Mike Kesby

Dr. Mike Kesby is a Human Geographer by training with broad range of research interests that stretch across a number of fields (health, gender and sexuality, participatory approaches, children and youth, and development). Most of his research has been conducted in east and southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya).  His methodological skill set lies in the area of qualitative approaches such as ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviewing, focus-groups, archival and documentary research, participatory diagramming and participatory drama, film and poster making. He employs a variety of analytical techniques including discourse analysis and computer assisted systematic qualitative data analysis (Nvivo). Although his projects have always involved on-the-ground empirical data collection (working primarily in English or with translators/field assistants/participant collaborators), his work has always attempted to integrate this with an interest in critical theory; using theory to help interpret empirical findings and field data to test and develop theoretical frameworks.  His theoretical inspirations include feminist, post-structural and most recently, new materialist insights, all of which he attempts to fold into participatory approaches to working with grassroot communities.

He has worked on the spatial dimensions of gender relations in pre-to-post-colonial Zimbabwe, gender and generational subjectivities and sexual health communication around HIV, the use of participatory methods and their use in sexual health research, the theorisation of empowerment, young people and sexual health, the social construction of childhood and critical revaluations of international paradigms of risk assessment relating to blood donor selection.

Mike is a senior social scientist in the StAAHR network, working closely with colleagues in both St Andrews and East Africa to design the social science tools and protocols of several major funded projects (HATUA, CARE and several GCRF projects). He takes lead in qualitative data analysis and training, capacity building as well as co-supervising PhD students in and from East Africa.