Nature and the Outdoors: An Appreciation of the Work of Russell Hitchings

Join us for a celebration of the work and life of Professor Russell Hitchings.

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Nature and the Outdoors: An Appreciation of the Work of Russell Hitchings

06 Dec 2024, 18:30 – 19:30

Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom

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About this event

Join us for a special event celebrating the life and contributions of Professor Russell Hitchings, whose research explored the complexities of everyday social life and our changing relationship with the natural world.

In his work, Professor Hitchings explored the puzzle of everyday social life: Why are people drawn away from green spaces that benefit them? How have conveniences like air conditioning and central heating shifted our lives indoors? And what does our interaction with gardens reveal about our relationship with nature?

Through innovative interview-based methods, Professor Hitchings developed an original approach to studying the links between people and their environments, offering insights into contemporary urban life.

This event honours Professor Hitchings’ intellectual legacy at UCL and his lasting impact on the field of geography. Join us as we reflect on his work with colleagues, friends, and speakers from across the UK.

Doors will open at 6:15pm, and the event will commence at 6:30pm.

Speakers

Convenors

This event is open to all who wish to celebrate Professor Hitchings’ life and achievements in environmental and social research.

If you cannot attend in person, please book your place on Zoom.

Access profile

We aim to make our events as inclusive as possible so if you have any accessibility requirements please let us know in advance so we can try to make reasonable adjustments and ensure the appropriate measures are taken:

Wilkins Building, Gustav Tuck Lecture Theatre is located on the second floor of the south junction of the Wilkins Building.
There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
There is (staggered) tiered seating within the lecture theatre(s).
The steps to the (staggered) tiered seating do not have handrails.
There is not a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre(s).

View the full access guide on the AccessAble website

Photography

Please note that photographs and recordings taken at this event may be included in future publications, on our website and social media. If you do not wish to be included in any media, please opt out by contacting us at geog.web@ucl.ac.uk.

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Professor Gail Davies

Professor of Human Geography

University of Exeter

Professor Davies's research lies at the intersection of human geography, science and technology studies, and animal studies, focusing on the social dimensions of science, health, and animal research. As Director of Research and Impact for Human Geography at the University of Exeter, she continues to pioneer interdisciplinary approaches to understanding laboratory animal research, biomedical collaboration, and the ethics of animal welfare and replacement.

Dr Rebecca Collins

Deputy Head of Humanities, Cultures and Environment; Sustainability and Environment RKEI Director

University of Chester

Dr Collins is Deputy Head of the Division of Humanities, Cultures and Environment and Director of the Sustainability and Environment Research and Knowledge Exchange Institute (SERKEI) at the University of Chester. A human geographer, her research explores sustainable lifestyles, material culture, and young adulthood, and she also chairs the Royal Geographical Society's Social and Cultural Geographies Research Group.

Dr Rosie Day

Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society

University of Birmingham

Dr Day is a Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society at the University of Birmingham, specialising in environmental human geography. Her research focuses on environmental justice, particularly ageing and environmental inequalities, as well as energy demand, energy poverty, and energy justice, approached through multidisciplinary collaborations across fields like engineering, sociology, and transport studies.

Professor Elizabeth Shove

Professor of Sociology

Lancaster University

Professor Shove is a sociologist at Lancaster University with research interests in the relationships between consumption, everyday practices, and ordinary technology. She co-directed the DEMAND Centre, which focused on the dynamics of energy, mobility, and demand, and her current work includes exploring flexibility and practice theory.