![Aled Singleton BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/6621?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Aled Singleton
(he/him)
BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Teams and roles for Aled Singleton
Lecturer
Overview
I am a social and cultural geographer with an interest in long-term emotional and affective attachments to place and I specialise in public participation, using online spatial workshops, walking approaches and qualitative biographical methods. My PhD considered the long-term relationships with infrastructure investments made to industry, housing and shopping centres in the 1960s and 1970s. My current research focuses on energy transitions, where I am currently leading a public value engagement project to visualise the future of energy supply. This involves hybrid workshops and links Wales to northern Pakistan and beyond.
I am a member of the 2025 Welsh Crucible cohort, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Co-Chair / Treasurer of the Participatory Geography Research Group. I am an HEA Fellow and teach across Human Geography, including border spaces, development, the climate emergency, globalisation, dissertation preparation, lower carbon fieldtrips, and qualitative research methods.
Since joining Cardiff University in 2024 I have been exploring the socio-economic dimensions of Tidal Reach in Wales, with partners including engineers and developers. Working directly for Welsh Government I have conducted interviews with key stakeholders to understand how different ownership and linked development/financing models might impact how far tidal range developments have positive impacts on the Welsh economy.
I co-edited the first edition of Agoriad: A Journal of Spatial Theory with a specific focus on Indigenous ontologies. I am experienced writer with a growing body of publications in social and cultural geography, publishing in journals including Area, GeoHumanities, Geo: Geography and Environment, Visual Studies, Cities & Health, Soundings, blogs in The Conversation, and have book chapters in three Routledge publications: researcher vulnerability, walking methods for lifecourse research, and teaching outdoors.
I am a co-author of the Climate Comic, a collaboration between south Wales communities, researchers, an advisory group and illustrator Laura Sorvala to understand older and younger people’s climate change perceptions, imaginaries and behaviours in the places that matter to them
Publication
2025
- Singleton, A. et al. 2025. Working with an advisory group to co-create innovative intergenerational climate change research. Cogent Gerontology 4(1), article number: 2587010. (10.1080/28324897.2025.2587010)
- Singleton, A. 2025. What participatory geographers can contribute to studying urban renewal over the long term. Geography Directions (10.55203/LPCQ2931)
- Singleton, A. 2025. Attachment to our home town runs deep - so what happens when it faces dramatic change?. The Conversation (10.64628/AB.9x3qauxw5)
- Singleton, A., Brookes, E. and Slatter, R. 2025. Participatory collaborations between geographers and performance artists: Taking urban renewal histories to the street. Area, article number: e70052. (10.1111/area.70052)
- Singleton, A. and Batterham, M. 2025. Urban public spaces as a mobile, democratic and dynamic clinic to support recovery from early psychosis. Cities & Health (10.1080/23748834.2025.2531668)
- Singleton, A., Halfacree, K. and Closs Stephens, A. 2025. Lower carbon week-long fieldtrips. In: France, D., Batty, L. and Swanton, D. eds. Teaching Fieldwork in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Elgar Guides to Teaching Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 47-49., (10.4337/9781035322398.00015)
- Singleton, A. 2025. Using walking approaches and site-specific performance to reveal layers of feeling attached to place. Geohumanities 11, pp. 36-53. (10.1080/2373566X.2025.2461306)
2024
- Woodley, E. et al. 2024. The future of geography field course pedagogy in UK Higher Education. Geo: Geography and Environment 11(2), article number: e00158. (10.1002/geo2.158)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Book Review: Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo, Decolonising the mind: The politics of language in African literature. Agoriad 1(1), article number: 1.12. (10.18573/agoriad.6)
- Solnick, R. and Singleton, A. 2024. Editorial Introduction. Ontologies aren't essential. Agoriad 1(1) (10.18573/agoriad.34)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Developing walking methods for lifecourse research. In: Wanka, A. et al. eds. Linking Ages: A Dialogue between Childhood and Ageing Research. Taylor & Francis, pp. 66-77., (10.4324/9781003429340-7)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Energy and Power: Our perilous obsessions by Gareth Wyn Jones [Book Review]. [Online]. Nation Cymru. Available at: https://nation.cymru/culture/book-review-energy-and-power-our-perilous-obsessions/
- Thomas, M. et al. 2024. Co-creating a climate comic book: reflections on using comics in intergenerational research and engagement. Journal of Global Ageing 1(2), pp. 219-237. (10.1332/29767202Y2024D000000011)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Urban research in film using walking tours and psychogeographic approaches. Visual Studies 39(1-2), pp. 184-195. (10.1080/1472586X.2023.2289966)
2023
- Singleton, A. 2023. The long resolution? Responding to economic and social change in postwar South Wales. Soundings 2023(84-85), pp. 212-224. (10.3898/soun.84-85.13.2023)
- Singleton, A. 2023. Urban walking and the spatial hinge. Literary Geographies 9(2), pp. 248-252.
- Batterham, M. and Singleton, A. 2023. Framing transdisciplinary research as an assemblage. In: Clift, B. et al. eds. Qualitative Researcher Vulnerability: Negotiating, Experiencing and Embracing. London: Routledge, pp. 206-221., (10.4324/9781003349266-15)
- Batterham, M., Deering, K. and Singleton, A. M. 2023. Urban influences on the development, perpetuation and mitigation of psychosis. Mental Health Practice (10.7748/mhp.2023.e1653)
Articles
- Singleton, A. et al. 2025. Working with an advisory group to co-create innovative intergenerational climate change research. Cogent Gerontology 4(1), article number: 2587010. (10.1080/28324897.2025.2587010)
- Singleton, A. 2025. What participatory geographers can contribute to studying urban renewal over the long term. Geography Directions (10.55203/LPCQ2931)
- Singleton, A. 2025. Attachment to our home town runs deep - so what happens when it faces dramatic change?. The Conversation (10.64628/AB.9x3qauxw5)
- Singleton, A., Brookes, E. and Slatter, R. 2025. Participatory collaborations between geographers and performance artists: Taking urban renewal histories to the street. Area, article number: e70052. (10.1111/area.70052)
- Singleton, A. and Batterham, M. 2025. Urban public spaces as a mobile, democratic and dynamic clinic to support recovery from early psychosis. Cities & Health (10.1080/23748834.2025.2531668)
- Singleton, A. 2025. Using walking approaches and site-specific performance to reveal layers of feeling attached to place. Geohumanities 11, pp. 36-53. (10.1080/2373566X.2025.2461306)
- Woodley, E. et al. 2024. The future of geography field course pedagogy in UK Higher Education. Geo: Geography and Environment 11(2), article number: e00158. (10.1002/geo2.158)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Book Review: Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo, Decolonising the mind: The politics of language in African literature. Agoriad 1(1), article number: 1.12. (10.18573/agoriad.6)
- Solnick, R. and Singleton, A. 2024. Editorial Introduction. Ontologies aren't essential. Agoriad 1(1) (10.18573/agoriad.34)
- Thomas, M. et al. 2024. Co-creating a climate comic book: reflections on using comics in intergenerational research and engagement. Journal of Global Ageing 1(2), pp. 219-237. (10.1332/29767202Y2024D000000011)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Urban research in film using walking tours and psychogeographic approaches. Visual Studies 39(1-2), pp. 184-195. (10.1080/1472586X.2023.2289966)
- Singleton, A. 2023. The long resolution? Responding to economic and social change in postwar South Wales. Soundings 2023(84-85), pp. 212-224. (10.3898/soun.84-85.13.2023)
- Singleton, A. 2023. Urban walking and the spatial hinge. Literary Geographies 9(2), pp. 248-252.
- Batterham, M., Deering, K. and Singleton, A. M. 2023. Urban influences on the development, perpetuation and mitigation of psychosis. Mental Health Practice (10.7748/mhp.2023.e1653)
Book sections
- Singleton, A., Halfacree, K. and Closs Stephens, A. 2025. Lower carbon week-long fieldtrips. In: France, D., Batty, L. and Swanton, D. eds. Teaching Fieldwork in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Elgar Guides to Teaching Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 47-49., (10.4337/9781035322398.00015)
- Singleton, A. 2024. Developing walking methods for lifecourse research. In: Wanka, A. et al. eds. Linking Ages: A Dialogue between Childhood and Ageing Research. Taylor & Francis, pp. 66-77., (10.4324/9781003429340-7)
- Batterham, M. and Singleton, A. 2023. Framing transdisciplinary research as an assemblage. In: Clift, B. et al. eds. Qualitative Researcher Vulnerability: Negotiating, Experiencing and Embracing. London: Routledge, pp. 206-221., (10.4324/9781003349266-15)
Websites
- Singleton, A. 2024. Energy and Power: Our perilous obsessions by Gareth Wyn Jones [Book Review]. [Online]. Nation Cymru. Available at: https://nation.cymru/culture/book-review-energy-and-power-our-perilous-obsessions/
Research
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2024-ongoing: Tidal Lagoon Challenge. Five-package Welsh Government programme exploring the barriers and opportunities for tidal power in Wales across dimensions of funding, regulation, and ownership.
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2018-21: PhD Researcher at Swansea University. “Pursuing the Post-war Dream” offers methods to uncover the ‘rhizome’ (Thrift, 2000) which lies below the surface: offering ways to understand the role of the past in the present day. This inquiry sits between human geogrpahy and gerontology to develop a methodology which explores how the everyday – such as stories about houses, streets and neighbourhoods – allows people from different generations to build empathy in research relationships. ESRC funded.
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Organisational cuture
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Teaching
I am a Fellow of the HEA and specialise in geographical methods and approaches.
Current Undergraduate Modules
- Making Knowledge - Lecturer (1st year)
- Border Spaces: Politics, Cultures, and Identities in a Globalizing World - Module Leader (1st year)
- Social Geography: Spaces of Inequality and Welfare - Module Leader (2nd year)
- Development and the Global South - Module Leader (2nd year)
Other Teaching
Geography Department, Swansea University
2022-24: Geographical Skills; Sustainable Development & Climate Emergency; Globalisation; Geographical Methods and Data Analysis; Dissertation Preparation Skills; Berlin Fieldtrip; Tourism, Heritage and Leisure; Qualitative Research Methods.
2022: Guest lecturer MArch Sustainable Architecture - Centre for Alternative Technology
2021: Webinar facilitator for Society Dataset Digimap, University of Edinburgh
2020-2023: Lecturing and assessment for MA Creative Writing Non-Fiction – Swansea University
Biography
I am an inter-disciplinary researcher and teacher whose work is driven by empowering citizens and policy makers in decisions around public services and infrastructure.
I have 20 years' experience from local government and the third sector building teams, applying for funding, managing complex budgets, and procuring consultants and suppliers of services. I am experienced in working within politicised environments where strategies sometimes change quickly. As an academic this gives me a deeper insight into how initiatives may work on the ground in everyday life, and how local stakeholders could be involved.
After three years post-PhD employment at Swansea University, including an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow and teaching, I joined the Welsh Economy Research Unit at Cardiff University’s Business School. In September 2025 I will move to Geography and Planning as a Lecturer in Human Geography.
I contribute to the arts. I was a trustee at Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff and continue to write reviews for Nation Cymru. I worked as a freelancer to establish the Full Colour Maindee street art festival in Newport. In 2024 I was a key organiser for the Heritage and Hiraeth weekend conference in Canterbury. I am a Royal Geographical Society fellow and treasurer of the Participatory Geography Research Group.
In 2025 I gained a place on the Welsh Crucible professional development programme. From this experience I have a strong network across different research disciplines. The Crucible has opened me to self-reflection and challenge; building on my experience of community coaching.
Honours and awards
- 2025: Welsh Crucible Grant - with Dr Lui Tam and Dr Helena Lopes - £5140
- 2025: Cardiff Business School Public Value Engagement Fellowship: £1,872
- 2024: Co-I Co-creating the Climate Comic Intergenerational Activity Pack - ESRC Impact Accelerator: £14,238
- 2022: Co-I OPTIC Intergenerational Climate Change: UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge: £99,637
- 2021: Member of first cohort ESRC Postdoctoral Development Programme
- 2021: ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: £104,972
- 2019: ESRC Festival of Social Science Award: £980
- 2017: ESRC Inter and Cross-disciplinary Small Grant: £1,460
- 2017: British Society of Gerontology Small Grant: £400
Professional memberships
- Fellow Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
- Participatory Geography Research Group - Co-Chair and Treasurer
- British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN)
- Advance HE Fellow
Academic positions
Cardiff University
Schoolf of Geography and Planning
Lecturer in Human Geography (Sept 2025 - ongoing)
Lead on Year 1 and Year 2 human geography modules, personal tutor for undergraduate and postgradate, Year 3 dissertation supervisor, member of the ethics committee
Welsh Economy Research Unit, Cardiff University
Research Associate (Sept 2024 - August 2025)
Tidal Lagoon Challenge. Five-package Welsh Government programme exploring the barriers and opportunities for tidal power in Wales across dimensions of funding, regulation, and ownership.
Geography Department, Swansea University
Research Officer (2022-24)
OPTIC Intergenerational climate change conversations and the Climate Comic Grant: £99,637 through UKRI Healthy Ageing Social, Behavioural & Design Research Programme.
Geography Tutor (2022-24)
Teaching Sustainable Development and the Climate Emergency; Globalisation; Human Geography Methods; Berlin Fieldtrip; Qualitative Methods; and Creative Writing Non-Fiction
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow (2021-22)
Exploring long-term impact of UK socio-economic change from late-1950s through to the early-1970s. Case study in Newport to explore long-term spatial relationships using online interviews, public participation with site-specific performance, and film. Grant: £104,972 (2021-22).
Speaking engagements
2025: Cardiff University Global-Civic Ceonference: Visualising Energy Supply Futures
2025: Marine Energy Wales Conference: Tidal Lagoon Schemes: Ownership, Equity and Finance
2024: Speaker Publications and Communications Mini Crucible: Sealey Associates
2023: Walkshop Leader: Forming deeper connections with the university - CELT Bangor University
2022. Urbanism workshops with M.Arch Sustainable Architecture students at Centre for Alternative Technology
2022: Co-designer Connecting Through Culture as We Age with Watershed and Bristol University
Committees and reviewing
- 2023: Editor for first edition of Agoriad: Journal of Spatial Theory
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Qualitative Research
- creative methods
- Participatory and collaborative research methods
- energy policy
- Human geography