Eleanor Pendle of Oxford University is our 2020 Winner for her dissertation entitled ‘The Poblenou Superblock: Rights, Responsibilities and Exclusions‘. An engaging and detailed study of rights to the city, social justice, and urban citizenship in a Barcelona ‘superblock’, the panel were impressed by the study’s rigorous scholarship, nuanced analysis, and rich, in-depth fieldwork conducted across languages. The committee felt that this was an outstanding example of social/cultural geographical work.
Bethan Jones of Edinburgh University is our runner-up this year for her dissertation entitled ‘Walking Utopia: How is Harlow New Town remembered through public sculpture walks? A case for transcorporeal geographies of memory‘. In a dissertation that took an innovative, creative approach to the geographical study of art and memory, the panel praised the study’s ambition and originality, its sensitive handling of the research process, and the creative flair it demonstrates in its writing.
The winner receives a prize of £100, and both have been given a one-year free subscription to the journal Social and Cultural Geography courtesy of Taylor & Francis.
In total we received 23 submissions for the prize this year from universities up and down the country, with work spanning the breadth of social and cultural geography. Many thanks to all students who submitted to the prize – we wish you all the best in your onward steps. We look forward to continuing the prize next year and await your submissions!