Dr Samantha Wilkinson

1.     Current Research

My research expertise is in three key areas: young people and consumption; young people’s im/mobilities; and young people’s intra- and inter-generational relationships. I have recently secured a British Academy / Leverhulme small grant to explore young people’s alcohol consumption in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, through storytelling methodological approaches, working with Dr Catherine Wilkinson, Liverpool John Moores University.

Further, I have recently been awarded an internally funded Research Accelerator grant to explore intergenerational participation in junior parkrun, using a novel ‘palette of methods’ approach, and working with Dr Simon Cook, Birmingham City University, as my fabulous external advisor. I am also currently really enjoying working with, and learning a lot from, Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer, University of Westminster, and Dr Louise Platt, Manchester Metropolitan University, on an exploratory pilot study funded by Manchester Geographical Society, to explore access making mobilities of disabled families in Greater Manchester.

2.     Other / Previous Research 

My doctoral research, funded by an ESRC Case Studentship and Alcohol Research UK explored young people’s alcohol consumption practices and experiences in two suburban locations, and has made contributions regarding the centrality of friendship and care to young people’s drinking practices and experiences; alcohol-related im/mobilities; and the importance of affective atmospheres to young people’s nights in and out involving alcohol.

Following my PhD, I worked as a Research Fellow on an NIHR funded project at The University of Nottingham, with Professor Justine Schneider as the PI, exploring what constitutes good home care for people with dementia. I have also conducted research with Dr Khawla Badwan, Manchester Metropolitan University, on university students’ conceptualisations of place. My current and previous research work is underpinned by a commitment to methodological innovation.

Links to Published Works:

Selected publications

Wilkinson, S. (2024). Relational Drinking Geographies: Towards Vital Flows and ‘Open’ Methods. Dialogues in Human Geography. Invited commentary.

von Benzon, N., Holton, M., Wilkinson, C. and Wilkinson, S. (eds.) (2021). Creative Methods for Human Geographers. London: SAGE. ISBN: 1526496976.

Wilkinson, S. and Badwan, K. (2021). Walk this way: the rhythmic mobilities of university students in greater Manchester, UK. Mobilities. pp. 373–387. (IF 2.9, Q1)

Wilkinson, S. and Wilkinson, C. (2020). Young men’s alcohol consumption experiences and performances of masculinity. International Journal of Drug Policy. 81. pp. 1-8. (IF 5.009, Q1​).