How does digital transformation reshape the physical world around us - whether we are navigating a bustling international airport or experiencing art in virtual reality? 

This episode of Doctoral Dialogues bridges the gap between infrastructure and technology with researchers Su Jayaraman and Maritina Keleri. Su outlines her mixed-methods PhD assessing how digital shifts impact airport efficiency, sustainability, and passenger processes across Europe, India, and Panama. Maritina describes her practice-based study on how immersive VR tools shape the creative art-making process and alter an artist’s psychological "flow state." Together, they discuss surprising overlaps in biometrics, managing data concerns, and the immense value of interdisciplinary collaboration. 

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.  

Find out more about the University of Westminster Graduate School at westminster.ac.uk/research/graduate-school  

This is a Research Podcasts production. 

Credits: 

Presenter and editor: Jamie Adam, Research Podcasts 

Guests: Su Jayaraman & Maritina Keleri, University of Westminster 

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts 

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Welcome to Series 5 of the Doctoral Dialogues podcast, where doctoral researchers from across the University of Westminster share the stories behind their research, the impact they hope their work will have, and the experiences that shape their doctoral journeys.

From virtual reality and creative practice to research culture, collaboration, and the diverse ways of undertaking a PhD, this series explores the breadth of doctoral research at Westminster while offering honest conversations about the challenges, opportunities, and realities of doctoral study.

Discover what to expect from the series and hear how Doctoral Dialogues shines a light on the people, ideas, and research making a difference both within and beyond academia.

Find out more about the University of Westminster Graduate School at westminster.ac.uk/research/graduate-school  

This is a Research Podcasts production. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Maggie Go, a third-year PhD researcher at the University of Westminster.

Maggie discusses her research on the nuanced portrayal of China’s influence within U.S. foreign policy, exploring how power in international relations extends beyond military and economic strength to include cultural and ideological dimensions. She emphasises the importance of historical context and the role of discursive power in shaping global narratives.

The conversation also reflects on Maggie’s personal PhD journey, including the challenges of navigating imposter syndrome and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her research experience. She shares how her work connects closely with her own identity and lived experience, particularly her Filipino-Chinese heritage.

Maggie also highlights the importance of diversity and inclusivity within academia, both in shaping research perspectives and strengthening the wider academic community.

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In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Lauren Holton, a fourth-year PhD researcher at the University of Westminster.

Lauren discusses her research into feminist artist filmmaking, with a particular focus on collaboration. Her thesis, Differentiated Publics: A Study of Collaboration in Feminist Artist Filmmaking, examines the work of Petra Bauer, Andrea Luka Zimmerman, and Rehana Zaman, exploring how collaborative practices shape feminist film production and reception.

She reflects on the importance of context within her research, including the influence of funding structures and the shift from traditional cinema spaces to gallery-based settings. Lauren uses detailed case studies to understand how collaboration functions as both a creative and political practice within feminist filmmaking.

The conversation also touches on her reflections as an advanced-stage PhD researcher, including how her understanding of productivity has evolved over time and the value of maintaining self-reflexivity throughout the research process.

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In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Jess Porritt, a first-year PhD researcher working across Tourism and Events and Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster.

Jess explores transformational experiences in ultra-marathons and marathon environments, focusing on how experience design influences the depth and longevity of personal transformation. She discusses the importance of creating more inclusive event design, considering factors such as physical accessibility, socio-economic inclusion, and participant safety. Jess also reflects on the concept of “serious leisure,” highlighting how hobbies such as running can become meaningful and transformative life experiences.

The conversation also explores her approach to PhD research, particularly her use of visual methods such as colour-coded notes, post-its, and digital tools like Miro to map out ideas and manage complexity. She reflects on the evolving nature of her conceptual framework and the importance of embracing change throughout the research process.

Jess offers advice for other PhD students, encouraging them to stay true to their own methods, avoid comparing progress with others, and accept that research naturally evolves over time. She also emphasises the importance of work–life balance and recognising the diverse and non-linear nature of doctoral study.

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In the first episode of Series 4 of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, Megan Carnwright is joined by PhD researchers Dimitri Hui Ken Chong and Kaigan Carey.

Dimitri discusses his research on home-making practices among asylum seekers and refugees, exploring how individuals create a sense of belonging in the face of displacement, as well as the violence and trauma often embedded within these experiences. 

Kaigan shares her work on the occupational culture of prison officers, examining the emotional demands of the role and its impact on mental health.

Together, they reflect on the psychological and affective dimensions of constructed spaces, and how environments such as housing and prisons shape lived experience. The conversation highlights the importance of humanising these perspectives, as well as the role of media and architecture in influencing public understanding.

They also discuss the challenges of conducting emotionally demanding research, emphasising the need for strong support networks and a sense of community throughout the doctoral journey.

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In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Ellen Nolan, a PhD researcher at the University of Westminster.

Ellen discusses her research centred on the archive of her great-aunt, Nita Harvey, documenting Nita’s journey as an actor in 1930s Hollywood. Nita, a British beauty contest winner, was selected by Cecil B. DeMille and starred in the pre-code film Search for Beauty.

Ellen explores the richness of the archive, which includes thousands of negatives, a 35mm casting wheel, and a range of personal ephemera. Through this material, she examines Nita’s experiences as a British actress in Hollywood, with particular attention to issues of treatment, pay, and objectification within the studio system.

Her research also takes a practice-based approach, involving reenactments of Nita’s roles and recreations of fashion from the period. Ellen reflects on how this work opens up conversations about both historical and contemporary representations of women in film, and the lasting impact of Hollywood’s gendered power structures.

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In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Victoria Burgher, a practice-based PhD researcher at the University of Westminster working in ceramics.

Victoria discusses her research into porcelain and its relationship with whiteness and colonialism, reflecting on how materials can carry historical and cultural meanings. She traces the development of her practice, including her early experiments with sugar at Westminster, which were inspired by her own family’s colonial history.

Her work includes pieces such as Cargo and a pound sign installed on a statue, both of which interrogate value, power, and historical narratives. Victoria reflects on the importance of balancing practical making with theoretical engagement, drawing on decolonial scholarship to inform her work.

The conversation also explores her workshops on whiteness, which created space for open dialogue around race and material culture. Looking ahead, she shares her plans to develop decorative dinner plates that celebrate black voices and histories, intentionally moving beyond narratives centred on trauma. Victoria also discusses her ongoing interest in colour, decoration, and the visual language of ceramics.

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In the first episode of Series 3 of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Laura König, a practice-based PhD researcher at the University of Westminster.

Laura discusses her project Skin Hunger, which explores the relationship between physical and metaphorical experiences of human touch. Her research focuses on “skin hunger,” a psychological condition associated with touch deprivation, which was further intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through her practice, Laura works with porcelain as a medium, using its hard yet delicate qualities to create objects that evoke the sensory and tactile properties of skin. She reflects on the emotional and physical significance of touch, and how its absence is increasingly felt in contemporary society.

The conversation also explores how her work challenges traditional gallery norms by engaging both sight and touch, aiming to address skin hunger through artistic and sensory experience.

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In this episode of the Doctoral Dialogue podcast, we’re joined by Carl Jones, a senior lecturer at the University of Westminster and PhD researcher at the Royal College of Art.

Carl shares his journey from a career in advertising into academia, and his current research exploring how advertising can be decolonised. His work brings together a literature review of Latin American and Indigenous theorists, alongside practical engagement through workshops in Mexico City.

He reflects on the importance of embedding decolonial approaches throughout the entire PhD process, as well as some of the challenges he has faced, including navigating research ethics and the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carl also highlights the value of diversifying case studies within teaching, and the wider impact of his research in opening up conversations around decolonising advertising, particularly within a Mexican context. He concludes by sharing his plans to submit his PhD in September 2024.

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