For more information contact Assoc. The research group is actively developing a new area of study in looking at disablement, sociologically. Dr Mike Clear has developed and teaches a new undergraduate subject which focusses on disability as an important issue of culture, human rights and socio-economic justice. Another new area of study is critical psychology. Hilary Byrne-Armstrong has established a major in this area.
Critical psychology is a critique of the psychological discourse.
It is embedded in a poststructuralist approach and is aimed at practitioners who are interested in examining the social and political implications of the work of therapy and change agency projects. Research areas are broad. Stories of resistance and resilience to the subjugating practices of psychology, medicine, the homogenising practices of white colonialism and education are some of the research areas currently being investigated. Top Environmental Governance and Politics A significant area of research activity revolves around the way in which natural and disturbed landscapes are both managed and governed. This area of research endeavour has been particularly focused on community participation in environmental management and its relation to democratic forms of governance.