My research practice employs interdisciplinary, participatory methods, blending digital storytelling, data visualisation, and people-centred communication. I utilise mixed-methods approaches that incorporate qualitative analysis, computational techniques, and human-centred design to explore media ecosystems, digital governance, and socio-technical systems in real-world applications.

I have published extensively on 'humanising data' and data storytelling, authoring books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles. My work has been supported by a wide range of funders and organisations, including, UKRI, the Wellcome Trust, the British Academy, Google, CancerUK, the US Embassy, and the United Nations. This research has influenced NHS and council operations, journalistic reporting and NGO strategies, including a Webby Award-winning data storytelling project, web-comics, and exhibitions at notable venues like the V&A, Barbican, and The Whitney.

Committed to taking knowledge out of the ivory tower, I regularly make public engagement and media appearances, bringing my teams' work to outlets like the British Science Festival, The Conversation, The Guardian, The Financial Times, BBC Radio. I also collaborate on contract and funded research projects, leading work packages to co-create impactful data stories.

From 2021-2025, I co-directed the Centre for Science, Health and Data Communications Research at Bournemouth University, and served as the programme leader for the 'Data and Digital Leadership' professional development suite, leading training for NHS staff. At the University of Glasgow I am convening the Digital Society MSc and leading a range of public engagement and impact oriented initiatives for research environment and community development.

Research groups

• Media, Culture & Society

Prior publications

PI, Google Academic Research Award ($75,000) 2025-26 “HumAIne: Building Society-Centered Responsible AI Open Educational Resources”  CI Edward Apeh

CI, CancerUK (£200,000) 2024-26 “Developing evidence and theory-informed digital videos employing a user-centred participatory approach, to support the early detection of skin cancer (EDSC) via self-examination of the skin (SSE), focused on at-risk (older men) and under-served populations (‘people of colour’)” PI Steve Errser 

PI, NHS – University Southampton Hospital (£40,000), 2023-24 “Participant and Public Involvement and Engagement Toolkit for the Wessex Secure Data Environment project” 

Consultant, Economic and Social Research Council (£482,621) 2023-2026 “PRECAS: Reproduction in the Age of Genomic Medicine”  

CI, British Academy (£200,000), 2023-25 “Protest Project: An Analysis of Public Assembly Rights and Anti-Riot Technology in the UK, USA, and Brazil”, PI Jonathan Havercroft, Southampton University 

PI, UKRI/AHRC COVID-19 Rapid Response (£76,904), 2020-2021 Comics in the time of COVID-19: Tracking data on web-based comics and  evaluating their potential for communicating public health messages. CIs, Julian McDougall, Sam Goodman, William Proctor Partners: Graphic Medicine Collective, Information Literacy Group, Public Health Dorset, ComicsGrid 

CI, US Embassy (£10,841), 2019 “Media Literacy versus Fake News: Critical Thinking, Resilience and Civic Engagement”** PI, Julian McDougall, Bournemouth University; CIs David Buckingham, Paul Mihailidis, Karen Fowler-Watt, Roman Gerodimos, Monica Bulger  

PI, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (£7,379), 2018 Education 4 Justice, Non-electronic games  “RiotID: Co-creating a collaborative boardgame on use of force accountability” CI Isabella Rega, Omega Research Foundation and Minute Works 

CI, Public Health Dorset (£7,823), 2018  “Data Storytelling workshops 2018” PI, Einar Thorsen, Bournemouth University 

CI, Public Health Dorset (£20,429), 2018-2019  “Interactive Data Forecasting and Modelling for NHS England's 'prevention at scale' initiative”*   PI, Einar Thorsen, Bournemouth University (funded MRes, Andrew White) 

CI, Public Health Dorset (£22,036), 2017-2018 “Data Storytelling for Public Health”* PI, Einar Thorsen, Bournemouth University 

PI, Political Studies Association (£1,400), 2016 “Investigating Research for Academics and Campaigners: A Skill Share Workshop”* 

PI, Wellcome Trust – Medical Humanities Small Grant (£3,446), 2014 “Communicating Medical Knowledge in the History of Tear Gas”  

PI, Meardis Cannon Fellowship ($750 USD), 2013 “More than Just a Mud Hole: Protest Camps and the Legacies of Resurrection City” African American Collections, Manuscripts and Rare Books Library, Emory University, USA  

CI, Higher Education Academy-ADM Project Funding (£3,800), 2010-2011 PI, Dr. Mehita Iqani, King College London “Quality Enhancement and Prospective Quality Assurance through Teaching Exchange workshops in Media and Communications”  

PI, Institute for Historical Research - Mellon Fellowship ($3,000 USD), 2005 “Feminist Cultural Activism in the 1980s” Institute for Historical Research, University of London 

I am interested in supervising on a range of topics related to digital society and digital storytelling, including social media studies, critical data studies, social movement studies, ethics and AI. My expertise falls in supervising interdisciplinary projects with creative methodologies, and those taking queer or feminist approaches. 

 PhD SUPERVISION (in process)

Baofu Qu, Using Illustration to Explore Gender Inclusivity

Rinlapas KetveraPong, Granfluencers and Social Media Production in Thailand

Sofronis Efstathious, The UK Video Game Industry and its subcultures in the 1980s

PhD SUPERIVSION (completed)

Daniel Weissmann, Political Identity and Participation in the UK, 2024

Hussain Aldossari, Data Journalism in the Middle East, 2022  

Amal Almoualed, Woman Journalists and Social Media in Iran, 2021  

EdD SUPERVISION (completed)

Catherine Russell, 2023 

Ross Adamson, 2019 

MRes SUPERVISION (completed)

Second Supervision, Andrew White, PT, completion Spring 2021 

Practicing Research and Working with Data in the Digital Age (SOCIO5102)