This semester the SPERI Doctoral researcher’s Network is pleased to announce we are hosting a number of events that are open to PGR students interested in the field of Political Economy:
7th of March: Skills Building - SOS Writing Clinic 13:00-16:00, Elmfield D12
If you’re struggling with a writing task the SPERI DRN will be hosting an SOS Writing Clinic on the 7th of March. Feel free to come along with your lunch or some snacks for an opportunity to talk openly and honestly about either a particular task you are finding challenging or for more general thesis-writing. This will be a peer-to-peer session so come prepared to give and well as receive some practical advice and techniques from others in a similar position to you from a range of academic disciplines in the Political Economy sphere. We look forward to welcoming you, then!
11th of April : Queer Political Economy Event
Introducing Queer Political Economy! This is an educational event aimed at introducing interested PGRs and ECRs to the field of Queer Political Economy. We are thrilled that Dr. Nichola Smith (University of Birmingham) will join us on the day to share her expertise and help us explore the Queer PE research agenda. The event will take place on the 11th of April 2025 from 10:30-14:30 and consist of two sessions separated by a lunch break where participants can network and get to know each other. The first session will provide an introduction and overview to the key features of Queer PE before letting participants explore how this relates to their own research. In the second session we will explore as a group how this field can help us tackle contemporary challenges in the wider discipline and delve deeper into the use and value of Queer PE to us as political economy scholars.
If you would like to attend please sign up using this form. Please also note that attendance at this workshop is in person only. Unfortunately we cannot provide lunch but there are plenty of affordable options near our venue and we will happily provide recommendations on the day.
8th of May: Researching Climate Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities
This is a one-day workshop consisting of three 90-minute sessions, running from approximately 11:00 to 16:30.
Our aim is for each session to be generative of rich discussion as well as being oriented towards practical outputs (e.g. blog publications, research collaborations, ongoing networks).
Session #1 - The Climate Turn: Green Transition in Political Economy. We will be joined by Professor Matthew Paterson (University of Manchester) to consider why a political economy approach to climate change and green transitions is useful (and necessary?); assess the key debates in the current green transition IPE literature; and identify any key gaps or opportunities for research in this area.
Session #2 - Researching Apocalypse: Challenges of Climate Scholarship.
This will be a facilitated space for candid discussion about the emotional challenges of climate research; the challenges of navigating an increasingly crowded field as PGRs or ECRs; and challenges arising from the unique characteristics of climate change as a topic.
Session #3 - Between Scholarship and Activism: What’s the Point?
We will be joined by Professor Clare Saunders (University of Exeter) to ask whether existing scholarship is relevant to climate activism; whether there is an imbalance between the proliferation of climate scholarship and the low ebb of the climate movement; and how we can forge more productive links between scholarship and movement building?
If you are a PGR or ECR with a research interest in climate change and a political economy perspective (broadly conceived), we invite you to apply to attend the workshop by filling out this form: The deadline for applications is 21 February. Spaces for this event are limited and we therefore may not be able to accept all applicants. Please use the relevant spaces on the application form to briefly explain your research interests and why you’d like to attend the workshop so we can select a suitable mix of participants. You will be informed of the outcome of your application by 7 March.
In addition, we will be hosting our second ever conference on Critical Political Economy on the 10th of June this year, here in Sheffield. We’d be delighted to invite CPE PGRs from across the country and beyond, stay tuned for more information!