This study group is no longer active

Academics at Durham University, from across a wide range of departments, institutes and colleges, have established a strong reputation for the study of young people and society. St Chad’s College hosted an interdisciplinary study group of academics and post-graduate students who have shared interests in this field of work between 2013 and 2020. The study group met three times a year to discuss current issues concerning young people and society until the pandemic interrupted its flow.

The study group was led by Tony Chapman, St Chad’s College and Simon James, English Department.

If you are interested in convening and reviving the study group and would like to talk about how we went about organising events, please contact me: tony.chapman@durham.ac.uk.

The study of young people at Durham is approached from many disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspectives including: anthropology, business studies, cultural studies, geography, health, history, politics, psychology, religion, social policy, sociology, youth & social work amongst others.  A list of individual group members’ interests when the group was active can be found here.  Not all members of the group are not still working at Durham University.

The position of young people in society is explored thematically by Durham scholars. The following key areas of interest show the range and depth of study currently being undertaken were explored through informal seminars and debates.

• Equalities: deprivation, social exclusion & marginalisation, ethnic diversity, gender & sexualities, disabilities
• Environment and spatiality: migration, urban & rural society, conflict and disasters
• Health and wellbeing: physicality, resilience & mental health, happiness & pro-sociality
• Everyday life: culture & identity, consumption, leisure & sport, arts and culture, social media
• Civil society: voluntary social action, civic engagement, politics & social movements, third sector interventions
• Social mobility: education & employability, paid work, virtual mobilities
• Relationships: families & households, friendship & loneliness, domestic violence, life transitions & critical incidents
• Research methodologies: comparative methods, visual sociology, autobiography, narratives, observation, quantitative data and analysis
• Social policy: youth work, crime & antisocial behaviour, penality, unemployment, health, housing and homelessness, welfare benefits

Members of academic staff and post-graduate students who are interested in the study of young people from any disciplinary or thematic perspective were welcomed to join us in our meetings and helped to organise other events.

If you are interested in reviving the group please get in touch.  tony.chapman@durham.ac.uk.