Project summary

The project will look at the biological, physical and social impacts of pollution on microorganisms, plants, animals and human stakeholders in the North East and the interdependent mechanisms of evolution and adaptation to it. It will allow us to build a comprehensive multidisciplinary understanding of pollution by linking academic research across several departments in Durham (Earth sciences, Biology, Engineering, Physics, Geography, Sociology and Anthropology), local companies, environmental and social organizations.

We draw inspiration from the Multispecies Ethnography framework to look at pollution as a potential for biological, material and social evolution, and for discussing (and testing) new models of human materiality and circular economic structures based on human and non-human collaboration.

Term: Epiphany 2023

Principal Investigator: Dr Kimberley Jamie (Sociology) Principal Investigator: Dr Margarita Staykova (Physics)