Leisure Studies Conference

Professor Mowatt is a Department Head and Professor at North Carolina State University, with research and teaching focus linked to theories of race, legacies of racial violence, and colonial histories. 

His keynote is titled: A People's History and Future of Leisure Studies, Part One

You can read his abstract below:

What is leisure? Perhaps the quest to locate at an answer that so many of us, for so long has been all wrong. Instead of thinking about an answer deriving from some present-day expression of leisure that frames some hopeful future outlook of leisure, maybe it is the jaded past that has told us enough of what leisure is. Not the selective past of an un-officialized canon that includes mentions of Veblen, Piper, De Grazia, and Csikszentmihalyi (as well as others), that could then be mistakenly course corrected by inserting mentions of DuBois, Addams, Taylor, and Tuan. But the answer(s) to “what is leisure?” is evident in what has been done in the name of park land, recreational space, sport for all, and mass tourism. But the question of “what is leisure?” may not only come from an examination and presentation of past wrongs. Perhaps all we need is just enough of an analysis of the past that could inform how we could the shape of a future based on confronting how leisure has been such a tool. So, the answer to “what is leisure?” is evident in what will likely to be done to continue ways in which society is governed and society is systematized to perpetuate how leisure establishes codes of conduct, control, and beliefs. In this regard, there is no leisure-work dichotomy, as they are both tools for a form of subjugation. Leisure is of the making of the State despite our (mis)perceptions of independence and freedom. There is a need to create a criticality to consider how “the people” who are likely the most adversely impacted by those past and present harms will be wronged further. So, in pursuing an emancipatory direction in an understanding of leisure, it is of the utmost importance to adopt a moral reimagination of the conception of leisure.

Harriet is Professor and Head of Knowledge Exchange in the Centre for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at Bath Spa University. She leads initiatives that bridge academia and industry through meaningful partnerships, supporting pathways for academics, students, and industry leaders to collaborate. 

Harriet's passionate about business, consultancy, community engagement and social impact, and enjoys cultivating partnerships that address real-world challenges. She also works at BiBO, a placemaking agency in Wiltshire, as Head of Visual Engagement. At BiBO, Harriet supports organisations and developers with public engagement. 

With a background in sociology and organisation studies and 19 years’ HE experience, Harriet’s research focuses on organisational space, artefacts, and the material world of work. She has expertise in qualitative research methods including innovative visual methodologies, specifically participant-led photography. Harriet has led research and consultancy projects with public and private sector organisations, including Argent LLP, the RFU, the Environment Agency, Stride Treglown, and ISG. Her research appears in journals including Human Relations, Organizational Research Methods, and Management Learning. Harriet was nominated ‘Woman of Influence 2024’ by The Planner Magazine, and her project with Argent LLP, ‘Picturing Places’ was shortlisted for The Planning Awards in the Engagement category. 

Her keynote is titled: Creative Connections: Creative Methods for Communities and Place-Making

You can read her abstract below:

In this keynote talk, I'll be exploring how creative methods – such as photography, art, crafting amongst others - offer powerful ways for researchers and communities to connect, collaborate, and create meaningful change. Drawing on a series of visual, community-driven research projects, and focussing on recent work with the RFU on women and girl's grassroots rugby facilities, I show how such methods enable participants to capture lived experiences, articulate hidden challenges, and imagine new possibilities for the spaces they use. Using the example of photography and visuals, I argue that creativity provides an alternative space for ownership - images become part of people’s voices, creative acts become dialogue, and community stories influence decision-making. My talk situates creative methods within the wider strategic landscape of Knowledge Exchange, demonstrating how creativity through visual data strengthens civic partnership, supports place-based impact, and aligns with HEIF priorities around inclusion, participation, and regional growth. I close by looking ahead to creative futures and introduce the new Journal of Creative Methods as a dedicated home for this kind of work, providing a place for researchers and practitioners - and those in-between! - to share and showcase creative participatory approaches to community engagement.

Professor Caroline Scarles is Professor of Technology in Society and Vice Dean Research at Brunel Business School, Brunel University London. Her research focuses on technology for social good, nature connection, wellbeing, and accessibility in arts and heritage, recreation and travel.

Professor Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences, Vice Dean for Research and Co-Director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Brunel University London, UK. 

Dr Tarryn Godfrey is a Lecturer in Sport Development within the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and Centre for Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse at Brunel University of London. She is a Department Director of Recruitment and Admissions.

Dr Utsa Mukherjee is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Research at the Department of Education, Brunel University of London where he also co-leads the ‘Education. Identities and Society’ Research Group.