Dr. Alex Franklin

Prior to joining CAWR Alex was a Research Fellow at the Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, and previously, a senior research associate/ research manager at the ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS). Although originally a human geographer by training, her constant involvement since 2005, in inter- multi- and cross- disciplinary research practice, sees her identifying more closely these days with the broader field of (social) sustainability science.

Alex specialises in qualitative research techniques, with much of her work informed by a participatory action research approach to study design.  She is experienced in researching community-based sustainable place making both within the UK and internationally. This includes, for example, on-going collaboration with colleagues from Colombia, Brazil, Canada, China and mainland Europe. For the period 2011-2015 she was also a co-editor of the international Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning (Taylor and Francis).

External funding sources supporting Alex's research to date have included the UK Economic and Social Research Council, Welsh Government, Canal & Rivers Trust, The Law Society (Wales), Sustrans and the Forestry Commission. She has also previously received funding to participate in international visiting research scholarships in Finland (Ruralia, University of Helsinki) and Hungary (Hungary Academy of Sciences, Budapest). Most recently, under the lead of Wageningen University (and together with partner institutions from five other European countries), Alex has been successful in securing funding for a multi-partner EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie–Innovative Training Network, entitled ‘SUSPLACE’ (2015-2019). The overall aim of SUSPLACE is to train ESRs in innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to studying sustainable place-shaping practices.