Dr Eva McGrath
Profiles

Dr Eva McGrath

Research Fellow (ELMS-Exchange)

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

Eva McGrath is a social researcher, who uses creative methods with communities to research narratives about water. 

Qualifications

Research Fellow (ELMS-Exchange), School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2024
NERC Cross-Disciplinary Research Fellow, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences with School of Nursing and Midwifery, 2023
Social Science Researcher, Environmental Land Management Strategic Knowledge Exchange Hub (ELMS-Exchange), 2022
Research Fellow, Green Minds, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, 2020 - 2022
PhD Human Geography, University of Plymouth, 2017 – 2021
MA Comparative Literature, King’s College London, Distinction, 2016
BA English Language and Literature, King’s College London, First, 2015
Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

Seminars and Teaching: Undergraduate
November 2022 Between Land and Water, Shared research outputs relating to interdisciplinary approaches to ecology as part of a mini-symposium for BA Fine Art students (Arts and Ecology). Invited by Dr Angela Piccini.
October 2021Across the River: using observation, reflective writing, sketches and field notes to reflect upon the relationship between land and water.Delivered a creative workshop drawing upon my participatory and creative doctoral research on the Cremyll Ferry for BA Fine Art students (Art and Ecology). Invited by Emma Bush.
February 2020 Borders GGH3206 Geography with International Relations, University of Plymouth. Created and delivered a 2 hour lecture on the theme of 'Borders' for third year Human Geography with International relations students, utilising PhD research on rivers and borders, and which included a creative task. Invited by Dr Nichola Harmer.
October 2019 CitizenshipGGH3201, University of Plymouth. Delivered a 2 hour interactive seminar with third year Human Geography students using a stakeholder debate structure to understand different perspectives of Brexit for citizens in the UK, Europe and Commonwealth. Invited by Professor Richard Yarwood.
March 2019 Plymouth and Identity GGX1204, University of Plymouth. Delivered 12 hours of workshops to second year Human Geography students focused upon the collection and analysis of primary data related to the experience of place through ethnographic methods.
October 2018 CitizenshipGGH3201, University of Plymouth. Delivered a 2 hour interactive seminar with third year Human Geography students using a stakeholder debate structure to understand different perspectives of Brexit for citizens in the UK and Europe.

Seminars and Teaching: Postgraduate

February 2022 From river to sea: my PhD journey. Invited by Professor Mandy Bloomfield to deliver a two-hour presentation for MA Environmental Humanities students.
Public Talks - Communicating Research
April 2023, 'Water and Wellbeing', Ocean Conservation Trust. Part of an event discussing the impact of water and wellbeing, in particular through sea swimming. Invited to share 'Immersion' research and pop-up exhibition at the National Marine Aquarium. Invited by Lottie Hawkins.
September 2022, 'Across the River Tamar', Cremyll Ferry Plymouth. An onboard and online exhibition showcasing creative and social research about the Cremyll Ferry. Invited by Plymouth Boat Trips.
June 2022, 'Across the River Torridge, Appledore - Instow Ferry, Devon. A pop-up research exhibition showcasing creative and social research about the Appledore - Instow Ferry. Invited by Appledore-Instow Ferry Ltd.


December 2018 ‘Pies, Pints and PhD’s’, National Marine Aquarium. Presented PhD research to a non-specialised audience to showcase the richness and diversity of research into river and marine environments. Invited by Professor John Spicer.
Interactive Workshops
November 2022 Creative Methods and exploring experiences of watery places. Delivered a two-hour workshop for A Level Geography students introducing students to creative methods for understanding how people experience rivers and coastal areas. Part of module 'Changing Places: Quantitative and Qualitative Research for A-Level Success. Invited by Dr Nichola Harmer
August 2022 November 21 Lost Words Poetry Reading. Curated a poetry reading of the Lost Words at Plymouth Nature Festival using poetry, story and song to encourage visitors to reflect upon their relationship with the natural world at Poole Farm (Derriford Community Park)
June 2021 Valuing the Plymouth Coast: a transdisciplinary perspective. Invited to be speak at The University of Plymouth World Oceans Day Schools Conference, representing the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences
April 2021 Water and Wellbeing. Led a two-hour focus group discussion with students at City College Plymouth to identify students relationship with water in Plymouth (experiences, barriers, solutions)
November 21 Lost Words Poetry Reading. Curated a poetry reading of the Lost Words at Plymouth Nature Festival using poetry, story and song to encourage visitors to reflect upon their relationship with the natural world at Poole Farm (Derriford Community Park)
I worked as a Debate Mate Mentor with the educational charity Debate Mate(2012 - 2017) in London, Nepal, Nigeria and South Korea, teaching students how to debate through interactive workshops focused upon structure, style and content. Key skills include the development of critical, creative and lateral thinking, teamwork, resilience, empathy, leadership and confidence.
Research

Research

Research interests

sea swimming, creative methods, matrescence, rivers, borders

Other research

Funded Research Projects 
Immersion: exploring maternal experiences of sea swimming - bridging health and humanities. NERC Research Fellowship, collaboration with Professor Jill Shawe (January - March 2024), £8000
Immersion: voices of Plymouth sea swimmers. Marine Institute pump priming, collaboration with Dr Laura Denning (January - July 2023), £5000
Research Exhibitions
Immersion Maternal, The Box Plymouth, March - October 2024
Immersion Maternal, Maker Heights Cornwall, May 2023
Across the River, Cremyll Ferry, World Rivers Day September 2022
Immersion Voices, Meanwhile Space Plymouth, July 2022
Across the River, Instow Parish Hall, June 2022
Invited Research Presentations
Sea Swimming through Pregnancy, University of Plymouth student midwives conference, December 2023
Immersion Maternal, presentation of research for national experts on cold water swimming including Heather Massey, Mike Tipton, Mark Harper, Joyce Harper, Ruth Stidson, Gail Bainbridge, Katie Fraser. Invited by Jill Shawe. 
Watery Research Methods, Ocean Studios Plymouth, September 2023 
Ocean Conversations at the Aquarium Plymouth, April 2023
Creative Research Methods and Ecology, presentation for BA Fine Art students, invited by Dr Angela Piccini 
Academic Research Conferences
Rivers as Borders? double panel session, RGS - IBG, London.Co-organised panel with Rebekka Kanesu, Trier University, September 2021.
Flows of Entanglement: how rivers shape identities, University of Plymouth, Co-organised conference with Sally Sutton and Zoe Latham, University of Plymouth, as part of the Association of Literature and the Environment, September 2019
 
Workshops Organised
Lost Words Poetry and Creative Responses, interactive workshops using poetry and songs to inspire connection to the natural world. Plymouth Festival of Nature, Poole Farm 2021, 2022
The Right to the Water: Public Space or Private Asset? hosted an afternoon workshop with colleagues Dr Sally Sutton and Zoe Latham inviting researchers and practitioners to discuss water issues in Plymouth and beyond, with a view to exchange ideas and explore the possibilities of research avenues, June 2022. 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Dissertation Supervisor
Mary Ratajczyk, 'Out-of-place: Gulls in the City', Environmental Humanities MA, September 2022
Jessica Jarvis, 'How will the transition to a National Marine Park of the Plymouth Sound impact the amount of noise exposed to the local marine inhabitants?', School of Biological and Marine Sciences with Oceonagraphy Marine Biology, BSc, April 2022

Grants & contracts

NERC 'Cross Disciplinary research for Discovery Science' Fellowship Awards': 'Exploring maternal experiences of sea swimming - bridging health and humanities', January - March 2023 Cross disciplinary collaboration with Professor Jill Shawe to understand pregnant women's experiences of sea swimming through matrescence. Methods include diaries, health-informed workshops, exhibition.
 
Marine Institute Pump-Priming Research Grant: 'Immersion: voices of Plymouth sea swimmers', January - July 2022
A University of Plymouth grant awarded to support research that connects people to the coast in Plymouth and works in collaboration with local organisations (Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth City Council), in the context of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Creative collaboration with artist Laura Denning inviting 25 swimmers to keep a diary of their swims. Led 4 workshops on themes such as health and wellbeing, water quality, environmental connection. Curated a research exhibition showcasing work in Plymouth City Centre (Meanwhile Space), including Sea Portraits combining underwater photographs with diary entries, time-lapse view and documentary film.

University of Plymouth funded studentship, 'Across the river: ferries as a vehicle for exploring riverborderscapes', April 2017 - May 2021. Pass, no corrections.
This thesis used the concept of the riverborderscape to provide new understandings of watery geographies, borders and landscape. This is a spatial and conceptual term used to explore the space of the river as border and the importance of understanding the materialities, experiences and narratives that shape, emerge within and construct this space. Mixed methodology used including ethnography, participant observation, field poetry, survey, interviews and reflection cards. Thesis examined by Professor Kim Peters and Professor Owain Jones, March 2021 (Pass, no corrections). Supervised by Dr Nichola Harmer and Professor Richard Yarwood.
 

Creative practice & artistic projects

Invited Artistic Collaborations
Emma Bush, Across the River Tamar. Led MA art students to consider rivers and borders through the Cremyll passenger Ferry, October 2022
Kate Paxman, ‘Excursion’, Paignton Beach, UK. A staged exercise in non-representational ethnographic practices that are site-responsive, July 2019 
Laura Denning, ‘Water Journeys’, Bridgewater & Somerset Canal, UK. Advisory and participatory role with 12 other female scholars and artists to create a conversation around watery themes whilst cruising the Bridgewater & Somerset Canal, May 2019 
Andy Hughes,  ‘Plastic Scoop’, University of Plymouth, UK. Advisory and participatory role as he develops his funded environmental project using machinima filmmaking as a creative method to share new perspectives and approaches about plastic pollution, climate change and ecology through in-game footage from Grand Theft Auto V and archival footage, February 2019
‘Looking for Melville’, British Library, London (literature). Invited to chair a discussion at the British Library with artists Caroline Hack, Michael Hall and producer Dr Shelly Piasecka, June 2017
Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
McGrath E., Harmer, N., and Yarwood, R., (2020) ‘Ferries as travelling landscapes: tourists and watery mobilities’ in eds. Kaaristo, M., and Rhodes, S., ‘Travelling and travelled landscapes: imaginations, politics and mobilities of tourism’, International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research. (forthcoming)

Articles
McGrath E, Harmer N & Yarwood R (2020) 'Ferries as travelling landscapes: tourism and watery mobilities' International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print) , DOI Open access
Books
Fereð ofer flodas: floating on a ferry in Charlotte Bates and Kate Moles, 'Living with Water'. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2023
Personal

Personal

Other academic activities

Conferences
September 2021. Royal Geographical Society Conference, online. Paper entitled: 'Riverborderscape: a perspective from inbetween' in the 'Rivers as Borders? panel, chaired by Rebekka Kanesu, Eva McGrath,, Vanessa Lamb 
September 2019. Stories that Matter: exploring (re)presentation and communication of hydrosocial research, Workshop with Delta Project Team, Cologne, Germany, chaired by Franz Krause, Sandro Simon, Nora Horisberger, Benoit Ivars, Teresa Cremer
April 2019. International Society for Ethnology and Folklore, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Paper entitled “Speaking rivers: the lyrical, the literary and the literal narratives of rivers in South West England” in the “Social Lives of Rivers and Canals” panel, chaired by Maarja Kaaristo, Francesco Visentin
September 2018. Royal Geographical Society Conference, Cardiff University. Paper entitled: “Shall we cross the river?” Exploring narratives of tourists taking to the water in the South West” in the “Travelling Landscapes” panel, chaired by Maarja Kaaristo, Stephen Rhodes
July 2018: Mobilities and Migration, University of Plymouth. Paper entitled: ‘Across the River: the role of river ferries in fluctuating, connecting, and leaving waiting bankside communities’, chaired by Mark Holton
June 2018. Liquidscapes: tales and tellings of watery worlds and fluid states, Dartington. Paper entitled: ‘Fluid River Borders: ferry crossing narratives and the experience of being between’ in the “Spaces Between” panel.
December 2017. Cornerstone Heritage Symposium, Saltram House. Paper entitled: ‘Traces across the Water: ferries, horses, borders and watercourses of the Tamar River 1700 – 2017’
September 2017. Royal Geographic Society Conference, Imperial College London
July 2017. Sea as Archive, Plymouth University.
June 2017. Looking for Melville, British Library. Chaired a discussion with artists Caroline Hack, Michael Hall and producer Dr. Shelley Piasecka. The audience comprised of members of the public and specialised, international Melville academics.
June 2017. Territories: Land/Water Symposium, Plymouth University.
June 2017: On the Moors: Performance Experience, Dartmoor.
April 2017. Mobilities, Literature and Culture, Lancaster University. Paper entitled: 'Movement through the waters: Sound, Song and Symphony in Herman Melville's Moby Dick' in the “Music and Soundscapes” panel. 
April 2017. NNCN Water, Leeds Trinity. Paper entitled: 'Crossing the River into freedom: borders, form and maternal connection in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin' in the “Slavery and Liberation” panel. 
September 2016. Postcolonial Seas Research Seminar Series, University of London. 
September 2015. Underwater Worlds: Aquatic Visions in Art, Science and Literature, University of Oxford.