She has also served as the Secretary of Culture for Ibagué and as an advisor to the University of Ibagué and the Government of Tolima. Currently, she holds the position of Manager of Batuta in Bogotá, as part of her role at the National Foundation Batuta, where she previously served as the Development Manager. In 2022, her impactful work earned her a spot as one of the 30 most influential young individuals in Colombian politics.
Dr Yara Moulla
Researcher
Dr Elizabeth Gardiner
Cultural Planner
Trading as Cultural Planning Practice, Liz Gardiner is an artist, teacher and freelance consultant specialising in cultural planning. As a Doctoral Researcher and Associate of the CCSE with the University of the West of Scotland, she teaches and researches in cultural planning. As executive director of Fablevision, she develops and delivers case study examples of cultural planning in practice – often in partnership with other third sector organisations, community development trusts or local authorities.
As co-chair of Creative Renfrewshire, Liz has been instrumental in the setting up of cultural networks in Renfrewshire as well as national and international networks like the Artist and Communities Association for Scotland, Scotland in Europe and the European River Cities Network. Always participatory and rooted in creation, action and activism, Liz’s PhD research with UWS focused on possibilities and limitations of artistic interventionism on the future planning of Post Industrial Waterfront Heritage Zones in Europe. Conducted in collaboration with various local artists/organisations, national and UK wide projects as well as the pan European River Cities Network, her current research practice is collaborative, artist led, and (determinedly post Brexit) in partnership with cultural organisations European Cities.
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.
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.