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Kate Boyer

Dr Kate Boyer

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Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Kate Boyer

Overview

I am a Human Geographer with an international reputation for research on gender, space, embodiment and social justice.  I have nearly 50 publications (most in international peer-reviewed journals), written a sole-authored monograph (Spaces and Politics of Motherhood, 2018, Roman and Littlefield Press), and three further edited books. I have a consistent track record of successful research bidding, with grants in recent years from the British Academy (£9,900, PI) in 2024-2025 on the menopause as lived experience, the Marston Fund (NZ, £158,284, Co-I) from 2021-2024 on wellbeing and belonging amongst new mothers in New Zealand; and the EPSRC (£149,930, Co-I) from 2020-2022 on infant and maternal health in South Africa.  I have substantively contributed to national and regional policy through presenting my research on mothers' experiences of breastfeeding outside the home in the UK House of Commons in 2015 and serving on the advisory panel of the 'Care and Austerity' initiative at Oxford University (2018-2019). 

I am also passionate about teaching and have been a member of the Higher Education Academy since 2008.  I am a key member or module leader of the teaching team on two of the keystone required modules in the School: Making Knowledge and Geographical Ideas (approx. 240 and 160 students respectively) as well as leading on two further specialist modules (Social Geography and Gender, Space and Place) which are consistently well subscribed (approx.80 and 60 students respectively).  All of these modules receive consistently high student satisfaction scores.  Finally, my enthusiasm for teaching and level of care for my students at Cardiff has led to nominations for awards in categories of 'Most Outstanding Learning Experience'; 'Most Uplifting Staff Member of the Year'; Tutor of the Year' and 'Most Inspiring Staff Person of the Year' over the last four years of the Enriching Student Life awards scheme. 

 

 

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

  • Mayes, R., Pini, B. and Boyer, K. 2015. Becoming Kalgoorlie. Griffith Review(47), article number: Online article.

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2006

2005

2004

2003

1998

1996

Articles

Book sections

Books

Research

My research extends understanding about the socio-spatial politics of gender as a lived, relational and embodied experience.  One of the main ways I have focused these interests over the last 15 years has been through research on the spatial practices of early motherhood.  In 2018 I published a capstone book entitled Spaces and Politics of Motherhood with Roman and Littlefield Press which was the culmination of 10 years of research (some of which was funded by the ESRC).  My expertise in this area has also led to my involvement in several funded research projects with other scholars and teams internationally as well as presenting my work to the UK Parliament (see section on 'Overview' for details). 

Since 2018 my research has expanded to focus on two further streams.  The first extends understanding about kinds of spaces and practices that are needed to combat sexual harassment and bring forth more positive gender-cultures in the UK; and the second explores womens' experiences of the menopause in day to day life (this work is funded by a grant from the British Academy on which I am the Principal Investigator).  Together this work has led to a re-theorisation of bystander and consent workshops as spaces of everyday gender and LGBTQI+ activism, and the potential of the local state as a sale for promoting more equitable gender-cultures. The second stream will extend what is curently very limited understanding of the menopause as a purely medical condition, to better understand this phenomenon as a lived, relational and embodied experience through in-depth research with women across four study-sites in the UK. 

 

Research Grants in recent years: 

  • British Academy (£9,900, PI) in 2024-2025 on the menopause as lived experience
  • The Marston Fund (NZ, £158,284, Co-I) from 2021-2024 on wellbeing and belonging amongst new mothers in New Zealand
  • The EPSRC (£149,930, Co-I) from 2020-2022 on infant and maternal health in South Africa
  • The Wellcome Trust (£7,500, Co-I) from 2015-2016 on oral histories of home births in Wales in the 1960s
  • ESRC (£30,000, Co-I) from 2014-2018 Networking Grant on building bridges between breastfeeding research, policy and practice 
  • Esteemed Scholar Research Grant (£4,400, PI), Curtain University, Perth, Australia, 2011

   

Teaching

I have shown leadership in teaching and learning and been a catalyst for innovation in the School in my role as Human Geography course director from 2017-2020. During this time I brought in a highly successful Professional Year Out in Practice Programme as well as introducing our 'Race, Space and Place' module, which aids the work of decolonising our curriculum.  I contribute across the School from Undergraduate, Masters and PhD teaching in small, medium and large teaching settings. I have consistently high teaching evaluations and have been nominated for numerous awards for my teaching (see 'Overview' section). 

I currently module-lead or serve as a fundamental member of the teaching team on the following Undergraduate Modules: 

  • Geographical Ideas (N: approx. 240)
  • Making Knowledge (N:approx.160)
  • Social Geography (N: approx. 80)
  • Gender, Space and Place (N: approx. 60) 

 

 

 

Biography

I am a Reader in Human Geography, having received my PhD from McGill University and my MA from the University of British Columbia. Prior to coming to Cardiff in 2014 I served for seven years as a lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Southampton, and five years as a Visiting Assistant Professor (lecturer) in the Department of Science and Technology Studies in Troy, New York. I have also held positions as a lecturer in the School of Geography and Planning at the State University of New York, and as a policy researcher at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, New York. I have received multiple awards for my teaching, currently supervise three PhD students, and am open to supervising additional PhD students in areas relating to my fields of expertise.

Qualifications

  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy 2008
  • Ph.D (Human Geography) McGill University, Quebec 2001
  • M.A. (Human Geography) University of British Columbia 1994
  • B.A.Geography (Cum Laude), Macalester College (Minnesota, USA)1991

Employment

  • 2014 - present, Lecturer-Reader in Human Geography, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University.
  • 2007, Lecturer Human Geography, School of Geography, Southampton.
  • 2002-2007, Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
  • 2000-02, Researcher, Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, Albany, New York.
  • 1998-00, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, The State University of New York at Albany.

 

Supervisions

 I would consider supervising any project relating to the broad fields of menopause, care-work, parenting or breastfeeding. I am also keen on supervising topics relating to education-based programmes aimed at reducing sexual harassment and sexual violence on University campuses and promoting more positive forms of masculinity and better understandings of consent, including enhancing understanding about which such programmes are most effective.

 

 

Current supervision

Charlotte Seegers

Charlotte Seegers

Bethany Francis

Bethany Francis

Contact Details

Email BoyerK@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 75244
Campuses Glamorgan Building, Room Room 2.93, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA