Dr Melissa Jogie, an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Roehampton, has been conducting impactful research on homelessness in London. Her journey began with a BIG South London Innovation Voucher (£5K) partnership with Sutton Night Watch Homeless Charity, which kickstarted her research interest in homelessness. This fruitful collaboration has since blossomed, with Dr Jogie securing 4 additional projects in partnership with the charity valuing approximately £330K in research related to homelessness.
We are thrilled to announce that Dr Jogie will be presenting her research at the prestigious British Academy Summer Showcase. This event offers a unique platform for academics to transform their research into activities for public engagement. Competing with over 100 applicants, Dr Jogie’s project is one of the few selected, marking a significant achievement and a first time win for both her and the University of Roehampton.
The Summer Showcase is a three-day festival which promises an unforgettable experience filled with book awards, guest speakers, workshops, and wine in the BA’s beautiful private gardens—a true celebration of social sciences. Roehampton students and colleagues are encouraged to attend this free event and support Dr Jogie in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
To support the exhibition, the University of Roehampton is collecting items for donation at drop-off points across campus. These donations will be incorporated into one of the activities in the project. You can find drop off points at Digby Chapel, Digby Den, Southlands Reef, Whitelands Diner, Froebel Diner, and the library. We encourage staff and students to help us by donating clothing items that are waterproof, bum bags, deodorant, sanitary items, new undergarments, wet wipes, socks, gloves, water bottles, bandages, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen, tuna and cracker packs, trail mix, crackers, nail clippers, rain ponchos, hairbrushes, hand lotion, lip balm, ace towels, chewable multi-vitamins, and tissues. We ask that you consider what might be of comfort for you if you had to spend a day on the streets.
Dr Jogie’s research will be showcased through three interactive stations:
- A Role Play Game: Visitors can interact with a 3D model of Sutton region capturing key areas which tell a story of homelessness. A Games Master will challenge you to make some choices which help you exploring the burden of choices one has to make when experiencing homelessness.
- Mini-Clips of Research: You can silently view short clips of stories of the research, how the data was collected through mobility GPS trackers over the course of months, listen in to how the study was designed, the risked managed and what the findings hope to acheive.
- Messages of Hope: Your donations will be used in this station for the public to write messages of hope and create small hampers which will be wrapped and distributed through Sutton Night Watch to people who are rough sleeping or experiencing homelessness in South London.
Dr Jogie’s work aims to provide a deeper understanding of what it feels like to be homeless, how individuals spend their time, and the culture surrounding homelessness. She hopes her research will inspire empathy and compassion, encouraging visitors who engage with the exhibition a gentle reminder to not take their own circumstances for granted.
Join us at The British Academy’s Summer Showcase from Friday 12 – Saturday 13 of July to support Dr Jogie and visit other innovative and exciting research on display selected from across the UK. Register for free here.
You can read more about Dr Melissa Jogie on her website here and her LinkedIn here.