Michelle Newman

Children’s geographies, in particular those relating to the school environment and the emotional geographies of school; Relationship between people and the built environment; Community Arts and impacts on rural communities; Young people angagement with community, especially through music.

Dr Michelle Newman is an Associate Professor in human geography at Coventry University. Her PhD research concerned the development of a user-centred method for evaluating primary school environments. She has previously worked on an AHRC funded research project examining the participation of children and young people in the design of school environments. Recent research has focussed on the ways that music and performance is used by young people to create social networks.

Dr Michelle Newman is an Associate Professor in human geography at Coventry University. Her teaching focuses on cultural geographies and geographies of marginalised groups. Her PhD research concerned the development of fit-for-purpose educational environments, developing a user-centred method for evaluating primary school environments. The PhD emphasised the development of research methods for ‘hard to reach’ groups such as children and adults with poor literacy skills. She has previously worked as a research assistant on an AHRC funded research project examining the participation of children and young people in the design of school environments. Her research interests include children’s geographies and geographies of marginalised groups. Previous work includes Coventry University funded project “Caught between Rock and a hard place: Young people’s involvement in a community music project as an early intervention strategy” that its aims to evaluate the social and health impacts of community music on the participants and on the wider community, focusing on intergenerational communication and trust, and the impact on mental and physical well-being of young people. Worked with colleagues from Coventry University and the NRTF on Arts Council England funded project called “Rural Touring Arts and Local Community Development: Understanding the Geographical Reach and Impact of Professional Rural Touring”

Currently working with colleague on a paper on social class, identity and the music consumtion.