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Nicholas James : Curriculum Vitae

57 Jersey Road

Gloucester

GL1 4DQ

Telephone:

01452 525304

Email: nj347@tutor.open.ac.uk

Nicholas James

§ Date of Birth - 7^th June 1966

§ Place of Birth - Bristol, UK

§ Nationality - British

Career statement

I am a geographer with research and teaching interests within the sub-disciplines of development, environment and political ecology. Particular areas of interest include agrarian change in Africa, the geography of food (especially household food security), soil fertility dynamics and place geography within rural Africa. At present I am employed with the Open University as an Associate Lecturer. I also lecture at University of Gloucestershire, Newport University and University of the West of England. This work has enabled me to combine scholarly and teaching interests at Higher Education Level. I completed a PhD in December 2002 and since have published papers and chapters as well as reviews.

Research Interests

I am particularly interested in synthesizing understandings from scientific research in agro-ecological settings and the agrarian settings. Linked areas for future research include environmental change in rural Africa; livelihoods and household food security; regional and place geography; and development and local studies.

Qualifications

PhD, Geography, Edge Hill College, Lancaster University 2002

§ ‘A geographical study of Nembudziya, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe. The relationship between agrarian environmental change and household food security in a cotton growing area’ under the supervision of Dr. Nigel Richardson and Dr. Murray Steele

MA in Southern African Studies, Centre for Southern African Studies, York University 1995

§ ‘An examination of the health dimension in Chirundu and Chiawa, and an application of the new regional geography to the Middle Zambezi Valley, South Eastern Zambia’

PGCE (FE) teaching qualification, Cardiff College, University of Wales 1992

§ Wide ranging teaching practice in Further Education Colleges including economics, business studies, media studies, geography and special needs

BA honours degree in Combined Studies, Worcester College of Higher Education, Worcester 1989

§ Achieved a 2.1 and subjects for study included Human Geography, Urban Studies and Economics with Social Perspectives

A’ Levels English, Geography and Economics, Heversham Grammar School, Cumbria 1985

O’ Levels – Six passed, Milnthorpe Secondary School, Cumbria 1982

Main areas of expertise

§ Human Geography, Environmental management and Development theory

§ Geography of food, including household food security

§ Debate on indigenous technical knowledge

§ African agrarian change

§ Knowledge of trees and foods in southern Africa

§ Hybrid and mixed approaches to geographical research

§ Research techniques and methods including interviews, aerial photo analysis, archive work, soil analysis and mapping work

§ Critical understanding of Participatory Research Appraisal (PRA)

§ MS-Word, Excel, SPSS, PowerPoint

§ Language skills in Shona, Tonga and CiNyanja

Employment history

Part time Lecturer and supervisor, University of Gloucestershire, 2007 – ongoing. Francis Close Hall Campus, University of Gloucestershire, Swindon Road, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ

· Teaching and supporting student on five modules including: EL354 ‘Conserving Valued Environments’; CI401 ‘Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation’; EM412 ‘Environmental Policy, Planning and Legislation’; EM498 ‘Independent Study’. Delivering material, supervision on masters Independent Study, establish exam papers and carry out the full range of assessment.

Versioning Consultant for TESSA (Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa), Open University, 2007 The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA

· Adapting educational material to suit particular countries and covering the five curriculum areas of literacy, numeracy, primary science, life skills and social studies and the arts.

Visiting Tutor, Newport University, 2006 – present. School of Health and Social Science, Caerleon Campus, PO Box 179, Newport, NP18 3YG, Wales

· Environmental Monitoring & Risk Assessment (2007-8)

· Waste & Energy Management (2007-8)

· G106294 Independent Study (2007-2008 supervision)

· G105284 Sustainable Urban Environments

· G105290 Sustainable Development of Resources

Delivering and facilitating five modules to 2^nd and 3^rd year students including setting assignments and exam papers. In 2007-8 I have been supervising three undergraduate dissertations and three Independent Study reports.

Associate Lecturer, Open University, 2002 – present The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA

§ Level 2: D215 The Shape of the World. Explorations in Human Geography

§ Level 3: DU310 Environmental Policies in the International Context

§ Level 3: DD304 Understanding Cities

§ Level 2: U216 Environment: Change, Contest and Response

§ Masters: TU871 Development: Context and Practice

§ Monitoring all other tutors for marking and distant learning on TU871

Successfully completed sixth year of tutoring with approximately seventy students each year. I also work with a blind student, a student in prison, and one student needed additional support for a re-sit on DD304.

Occasional Lecturer, University of the West of England, Bristol 1997 – present School of Geography & Environmental Management, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY

§ ‘The Geography of Global Development’

§ ‘Geography and Environmental Management’

Invited each year to deliver lectures and to facilitate seminars to support modules facilitated by Dr. Alan Terry

Lecturer, Edge Hill College, Ormskirk, Lancashire 1997 – 2001 Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP

§ Part of teaching team in Department of History module on ‘Decolonisation’

§ Teaching field research methods in Department of Geography, including tutor support work on four field trips to the Lake District in Cumbria

§ Lectures in Department of Afro Asian Studies course on ‘History and culture of Mozambique and Zambia’

§ Teaching on ‘Fastrack’ Access course: ‘Study Skills’ for social science students

Tutor, Brunel College of Further Education, Bristol 1996. Ashley DownRoad Bristol BS7 9BU

§ Teaching on an ‘access’ course in Geography and Development

Development Education Officer, Southern African Resource Centre (SARC), Bristol 1993-1994 6 West Street, St Philips, Bristol, Avon, BS2 0BH

§ Work in schools to promote awareness of conditions in Bristol’s twin city Beira, Mozambique

§ Organising events and liaising with other NGOs including Oxfam

§ Production of KS3 Resource Pack for all schools in the Bristol area. Commended in TES

Export Sales Administrator, United Flexible, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales 1990-1992 Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales CF48 1UX

Co-ordinating sales of metal flexible hose to countries including France, Pakistan, South Africa and Israel

Voluntary and other miscellaneous work

UN Observer during first democratic elections in Mozambique, October 1994

Visited schools on behalf of Oxfam Development Education department, 1992-1994

Represented Bristol in an official visit to twin city Beira, Mozambique, 1993

Farm work and volunteer supervision, ‘Mwanandani Farm Project’, Chirundu, Zambia, 1988

Committees and membership

Royal African Society - member

Developing Areas Research Group (DARG), IBG/IGS – member and recent consultant on adapting A’ Level geography to new theory in development studies.

BaZiSAN (Bristol and Zimbabwe Sustainable Agricultural Network) – committee member, helped host Zephaniah Phiri (‘The Water Harvester’) from Zimbabwe

BZS (Britain Zimbabwe Society) – committee member, regular contributor to Research Day and Dayschool organiser 2003

Bristol ACTSA – committee member and contributor to ‘Africa Focus’ events in Bristol during October and November each year

Other interests

Documentary Photography

Ecology and soils

Permaculture and allotment husbandry

Foods and cookery

Cycling, film and swimming

References

Current Employers:

The Open University in the South West,

4-5 Portwall Lane,

BRISTOL

BS1 6ND

Telephone: 0117 9299641

Email: south-west@open.ac.uk

Department of Natural and Social Sciences
FCH Campus
University of Gloucestershire
Swindon Road
Cheltenham
GL50 4AZ
Tel.: +44 (0)1242 714823

Email: nss@glos.ac.uk

Environmental Management

C/O School of Health and Social Science
University of Wales, Newport

Caerleon Campus
PO Box 179
Newport
NP18 3YG

Telephone: 01633 432093

Email: hssadmin@newport.ac.uk

PhD Supervisor:

Dr. Murray Steele,

6 Chestnut Road

ORMSKIRK,

Lancashire

L39 2JB

Tel. No: 01695 580846

Email: Steelemandf@tesco.net

Line Manager, Open University

Dr. David Butts

The Open University in the East Midlands
Clarendon Park
Clumber Avenue
Sherwood Rise
Nottingham
NG5 1AH

Tel +44(0)115 962 5451

Email: D.Butts@open.ac.uk

Colleague and friend:

Dr. Alan Terry,

Senior Lecturer

School of Geography & Environmental Management,

Faculty of the Built Environment,

University of the West of England,

Coldharbour Lane,

Bristol,

BS16 1QY

Telephone: 0117 3443126

Email: alan.terry@uwe.ac.uk

Other Activities of relevance

In September 2003 I organised the Britain Zimbabwe Society (BZS) day school on ‘culture’, bringing together academics, performers and presenters at the Commonwealth Museum in Bristol. We were successful in a bid for funding from the Arts Council.

In October and November 2005 I organised the ‘Africa Focus’ talks in Bristol (see listing below)

On October 30^th 2006 I co-organised with Oxfam the ‘Africa: Up in Smoke?’. Speakers included scientists, NGOs and livelihoods geographer Professor Mike Mortimore (http://www.drylandsresearch.org.uk/)

List of Publications

· James, N (July 2008) ‘Household food security and regional geography. Livelihood prospects in Nembudziya, North West Zimbabwe.’ IN: Geography Compass Volume 2 Issue 5 pp. (pp. 1337-1362) http://www.blackwell-compass.com/subject/geography/

· James, N. (2008) ‘Review’ of Levy, S., editor, 2005: Starter Packs: A strategy to fight hunger in developing countries? Wallingford: CABI Publishing. xxii + 295pp. £65.00. ISBN 0851990088 (including CD-ROM). IN:  Progress in Development Studies 9, 2 (2009) pp. 165-167

· James, N. (2008) ‘Review’ of Thomas, A. and Mohan, G. editors, 2007: Research Skills for Policy and Development. How to find out fast London, Sage Publications SECOND EDITION ISBN: 978-1-4129-4564-6. IN: Journal of International Development , VOL 20; NUMBER 4, pages 573-574

· James, N. (Abstract) ‘Understanding household food security through regional and place geography. The case of Nembudziya, North West Zimbabwe’ IGU Commission on The Cultural Approach in Geography conference ‘The Changing Cultural Geographies of Place, Region and Mobility’ May 25–26 2007, Oulu, Finland

· James, N. (paper submission) ‘Is the livelihoods perspective local? Examining the case of agrarian change and household food security in North West Zimbabwe’ paper submitted for conference Perspectives on Development III: Local Development and Reactions to Globalization Wednesday 25th – Friday 27th January, 2006 Gregynog Hall, Newtown, Powys, Wales, UK

· James, N. (2006) ‘Factors affecting the sustainability of cotton production: Changing rural livelihoods in the North-West region in Zimbabwe’ IN: Hill, J., Terry, A. and Woodland, W. (Eds.) Sustainable Development: National aspirations, local implementation, Ashgate Publishing Limited pp.175-204

· James, N. (2006) ‘Differences in geography: From greenhouses to cotton and from Zimba to fantasy football’ chapter in Woodhead, S. and Chapman, A. (Eds.) Human or Physical? People and places of Edge Hill Green Lane Books

· James, N. (draft) ‘Review Article on African Environment’ for Journal of Southern African Studies Keeley, J. and Scoones, I. (2003) Understanding Environmental Policy Processes: Cases from Africa Sussex University, IDS; Witoshynsky, M. (2000) The Water Harvester. Episodes from the inspired life of Zephaniah Phiri Harare, Weaver Press; Adams, W.M. and Mulligan, M. (Eds.) Decolonizing Nature. Strategies for conservation in a Post-colonial era London, Earthscan; Scoones, I. And Wolmer, W. (Eds.) Pathways of change in Africa. Crops, livestock and livelihoods in Mali, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe James Currey Publishers; Andersson, A. (2002) The bright lights grow fainter. Livelihoods, migration and a small town in Zimbabwe Stockholm, Almqvist and Wiksell International; Bassett, T.J. and Crumney, D. (Eds.) African Savannas. Global narratives and local knowledge of environmental change Oxford, James Currey

· James, N. and Terry, A. (Draft) ‘Politics in participatory development: Research processes, and community development. A critical understanding using case studies from Zimbabwe and South Africa’ Draft of paper originally presented at conference ‘Participation: From tyranny to transformation? Exploring new approaches to participation in development’ co-hosted by Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester and Development Policy and Practice Discipline, Open University held at University of Manchester 27-28th February 2003. Submitted to European Journal of Development Research

· James, N. (unpublished paper) ‘Behind food security: Good meals, new delicacies, and crying for the old foods. Learning from food culture in Nembudziya, Gokwe North, Zimbabwe’ submitted to Zambezia Paper originally presented to ‘Livelihoods’ panel at African Studies Association (ASAUK) Conference “What can we learn from Africa?” The Manor House, University of Birmingham 9-11 September 2002

· James, N. (2002) ‘Malnutrition data, food security and the geography of food in a communal area of North West Zimbabwe’ Global and Built Environment Review (GBER) Volume 2, Number 3, pp. 42-53

· James, N. (2001) ‘Review’ of Munro, W.A. (1998) The Moral Economy of the State. Conservation, Community Development and State Making in Zimbabwe Center for International Studies, Ohio University Progress in Development Studies Volume 1, Number 1, pp. 79-80

· James, N. (1998) ‘Review’ of Hasler, R. (1996) Agriculture, Foraging and Wildlife Resource Use in Africa. Cultural and Political Dynamics in the Zambezi Valley London, Keegan Paul International Africa Volume 68, Number 3, pp. 441-442

· James, N. (1997) ‘Review’ of Scoones, I., Chibuda, C., Chikura, S., Jeranyama, P., Machaka, D., Machanja, W., Mavedzenge, B., Mudhara, M., Mudziwo, C., Murimbarimba, F. and Zirereza, B. (1996) Hazards and Opportunities. Farming Livelihoods in Dryland Africa. Lessons from Zimbabwe London, Zed Press Journal of Southern African Studies Volume 23, Number 4, pp. 668-669

· James, N. (1993) Beira. Learning from a distant city Key Stage 3 Schools Resource Pack Bristol, Southern Africa Resource Centre (SARC)

· Welsh Assembly Government (2006) Independent Review of Part-Time Higher Education Study in Wales DELLS, Cardiff (Co-writer for Final Report)

Other Academic activity

Africa's Riches: The new geographies of resources in the 21st century (Africa Focus Events, 2005)

The sugar industry in Swaziland - Alan Terry, UWE – 12^th October, 2005
The water industries in South Africa and Tanzania - Nevil Quinn, UWE and Mike Sansom, African Initiatives – 19^th October 2005
‘Changing Geographies and the Poverty Challenge in Southern Africa’. - Professor David Simon, Royal Holloway 26^th October 2005
Resettlement, drought and the environment in Zimbabwe - Vimbai Kwashirai, Liverpool University, 2^nd November 2005
Sustainable cotton in Zimbabwe? - Nick James, Open University and PAN (Pesticide Action Network UK) 9^th November 2005
Reflecting back on the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign (Roger James)