Alison Phipps

Alison’s research interests focus on languages and intercultural studies, with a particular critical concern for the different ways in which people learn to live and communicate together by stepping outside comfortable or familiar contexts. This is human ecological work. It draws on the resources of social and cultural anthropology, theatre and cultural studies, theology, law, modern languages and education.

Her Ph.D. research and ethnographic training focused on open air community theatre in Germany. She has continued ethnographic work among tourists, modern language students, adult learners of tourist languages, in conflict zones and among sanctuary and asylum seekers, refugees and befrienders.

At present she is developing research on languages and intercultural advocacy with asylum seekers and refugees; and through intercultural workshops on education for peace and non-violence with a growing focus on constructions of faith and on the contribution of theological perspectives.

She is a published poet and brings poetic approaches to bear on much of my work. She co-convenes the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network, a knowledge exchange research network based at the University of Glasgow.