Research interests

I am a qualitative sociologist with interests in the sociology of religion, cultural hybridity, and lifestyle sports. Much of my work has also been involved in Hong Kong studies where I have focussed on issues of ethnicity. One of my key interests is the sociology of skateboarding. 

Presently my research is focussed on the following themes:

• Sociology of Skateboarding
• Lifestyle Religion
• Secular Pilgrimage
• Hong Kong Studies
• Ethnicity in Hong Kong
• Cultural Hybridity
• Quantum Sociology

External impact and engagement

• University of Skate: A conversation with Professional Skateboarders Candy Jacobs and Margeilyn Didal with Sander Holsgens, Lingnan University Sociology Seminar Series, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, February 12th 2019. 
• Skateboarding and Wellbeing: Roundtable and Workshop. Lingnan University. February 26 2016. Funded by the department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University and the Sino-British Fellowship grant. 29 February 2016.
• The Role of Southeast and SouthAsian Migrants’ Religions in Hong Kong. Southeast Asian Research Centre, CityU HK, April 27 2013. Organised with Dr Chiara Formichi. 

• Traces of Failure in Skateboarding. Brief article for Flow Journal. 6 February 2022. https://www.flowjournal.org/2022/02/failure-in-skateboarding/
• Skateboarding in middle age: ‘It helps me switch off’, Coverage of research and brief interview in The Guardian, 7 January 2022.
• Skateboarding in middle age helps people navigate depression, bond with their children and gain 'spiritual meaning', study finds, Coverage of research in Daily Mail online and Print, 4 January 2022, 5 January 2022, pg 3. 
• Depressed in midlife? Try skateboarding, study suggests, Coverage of research in New York Post, 4 January 2022.
• A new study shows that skateboarding can help middle aged people with depression, BBC Radio Devon, 22 December, 2021
• Its time for UK Universities to take skateboarding seriously, Opinion piece in Times Higher Education, 13 August 2021.
• Olympic skateboarding celebrates the sport’s fraternity and joy, Opinion piece on HKFP, 3 August 2021.
• Skateboarding in Olympics Interview with Gordon Sparks, BBC Radio Devon, 28 July 2021.
• Olympic Skateboarding Interview, Times Radio, 26 June 2021.
• When Myths Collide: Skateboarding and the Olympics Interview with Brian Glenney and Noora Ronkainen, The Meaningful Sport Podcast, 23 July 2021.
• The Sociology of Skateboarding Interview, The Sociology Show Podcast, 5 July 2021.
• Skateboarding Through the Pandemic talk - part of the Festival of Ideas workshop, Festival of Discovery, University of Exeter, 3 June 2021.
• Skateboarding and Religion (and Music) with Paul O'Connor, Interview on A Tranquil Passage Podcast, 6 May 2021.
• ‘Street phenomenology:’ sensing street spots for skating, sleeping, selling, and spraying, Uncommon Senses III 2021, Sunday May 3 2021. With Professor Brian Glenney.
• Proselytizing Skateboarding through a Videogame: Possibility Models & Lifestyle Religion, blog post on Popular Culture and Theology, September 21, 2020.
• Is Skateboarding a Religion?, Interviewed for Artless Industria blog by Anthony Pappalardo, February 28, 2020
• Can Skateboarding be a Religion?, Authored essay for Jenkem Magazine, 18 December 2019.
• Skateboarding as a Lifestyle Religion, Talk for Prague Religious Society, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Charles University, Prague, 12 December 2019.
• Hong Kong’s Minorities Face Racism From Police and Protesters, Consulted and quoted in article, Foreign Policy, November 7 2019.
• Citizenship under siege in Hong Kong, Conference paper, State-Citizenship Relations in Greater Central Asia, Oriental Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, October 18 2019.
• Sacred Spots: Defining Heritage in Skate Culture, Invited panel member, Pushing Boarders Malmö, Sweden, August 17, 2019
• Radio interview on University of Skate Seminar, RTHK Morning Brew with Phil Whelan, February 11th 2019
• Can Skateboarding Save Your City? Interviewed for article, Huck Magazine, September 2018.
• Do you realise this is a Chinese School?: Expat Experiences of Enrolling in Chinese Schools in Hong Kong, Talk at the Hong Kong Anthropological Society, Friday 14th September 2018. With Dr Julien Groves.
• Skateboarding Mega-Events As Preparation for the 2020 Olympics: A Case Study of the Vans Park Series Championships in Shanghai, presented paper at ISA XIX World Congress of Sociology, Toronto, July 18, 2018.
• Feng shui, fortune-tellers and zodiac signs: young Hongkongers seek solace in superstition . Interviewed for news article, South China Morning Post, 7 July 2018.
• What we do is Secret: The Challenge of Writing About Skateboarding. Invited panel member and chair in Early Career Forum, Pushing Boarders conference, The Bartlett, UCL, London, 1-3 June 2018.
• “Lessons from Skateboarding” Youth Hong Kong (2018) Volume 10, 1. 19-21
• “Do you Realise this is a Chinese School?’, Invited talk CUHK Anthropology, Friday Seminar, 20 November, 2017.
• Hong Kong Skateboarding and Network Capital, Hong Kong Political Science Association Annual Conference, Hang Send Management Colleges, Hong Kong, 21 October 2107.
• Participant Speaker on Skateboard Philanthropy, Manyminds Hk Meetup 2, Cheung Sha Wan, The Good Lab, 27 May 2017.
• Overview of Skateboarding Research: Academic Workshop on History, Politics & Sociology of Sports in the Greater China, The Education University of Hong Kong, 18 May 2017.
• Exploring Halal food in Hong Kong, Pleasure, Providence and Purity: An International Conference on Food and Drink in Islamic Societies and Cultures, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 27-28 April, 2017.
• Dialogues in Research: Routes Roots,, and Rhythms, Cultural Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 21 April 2017.
• The Relevance of Skateboarding to Hong Kong’s Urban Culture. Imagining the Future Conference, CUHK, 23-24 February 2017.
• Invited Key Note on Ethnicity and Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong, and Workshops on Feeling Ethnic, Li Po Chun United World College, Peace Day, 15 February 2017.
• Coming of Age: Over 40 and Still Skateboarding. Hong Kong Sociological Association Conf, Hong Kong University, 4 December 2016
• Will You Eat Pork? Hong Kong Free Press, Guest Contribution, 10 May 2016.
• An Overview Of Hong Kong’s Muslim Community, Diversity in Hong Kong: Exploring the Ethnic, Cultural and Religious Dimensions, (Workshop). Shue Yan University, 29th April 2016.
• A Message for all at HK’s Annual Muslim Meeting, South China Morning Post, (cited in article), 24 April 2016.
• Skateboarding and Wellbeing: Roundtable and Workshop. Lingnan University. February 26th 2016. Funded by the department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University and the Sino-British Fellowship grant.  (included the participation of Professor Iain Borden, Dr Jon Swords, Representatives from the LCSD and NGOS).
• Why Don’t Skateboarders Wear Helmets? Hong Kong Sociological Association Conf, Shue Yan University, 5 December 2015.
• Raising Global Citizens: Expatriate Parents and Cantonese Language Education in Hong Kong (With Dr Julian Groves). Hong Kong Sociological Association, Shue Yan University, 5 December 2015.
• In Hong Kong, a crowded restaurant, a death unnoticed and ‘McRefugees’, Interviewed of article in The Washing Post,Yannan Wang, 6 October 2015.
• Wan Chai Skate and Create - Intergenerational Living, Architectural Design Studio, CUHK, Autumn 2015. Acted as client for project.
• The Pakistani Community in Hong Kong, Multiculturalism in Action Workshop, CUHK, 26 September 2015.
• Interview Dr Paul James O’Connor, Sk8 O’Clock Podcast, 10 July 2015.
• Eat Me Drink Me: A Discussion of Size and Embodiment, Between Monumentalism and Miniaturization Conference, Cultural Studies, CUHK, 11 June 2015.
• The Anthropology of a Skatepark, Transatlantic Connections II, Drew University at Bundoran Ireland, 6 January 2015.
• The Understanding of Space by South Asian Youth in Hong Kong Invited Speaker, IN/EX Urban Lab, CUHK,16 December, 2014.
• How Does One Feel Ethnic? Invited Speaker Feeling Ethnic Symposium, Baptist University, 15–17 October 2014.
• Morning Brew Radio Show, RTHK 3, 25 August 2014.
• Ethnic Conflict and Inequality in a Global Perspective Brown International Advanced Research Institute, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, June 7 to June 21 2014.
• Creative Arts and Education with Indonesian Foreign Domestic Workers Institute of Future Cities, Public and Community Art Talk Series, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2 April 2014.
• Islam in Hong Kong Ask a Muslim Radio Show, RTHK DAB31, 11 January 2014.
• The Changing Cosmopolitan Rhythm of Hong Kong China in the World, the World in China: East Asian Cosmopolitanisms, Hong Kong Sociological Association Annual Conference, 6 December 2013.
• The Hajj: The Modern Pilgrimage to Mecca and Stories from Hong Kong Pilgrims Hong Kong Anthropological Association, Hong Kong Museum of History, 16 October 2013.
• Pilgrimage to Mecca Interview Morning Brew Radio Show, RTHK 3, 15 October 2013.
• Education for Minorities Backchat Radio Show, RTHK 3, 25 September 2013.
• Islam in Hong Kong: Muslims and Everyday Life in China’s World City  New Books in Islamic Studies online discussion, 20 September 2013.
• Rhythms of the Modern Hajj: From Hong Kong to Mecca and BackIslamic Civilization in Multiple Perspectives, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 13 September 2013. (Conference Programme)
• Muslims in Hong Kong Serving Islam at the Peak Conference, 20 April 2013.
• Muslims in Hong Kong and Everyday Hybridity Speaking Out! Female Filmmakers from Muslim Countries, Cultural and Religious Studies Department Chinese University of Hong Kong, 23 March 2013.
• Hong Kong’s Anomaly in the Anthropology of Islam in China Asian Studies Association Hong Kong Conference, HKIE, 8 March 2013.
• Islam in Hong Kong Interview Hong Kong Heritage Radio Show, RTHK 3, 28 January 2013.
• Lack of Chinese Skills a Barrier for Minorities  Interview SCMP, 14 January 2013.
• The Status of Muslims in the Minority Politics of Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club, Hong Kong, 14 January 2013.
• Morning Conversations “Islam in Hong Kong” Anatolia Cultural Dialogue Centre, 17 November 2012.
• Muslim Feel Free in HK but Left Out Interview SCMP, 30 September 2012.
• Ethnic Minorities, Islam in Hong Kong Interview on Morning Brew RTHK  3, 5 September 2012.
• Islam and Everyday Life in Hong Kong: Religious Practice, Ethnicity, and Belonging Friday Seminar Series, CUHK Anthropology Dept, Hong Kong, 13 April 2012.
• Islam in Hong Kong Hong Kong Anthropological Society, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong, 10 November 2011.
• Muslims in Hong Kong Interview on Morning Brew RTHK  3, 8 November 2011.
• The Ambiguity of Halal Food in Hong Kong Association of Cultural Studies Crossroads Conference, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, 17 July 2010.
• Learning to be Muslim: Muslim Youth and Everyday Multiculturalism in Hong Kong International Conference on Migration, Citizenship and Intercultural Relations, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, 19 November 2009.
• Everyday Hybridity of Young Muslims in Hong Kong Pedestrian Crossings: Youth and Everyday Multiculturalism, Monash Research Centre, Prato, Italy, 9 June 2008.
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