BA London, PhD Brunel

Research Convener; Reader in Sociology


Room: Hel 212

Email: david.skinner@anglia.ac.uk

Telephone: 0845 196 2104
International: +44 1223 363271 ext 2104


David Skinner's research activity

Dr David Skinner is Reader in Sociology in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is Research Convenor for the Social Sciences. He is convenor of the Justice and Communities Research Unit and also contributes to the work of the Cultures of the Digital Economy Research Institute (CoDE).

David's teaching specialisms include the sociology of 'race', racism and cultural identity; social studies of science and technology; nature and culture; and social divisions. David is co-author (with T. Bilton et al) of a key textbook in the field Introductory Sociology, Palgrave: Macmillan (1996 and 2002).

David is currently First Supervisor to five doctoral students: Jaco Beukes (Life Coaching in a Christian Context); Julian Constable (Police Training); Mazher Idriss (Honour Related Violence); Marie Karim (Parents of Adults with High-Functioning Autism); and Dwarka Nayak (Precarious Work, Migration and Higher Education).

David's research interests include: 'race', racism and the politics of science; the social aspects of scientific and technological innovation, particularly the adoption of new technologies; the politics of official data; equality, diversity and community engagement in the public services; and the relationship between the natural and social sciences.

David has played a leading role in ESRC funded research projects studying the introduction of new information systems into large organisations, and the development of workplace initiatives to encourage cycle commuting. He was part of the team that developed and delivered Fireworks, a major applied study supported by the European Social Fund into equality, diversity and community engagement in the English Fire Service. David's other work with private and public sector organisations includes consultancy for Kodak. He was previously a London Technology Network Business Fellow. He is currently a trustee of Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau where he leads on social policy campaigning and research. David has a long running commitment to community engagement and has organised a series of successful events (some of which are listed below) that bring academic and non-academic worlds together.

David's current research projects include:

• Continuing work on the politics of racialised data in science and public policy. This builds on previous work on the UK National Police DNA Database
• With Amade M'charek (University of Amsterdam) and Katharina Schramm (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg), a collaborative network bringing the insights of science and technology studies to the analysis of the management of Europe's boarders, populations and identities. A workshop 'Technologies of Belonging: Biology, Race and Ethnicity in Europe' was held at University of Amsterdam in 2011. A Special Edition of Science, Technology and Human Values with the same title is currently in preparation
• With colleagues in CoDE, Digital Britain. This project seeks to narrate a distinctively British story of the development of digital infrastructures and cultures in the UK. It also explores the challenges of curating Britain's digital heritage
• An exploratory project (previously supported by Anglia Ruskin University's Research Enhancement Fund) to develop interdisciplinary research on Trust, Identity, Security and Privacy in a Digital Age

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