HEATHER MILES

I am a PhD researcher in human geography at the University of Manchester (3rd year). My primary research focus is the making and use of maps. In particular, my work is concerned with developing inclusive approaches to mapping that reflect different forms of knowledge and data, generated by different communities within and outside academia. This focus sits within my overarching interest in geographical research practices and how these practices relate to geography’s role as an academic discipline and in society more widely. I explore this theme for example in terms of values in research and the knowledge-generating potential of process.

Situated in map studies/critical cartography, my PhD is an ethnographic evaluation of ‘Multi-method Mapping’ as an approach to transdisciplinary working. The evaluation has been carried out in the context of nature recovery research. In Multi-method Mapping, mapping is conceptualised in terms of five broad mapping practices, georeferenced, words-focused, creative, sensory and visceral. Multi-method Mapping aims to enable collaboration between project members from different backgrounds by providing a shared activity in which different research methods and forms of knowledge can co-exist.

My PhD and other work also explores the theme of research practice through axiology - how different forms of knowledge are valued - and the processuality of research – here focusing on unfolding research practice as a source of knowledge generation. I have published on ideas in transdisciplinarity, axiology and processuality as related to knowledge co-production.