ESRC South Coast DTP Studentship - Representing Everyday Life Using Mass Observationâs Covid-19 Collections (S2105) (SCDTP-S2105)

Representing Everyday Life Using Mass Observation’s Covid-19 Collections 

A fully funded studentship awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP) commencing in 2021/22 Academic Year.

Since March 2020, Mass Observation (MO) has been collecting Covid-19 diaries and directive responses. How best might these collections be used to understand everyday life during the pandemic? What can MO’s Covid-19 collections tell us about everyday life during the pandemic? Inspired by the original MO of the 1930s, this project will develop aesthetic techniques for addressing the challenge of representation posed by MO collections – the challenge of how to represent British society in all of its diversity – before applying those techniques to one of the following issues: mental health, housing inequality, productivity, or trust in government.

Supervisory Team:

Nick Clarke, School of Geography and Environmental Science, n.clarke@soton.ac.uk. Eve Colpus, Department of History, e.c.colpus@soton.ac.uk.

Skills Required

The student would require familiarity with archival and qualitative research methods, provided by most degrees in Human Geography, History, and related disciplines (Sociology, Political Science, Cultural Studies, Anthropology etc.).

Funding

South Coast DTP Funding provides an annual maintenance grant (tax free) of £15285 (2020/21 UKRI rate), plus payment of programme fees.  Other funding available for SCDTP funded students can be found on the SCDTP website (www.southcoastdtp.ac.uk).

Funding is provided for 3 years full-time PhD study (pro-rata for part-time students).  Applications for 1+3 funding for students completing a Master's year prior to the commencement of PhD study are also welcome (details available at www.southcoastdtp.ac.uk).

Application Procedure

The closing date and time for applications is 4.00pm on 18th January 2021.  The full application procedure, the funding application form, and more information on the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership can be found at: http://southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/ 

For further information about this project, please contact the lead supervisor detailed above.  For questions relating to the application procedure, or for more information about the SCDTP, please visit the SCDTP website or contact us at scdtp@soton.ac.uk 

Closing Date: 18 Jan 2021
Post Type: PhD Studentship (Funded)