Dr Ria Dunkley - Research Assistant

Career Experience and Qualifications

Ria graduated from University of Wales Institute, Cardiff in 2004. She went on to gain a departmental doctoral bursary to complete a PhD in heritage tourism. She also holds a PgC in Teaching in Higher Education and a PgC in Social Research Methods. After completing her postgraduate studies, Ria gained a position as lecturer and researcher within Cardiff School of Management. There she was responsible for delivering research methods, tourism management and arts and cultural studies programmes. She also played an active part in the universities research community assisting in organising conferences, contributing to the universities research degree committee, supervising research projects and reviewing papers for journals and publishers. Following a twelve month round the world tour in 2009, Ria returned to the UK to join the educational charity The Eden Project where she worked as lead researcher on sustainability education projects, funded by the Department for Education and the European Social Fund. These programmes aimed to inspire both young people and local SME’s to adopt sustainable practices and to recognise opportunities within the transition to a low carbon economy. 

 
Research Interests

Education for sustainability, climate change, corporate social responsibility, innovative research methodologies, the creative industries and sustainable tourism.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers and Book Chapters
2011 Visiting the trenches: Exploring meanings and motivations in battlefield tourism, Dunkley, R.A., Westwood, S., and Morgan, N., Tourism Management 32 (4) 860-868.

2008 Book review of Derek Hall and Frances Brown (2006) Tourism and welfare: ethics, responsibility and sustained well-being, Dunkley, R.A. Leisure Studies.

2007 ‘A shot in the dark? Developing a new conceptual framework for thanatourism, Dunkley, R.A., Westwood, S. and Morgan, N. Asian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research 1 (1) 54-63.

2007 ‘Re-peopling tourism: A 'hot approach' to studying thanatourist experiences. Ria Dunkley 371-386 in Irena Ateljevic, Annette Pritchard and Nigel Morgan (eds.) The Critical Turn in Tourism Studies, Oxford: Elsevier.

Other Reports and Outputs
2011 Final Evaluation Report Green Foundation Programme at Eden Project for the European Social Fund.

2011 Interim Evaluation Report Green Foundation Programme at Eden Project for the European Social Fund.

2011 Final Evaluation Report for Green Talent Programme at Eden Project for the Department for Education.

2010 Interim Evaluation Report for Green Talent Pilot Programme at Eden Project for the Department for Education.

Conference & Seminar Papers Given
2007 A PhD Journey on the road less travelled. Paper presented at 2nd. International Critical Tourism Studies Conference: The Critical Turn in Tourism Studies: Promoting an Academy of Hope? Split, Croatia.

2007 The vulnerable researcher: a hot approach to studying thanatourism experiences. Poster presented at Cardiff School of Management postgraduate poster evening, Cardiff, University of Wales Institute Cardiff.

2006 Thanatourism: the concept of a thanasite typology and understanding the visitor experience. Paper presented at the GLTRG: Progressing Tourism Research, Post Graduate Research Conference, Exeter, Centre for Tourism Studies, University of Exeter.

2005 The Thanatourist: a fascination with death and depravity? Paper presented at Dark tourism: Cashing in on Tragedy? London, The Tourism Society.

2005 Thanatourism: A morbid fascination with death and depravity or something less sinister? Paper presented at the Wales Tourism Forum. Cardiff, Welsh School of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Management, University of Wales Institute Cardiff.

Refereeing

International Journal of Tourism Research, Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism, Routledge, Leisure Studies