Dr Alexandra Plows

Job Title: WISERD Research Fellow (Localities team)

Institution: Bangor University

Role: Alex was a member of the WISERD localities team

 

Biography

Prior to joining WISERD in 2009 Alex worked at Cardiff University as a Research Associate in the Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen) where she was concerned with identifying and theorising public engagement with human genetics/ genomics and related areas of bioscience such as nanotechnology and stem cells. Prior to these appointments she undertook post doc work (Bangor University/ Welsh Government), defining and evaluating sustainable development criteria at a regional level; and also worked for Keele University on a project researching activist networks, as part of the Democracy and Participation programme. Her PhD focused on UK environmental direct action networks.

Research Interests

Alex is interested in the theory and practice of sustainable development; citizenship, participation and public engagement; feminism, particularly eco-feminist approaches to genetic and reproductive technologies; social movements and theories of social mobilisation; public engagement with bioscience, in particular human genetics/omics and Converging Technologies; research methodologies, especially the use of qualitative methods as a means of “upstream public engagement”, and the use of “e-methods” to map cyber socialities. 

Current Research

Click here to view Alex’s official Bangor University bio page.

Recent Publications

Coffey A, et al, 2012, ‘Anonymisation in Social Research‘ WISERD/MBS/003 (Available here)

Mann R, Plows A, Patterson C, 2011, ‘Civilising community? A critical exploration of civil society in North West Wales’ Voluntary Sector Review 2(3) pp 317-335 (Available here)

Plows A, Mann R, 2011, ‘East, West and the Bit in the Middle: Localities in North Wales’ The Menai Paper 2011/01(Available here)

Plows A, 2010 Debating human genetics: contemporary issues in public policy and ethics (Routledge, London) (Available here)

Plows A, 2010, ‘What is public engagement with human genetics and what is it for? Differentiating between policy, practice and ‘social movement’’ The Menai Papers, Bangor University School of School of Social Sciences Working Paper 2010-01 (Available here)

Plows A, 2008,  ‘Towards An Analysis of the “Success” of Green Protest in the UK’ British Politics

Plows A, 2008, ‘Social Movements and Ethnographic Methodologies: An overview of key issues using case study examples’ Sociological Compass

Evans R, Plows A, 2007, ‘Listening Without Prejudice? Re-Discovering the Value of the Disinterested Citizen’ Social Studies of Science 37

Doherty B, Plows A, Wall D, 2007, ‘Environmental Direct Action in Manchester, Oxford and North Wales: A Protest Event Analysis’ Environmental Politics Environmental Politics Vol. 16 (5) pp 805 – 825