suzanne whitby: interdisciplinary researcher

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I am interested in how we can co-create hopeful, sustainable futures. To do this, we need to engage and involve people in new ways. My research focuses on exploring the way in which senstoryscapes (or place-based, multi-sensory stories of the future) can be used to encourage pro-environment attitudes and behaviour, and particularly, to encourage individual climate action.

I am a PhD candidate at VU Amsterdam.

If you are interested, you can visit the project website at senstoryscapes.org, or my research blog, which I write to when time allows.

My route to this research was a bit unusual, as my MA was in the field of Classical Studies. I have always had a deep interest in the ancient world, and the Middle Ages. In the course of my studies, I became interested in the sensory aspects of the past and my research resulted in a thesis that explored the lived olfactory experiences of people in Pompeii shortly before the eruption of Vesuvius. I wanted to continue working with sensory research and I wanted to work with stories. I could probably have stayed in the Classics department, but I felt compelled to make sure that my research was contributing to co-creating these hopefully, sustainable futures that I go on about, and so my PhD proposal was born.

I have a BA in English, with minors in the Classics and Philosophy, in case that’s of interest.

Curious? Fancy a chat? Want to work together?

Let’s connect on LinkedIn, or alternatively, get in touch. I’d love to hear from you!