1. Faculty of Environment
  2. School of Earth and Environment
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  4. Profile
Dr Vanessa Schofield

Dr Vanessa Schofield

  • Position: Lecturer, SRI
  • Areas of expertise: Risk; security; governance; uncertainty; contingency; futures thinking. Widening access and participation; educational inequalities; universities of sanctuary.
  • Email: V.F.Schofield@leeds.ac.uk
  • Location: 10.105 School of Earth and Environment
  • Website: ORCID

Profile

My background is in human Geography. I received my undergraduate, Masters and PhD from the Department of Geography, University of Durham. After PhD, I stayed in Durham for a further year as a teaching fellow in the School of Geography and Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience. From there, I moved to St Andrews where I was an associate lecturer and then lecturer in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development. In June 2024, I returned to my home city of Leeds to join SRI as a lecturer.

Responsibilities

  • Deputy Programme Lead for Environment and Business

Research interests

I am interested in the distribution of responsibility for risk governance and so questions such as: who is responsible for anticipating and identifying risk? Once known about, who is responsible for taking action to limit disruption unfolding? I follow empirical examples, such as legal cases, that allow me to follow the unfolding of risk governance and trace how responsibilities are enacted, fulfilled, or evaded.  

Alongside my work in widening access and participation, I conduct research into understanding and responding to educational inequalities that aims to support Universities in creating spaces and communities that are welcoming, inclusive and supportive for all.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD, Dept of Geography, University of Durham (2020)

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

I am Deputy Programme Lead for the Environment and Business Programme (UG). 

I teach undergraduate and postgraduate across methods and fieldwork and Sustainability and Consultancy.  

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>