Staff
Taylor Butler-Eldridge
PhD Researcher
Not known
Office hours: I live and work in Cumbria. Please email me to organise an online meeting.
Overview
Following my background in digital design and outdoor learning, alongside my interests in open-water swimming (OWS), contemporary psychogeography, and environmental health, I am now undertaking an ESRC SWDTP-funded PhD in Human Geography. My PhD is supervised by Dr Jennifer Lea and Prof John Wylie, and I am part of the Cultural and Historical Geographies Research Group (CHGRG).
My PhD research traces the different health motivations, responses, and complications of OWS at Windermere, England’s largest lake in the Lake District National Park. Specifically, the research questions the different bodily, socio-cultural, political, and environmental factors that shape these relational experiences of ‘healthy’ OWS practice.
The wet, psychogeographically influenced, ethnographic fieldwork is situated at two popular public bathing sites (Rayrigg Meadow and Millerground) at Windermere, across a full 12-month season. The methods include observing general swimming and lake activity, monitoring water and weather conditions, critically reflecting on personal embodied swim responses, and recording separate one-to-one ‘swimalong interviews’ with open-water swimmers/dippers.
The research intends to make novel methodological contributions to health geographies, psychogeographies, and other transdisciplinary OWS research, whilst encouraging broader public engagement with existing (and potential) communities invested in Windermere. For more information about the research project, please visit: www.swimdermere.com or get in touch via my email listed above.
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Outdoor Adventure and Environment (University of Cumbria, Ambleside) - First Class Honours.
MRes Critical Human Geographies (University of Exeter) - Distinction.
Research group links
Research
Research interests
- Contemporary Psychogeographies
- Walking Arts
- Blue Spaces and Leisure
- Outdoor Learning
- Environmental Health
- Visual Methods
Book Chapters:
- Mcphie, J. and Butler-Eldridge, T. (2021). Slam Poetry, Giant Specs and a Psychogeography Monopoly Board: Progressive Directions for Outdoor Facilitation. In: Palmer, C. (Eds). Arts-Based Learning in Outdoor Education. Sport and Wellbeing Press: Preston.
Guest Lectures:
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2022). Questioning Open-Water Swimming and Health. Querying Therapeutic Landscapes and Outdoor Psychotherapies (8 March). MA Outdoor and Experiential Learning. University of Cumbria: Ambleside.
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2022). Contemporary Psychogeography as Place-Based Pedagogy. Know Your Place: Place Responsive Approaches to the Outdoors (9 February). MA Outdoor and Experiential Learning. University of Cumbria: Lancaster.
Conferences and Public Events:
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2022). A Gentle Journey Around my Home: Taking Care with Psychogeography in a Time of Pandemic. Walking Well? Stepping Through and Beyond the Pandemic. RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2022 (1 September). Royal Geographical Society (RGS). University of Newcastle: Newcastle.
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2021). Taking a Pedagogic Chance with Psychogeography. [online]. Teaching and Learning in Geography: Inspiring Courage and Compassion in the Pedagogic Borderlands. RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2021 (3 September). Royal Geographical Society (RGS): London.
- Butler-Eldridge, T., Bridger, A., Richardson, T., Cole, S. and Mcphie, J. (2019). Definitions, Debates and Directions for Contemporary Psychogeography (Panel Discussion). The Fourth World Congress of Psychogeography (6 September). University of Huddersfield: Huddersfield.
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2019). Micro-plastics, Micro-scientists and Micro-adventures: The Value of Exploring your Doorstep First. RGS Geographical Journeys: Microlectures (14 March). Royal Geographical Society (RGS): London.
- Mcphie, J. and Butler-Eldridge, T. (2018). The Psychogeography Monopoly Game. The Fourth World Congress of Psychogeography (7 September). University of Huddersfield: Huddersfield.
- Butler-Eldridge, T. (2018). Filter Your World + -. Arts Council England Showcase (9 January). University of Cumbria: Ambleside.
Awards:
- Student Dissertation Award at the Institute of Outdoor Learning’s (IOL) Outdoor Learning Awards (2019).
- The University of Cumbria’s (UoC) Department of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies Prize for Highest Dissertation Mark (2019).
- UCSU Volunteer of the Year (2019).
- (Nominated): RGS History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group Undergrad Dissertation Award (2019).