Overview

I am a Human Geographer interested in the connection between people and environment in the broadest sense. I am currently working with Dr Tomas Chaigneau and Dr Ian Ashton on an interdisciplinary project exploring the future of seaweed aquaculture in Cornwall. The work is part of wider project (EMFF/ENG3418) in collaboration with Cornish Seaweed Company, West Country Mussels, and local artist Tom Hubmann, which was recently featured online here.

My doctoral research, under the supervision of Professor Paul Cloke and Dr Nick Gill, explored the nexus between landscapes of care, wellbeing and spirituality in the context of statutory programmes for people experiencing homelessness delivered by The Salvation Army UK .

Before joining ESI I worked as a business consultant specialising in innovation grant writing. This included projects in the bioTech, edTech, finTech, tourism and renewables sectors. I have wider teaching experience in the secondary and FE sectors as well as in Higher Education. I was the Project Officer for the Exeter Education Incubator programme from 2018-19, an initiative that supports educators at the university to deliver pedagogic innovation in their modules. 

Research interests:

• Socio-ecological connections, landscapes of care and wellbeing
• Creative research methods, embodied pedagogy, transformatory learning
• Innovation and sustainability

I am a member of the Environment and Sustainability Institute and the Social Innovation Group.

Qualifications

2018 PhD Human Geography (University of Exeter)
2007 M, Leadership for Sustainable Development Geography (Forum for the Future / Middlesex University )
2006 B.A.Geography (University of Cambridge)

Career

2010-2018 University of Exeter, Doctoral researcher

2018-2019 Innovation Grant Writer, Granted Consultancy Ltd 

2019-2020 University of Exeter, Postdoctoral resercher, Environment & Sustainability Institute

2023- 2023 University of Exeter, Research Fellow, Marine Governance for Social Impact

2020 - current University of Exeter, Lecturer in Human Geography

Research group links

• Environment and Sustainability

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Teaching

Modules

2023/24

• GEO1413 - The Geography of Cornwall
• GEO2456 - Social and Cultural Geographies
• GEO3452 - Literature Review in Environment and Society
• GEO3457 - Geographies of Democracy
• GEO3471 - Preparing to Graduate
• GEOM419 - Research Design in the Field

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Office Hours:

Tuesdays 10-12am

Please email me (k.a.orchel@exeter.ac.uk) if you'd like to book a 15 minute appointment with me.

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