Goldsmiths - University of London

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Our Research

Members of Goldsmiths Sociology have played a key role in the development of the discipline, contributing to the development of social research methods, setting agendas in social and cultural theory, working in interdisciplinary fields, and linking theory to practice. The Department is forward-looking, global in orientation, and reaches out to a wide variety of audiences and users of sociological research. We describe our approach as ‘live sociology’.

The intellectual culture of Goldsmiths provides a unique context for creative developments in sociology. We have a track record in: international research that is global in scope; interdisciplinary research across the social and natural sciences, computing, arts and humanities; collaboration of international significance, both with other universities and with major partners in industry, government and the creative sector; and exploration of the interface between theory and practice, whether in the social, creative, scientific or professional spheres. 

World Class and International
Goldsmiths is internationally recognized as world leading in its main research areas. The department is committed to developing a global sociological imagination that is in tune with the scale of today’s social relations in a global society.

Interdisciplinary and Imaginative
Drawing on the creative mix of disciplines at Goldsmiths we have expertise in building a reflexive inter-disciplinarity into Sociology, taking interdisciplinarity as both topic and resource in conferences and research projects, as well as developing interdisciplinary methods.

Collaboration and engagement
Partnership and engagement with a wide range of research partners and users is a vital part of our research activity. This collaboration connects us to a range of stakeholders, research partners and user communities in our locality, nationally and internationally.

Past and present partners include:

  • industry – for example Intel, Sapient, HomeChoice, Tiscali, The Brand Union;
  • international and european organisations and agencies, for example, United Nations, UNICEF, EU European Initiative for Biotechnology Education, UNESCO
  • national and local government – for example, Home Office, DTI, Department of Health, ODPM, CRE, London Directorate of Health and Social Care, London Strategic Health Authorities, and numerous London boroughs
  • public bodies – for example, BBC, RSA, Charity Commission, Cancer Research Campaign, City Parochial Foundation, Civic Forum, National AIDS Trust, Human Rights Watch, Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Advertising Association, Runnymede Trust Race Forum
  • charities – for example Leverhulme, Wellcome, The Rothschild Foundation, Amnesty UK and Amnesty International

Practice-informed research and creative
We have expertise in the development of models of practice-led research in social science, exploring the intersections between traditional academic modes of knowledge production and the practices of designers, engineers, architects and artists, legal and NGO practitioners, whether in universities, industry, or the field.  

Research in the department is focused in six clusters:

Research clusters consist of academic staff and research students working individually and collectively on shared interests; most academic staff contribute to more than one.  Each cluster has a programme of funded research and organizes conferences, seminars, and other research-related activities around key themes. Many of the clusters are associated with a Masters programme, enabling teaching and research to enrich each other. Many are associated with a research centre, unit or initiative that provides an infrastructure for research activities. These clusters are the focus of our research strategy, with their development being overseen by the department research committee.