Overview
My research is interested in the relationship between (cold-water) surfing, (mental) health and wellbeing. This research is primarily situated within Health Geographies and is particularly influenced by the ontological post-human turn in considering how we as humans and bodies are ‘affected’ by the material (or natural) world (Andrews 2019).
Within Health Geographies, I am particularly interested in what Foley et al (2019) describe as the ‘hydrophilic turn’, referring to the emergence of ‘Blue Space’ Geographies. ‘Blue Spaces’ are increasingly recognised for their potential for health and wellbeing (Foley and Kistemann 2015) and my research is situated in what has come to be known as the ‘Blue Health’, ‘Blue Care’ (Britton et al 2018) or ‘Blue Mind’ movement.
Methodologically, I am interested in how can we use creative and visual methods to understand embodied experiences of blue health, particularly when exploring non-discursive phenomena such as mindfulness, flow and immersion. I hope to contribute to existing discussions around, and understandings of, mindfulness by taking a post-humanistic geographical approach. I intend to do this through examining how the immersive experience of cold-water surfing contributes to a sense of wellbeing in dark winter months, thus expanding the literature on health geographies, the embodied experience of surfing and resilience strategies.
Tirion was fortunate to have been awarded a full scholarship by the Wales Doctoral Training Partnership, and so her research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
2022
Panel speaker, 'How to swim: Researching bodies in nature', QRSE Conference 2022 Durham University with Rebecca Olive, Kate Moles, Charlotte Bates and Ronan Foley
2021
(Start) PhD Social & Cultural Geography, Cardiff University, funded by the ESRC
MSc Social Science Research Methods, Distinction, Cardiff University, funded by the ESRC
2019
Postgraduate Certificate Arts, Health & Wellbeing, University of South Wales (USW)
2013
World Arts & Cultures Major, Year Abroad, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
2012
BA Geography (International Programme), First Class Honours, University College London (UCL)
Research
Thesis
(Working title) The therapeutic geographies of cold-water surfing in Wales: a more-than- representational investigation into the link between winter surfing and mental resilience
Funding source
Economic and Social Research Council
