Learning from experts
Geography students benefit from research expertise in the classroom
Studying Geography can lead to a wide range of career and research destinations in the UK and around the world. Our undergraduate students have the chance to engage in fieldwork in a range of locations, and the research that informs our undergraduate teaching is conducted on a global scale. Our academic staff regularly bring real-world data from their fieldwork into the seminar rooms and lecture theatres at Loughborough to inform their students about the latest cutting-edge developments in Geography and Environment.
Whilst the study of Geography might conjure up images of students conducting fieldwork in rivers and up mountains, the human side of the discipline demonstrates how Geography research can make a real difference to people’s lives.
For inspiration as to where studying Human Geography can take you, you need look no further than Dr James Esson. James is a Reader in Human Geography based in our Geography and Environment division, and is also the director of our undergraduate programmes.
James is a development and population geographer. His research investigates the impacts of global inequality and climate change in post-colonial contexts, including Cape Verde, Cameroon, Ghana, Nepal and Timor Leste. He has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Department for International Development (UK), the British Academy and UNICEF. This funding has informed outputs in international peer reviewed journals, edited collections, and a research monograph on African football migration: Aspirations, experiences and trajectories.
To learn more about James’ research on African football migration, read this article he recently published in The Conversation - The fighting spirit of young African footballers who migrate overseas.
James is passionate not only about his research but also about using that research to inspire the next generation of Geographers at Loughborough.
Geography is a discipline like no other. It is fundamentally about trying to understand the dynamic relationship between societies and environments. I make the most of this in my teaching by introducing students to innovative perspectives on the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our planet. But I don’t stop there. Because I am really passionate about doing research that helps to realise alternative, sustainable and equitable solutions to these challenges. For example, a key area of my research in the last decade has involved investigating the relationship between global inequality and cross-border human trafficking, which has resulted in projects with major international agencies like UNICEF. Bringing insights from my research into the classroom is therefore really important, because it enables our students to gain knowledge and problem solving skills that can impact the world for the better.
James teaches on many modules for undergraduate Geography students, who have the chance to learn directly from his research experience.
Geography student Ankita explains what she has gained from this research-led teaching, and James in particular:
I find there is a huge benefit with academics' understanding of the principles of their discourse, not only in theory but more significantly in practice and through conducting research. When experts are teaching topics relevant to their research their passion comes through in their teaching style - one of James’ talents is not just teaching students well; he teaches them in such a way that he sells the topic to them. From my experience, he encourages students to form an interest in the topic (it got to the point where I read almost all of his recommended Globalisation readings out of personal interest).
Ankita, who is about to begin the final year of her degree, is primarily interested in the physical side of the discipline. Despite that, her experience of being taught by James is one of things she will remember most fondly from her time at Loughborough.
In the lecture hall, James is an enthralling, unassuming and knowledgeable academic with an equal passion for both his own research and the research of other academics. But I think the main reason he is one of the most memorable lecturers I have had thus far is his ability to discuss a spectrum of topics outside of the lecture hall. In spite of me being a physical geographer (sorry James!) he is a lecturer I enjoy approaching whenever I want to talk about a variety of things - ranging from migration to colonialism to urban design, and he gives fantastic advice.
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