School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology

Brendan Quail

Brendan Quail

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Geography, Queen’s University, Belfast 2005
MA International Social Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich 2008

Postgraduate

Email: bquail01@qub.ac.uk

Address

School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP)
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK

Current Research:

Society, Space and Culture (SSC)

Formation and use of social capital among asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland

My interests are centred on the concept of social capital and its significance in assisting members of Northern Ireland’s refugee community. Social capital, widely accepted, constitutes one’s ability to secure benefits by virtue of membership in social networks or other social structures. In theory, people with a considerable amount and diversity of social networks and civic associations in stock are in a better position to deal with adversities in life.

With this contention in mind, my doctoral research study seeks to identify and build an understanding of the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees through two distinct aspects of transition from country of origin to their new host country; migration from country of origin and settlement in Northern Ireland. An attempt will be made to examine the formation and use of social capital by asylum seekers as they endure migratory journeys, taking into account decision making processes involved; and the role of social capital in assisting asylum seekers’ and refugees’ settlement in Northern Ireland.

Research Interests

Asylum seekers, refugees, social capital, migration, geography.

Supervisors

Prof. Steve Royle (School of GAP, Queen’s University Belfast)
Dr. Maruška Svašek (School of History and Social Anthropology, Queen’s University Belfast)
Dr. Carl Griffin (School of Global Studies, University of Sussex)

Presentations

"Development of social ties among asylum seekers and refugees: a Northern Ireland context", RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, London, August 2013.

"Social capital and migration: journeys to asylum in Northern Ireland", School of GAP Research Day, Queens University Belfast, May 2013.

"Ethnic diversity in Belfast: an international perspective beyond the catholic and protestant divide", Geographical Association, Queen's University, Belfast, October 2012.

Scholarships and awards

Scholarship for EU funded ERASMUS Intensive Summer School Programme, titled, “Reconfiguring Values and Knowledge for Sustainable Communities”, (collaborative programme with the University of Cyprus, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania, and Queens University, Belfast) University of Cyprus, Cyprus, August 2013.

Recipient of the GAP 75th Anniversary Fieldwork Prize, 2013.

Full Department of Employment and Learning (NI) funding for current doctoral research.

Additional Information:

Demonstrator on final year undergraduate module ‘Third World Urbanisation and Sustainable Development’, 2007