Published Writing
Westminster’s Abusive Relationship with Scotland
It’s time for Scotland to leave this abusive relationship and step into a future where we can make our own choices.
On Spreadsheets and Excellent Teaching
At the Teaching Excellence Awards, students praised lecturers who treat them like human beings. Management should take note.
Sociology at Strathclyde under the axe due to ‘critical’ stance
What’s the real reason behind the closure of the Sociology programme at Strathclyde? Published in Network, the magazine of the British Sociological Association.
Unsustainable system
Do academics have a moral obligation to freeze their pay? A letter published in the Times Higher Education Supplement.
Labour Exploitation in Academia
Is exploitation acceptable when it comes with the prestige of a PhD? Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Unconventional Solutions
The Centre for Human Ecology is feeling the financial crunch that’s squeezing all of higher education. Its response is to call upon its most valuable resource: its graduates. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Research Ethics
Ethics paperwork protects the rights of research participants… But is there more to ethics than paperwork? Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
An Unlikely Gunman
Sociologists are supposed to help understand troubling social phenomena like murder — not become murderers themselves. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Intellectual growth
Marking first-year essays has reminded me of where I started, and everything I’ve learned along the way. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Seeds of Tolerance
My second year of university, I started a Pagan student group. This is the story of its beginnings and continued growth as part of a diverse and tolerant religious community. Published in If: a journal of spiritual exploration.
Essay-writing
All British university students are required to write essays…. So why isn’t essay-writing taught anywhere? Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Tutoring and Technology
My first experiences with tutoring, and why technology can supplement real teaching — not replace it. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Useful for Whom?
Universities pursuing the advancement of society — or the advancement of business interests? Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
New Year
The start of my second year brings me out of silence, and into questions about what kind of academic I want to be. Column on the Education page of the Scotsman.
Scotland’s Greenest MSc
The Centre for Human Ecology offers a radical, transformative MSc…. And its “green graduates” are changing the world. Published in the Scotsman.