Biography

1995-2000
PhD in Environmental and Social Psychology, University of Surrey, UK. Thesis title: A Community in Transition: a longitudinal study of place attachment and identity processes in the context of an enforced relocation. Awarded National ‘Best Thesis’ 2000/1 by BPS Social Psychology Section.

1994-1995
Certificate in Counselling Theory and Counselling Skills. The Central School of Counselling and Therapy, London.

1987-1988
MSc in Environmental Psychology, University of Surrey, UK. Dissertation title: Landscape, Place and the Psycho-Social Impact of the Channel Tunnel Terminal Project.

1986-1987
Post-graduate Diploma in Psychology, University of Surrey, UK. Dissertation title: Do School grounds and Environmental Studies influence the Responsiveness of Secondary School Pupils to the Natural Environment?

1982-1986
BA in Psychology/Sociology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Research Interests

My main research interests explore the relationship between the physical environment and self and collective identity formation. This includes theoretical and applied issues over a range of topics, e.g.:

1. Place Attachment. This is defined as a positive bond to physical and social settings. Place theories within environmental psychology provide a framework for accessing sense of place, attachment to place and understanding the meanings which a place may hold for individuals and/or groups.
2. Sense of community issues. Much of the work on place attachment and place identity has been focussed at the level of the individual rather than at the level of the group. My work has led me, for instance, to explore the appropriation of a space by groups, e.g. a group of young people may congregate in a certain part of a park, use it as a place to socialise. Over time that part of the park will come to be regarded by them as “their” place and their identity as a group may well become strengthened by the use of that place. Additional issues include alienation, exclusion and conflicting use of public space. Experiences are mostly spatially linked and the loss of a specific site also implies the loss of meaningful experiences. This could be clearly seen in the Channel Tunnel Terminal study and the relocation of a coal mining community. In the latter case, accumulated meaningful behaviour in the old village was found not to transfer to the new village so that previous cultural patterns became redundant.
3. Public Participation (PP) is an important integral part of my work. Examples include highlighting the consequences of the dearth of PP before and during the building of the Channel Tunnel Terminal in Kent and the enforced relocation of a coal mining community in north Derbyshire, UK. In contrast, the GreenSpace work (3-year multi-disciplinary and multi-national EU funded project) developed the positive aspects of using PP by setting up and facilitating a local park community group, developing ‘best practice’ methods and designing, with the group, evaluation matrices for both the processes and outcomes of PP.

Publications

Speller, G., Barnett, J. & Burningham, K. (forthcoming). Locating public trust in disaffection. Journal of Risk Assessment

Walker, G., Devine-Wright, P., Barnett, J., Burningham, K., Cass, N., Devine-Wright, H., Speller, G., Barton, J., Evans, B., Heath, Y., Infield, D., Parks, J. & Theobald, K. (forthcoming 2010). Symmetries, expectations, dynamics and contexts: a framework for understanding public engagement with renewable energy projects. In P. Devine-Wright (Ed), Renewable Energy and the Public: From Nimby to Participation. London: Earthscan.

Speller, G.M. & Twigger-Ross, C.L. (2009). Cultural and social disconnection in the context of a changed physical environment. Geografiska Annaler: Series, B, Human Geography, 91(4): 355-369.

Speller, G.M. (2007). Memorials of the moment. Green Places, October 2007, pp 10-11.

Speller, G.M. (2006). A place of my own. Green Places, March 2006, pp 18-21.

Speller, G.M. & Ravenscroft, N. (2005). Facilitating and Evaluating Public Participation in Urban Parks Management. Local Environment, 10(1): 41-56.

Oppewal, H., Ravenscroft, N., Poria, Y. & Speller, G.M. (2005). Student Preferences for University Accommodation: an application of the stated preference approach. In R. Garcia-Mira, D.L. Uzzell, J.E. Real & J. Romay (eds), Housing, Space and Quality of Life (pp. 113-124). London: Ashgate.

Speller, G.M. (2005). The Importance of Place Attachment. In L. Soczka (ed), Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Environmental Education, pp. 133-167. Lisbon, Pt: The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (2002). A community in transition: the relationship between spatial change and identity processes. Social Psychological Review, 4(2): 39-58.

Speller, G.M. (2000). A Community in Transition: a longitudinal study of place attachment and identity processes in the context of an enforced relocation. PhD thesis: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/theses/1/

Speller, G.M. (1995). Pit Closures in Germany: Evidence of a political/economic system which is both responsive and responsible in its approach to social and environmental issues. PAPER, 49: 3-7.

Speller, G.M. & Sime, J.D. (1993). Anticipating environmental change: the relocation of a village and its psycho-social consequences. PAPER, Vol 43: 1-18.

Speller, G.M. (1992). Metamorphosis of Place and the loss of shared memories. In Mazis, A. & Karaletsov, C. (eds), Socio-Environmental Metamorphoses, Builtscape, Landscape, Ethnoscape, Euroscape. Proceedings of IAPS 12, International Conference, Greece, Vol 5: 282-288.

Speller, G.M. (1991). Book Review of “The Ecology of the Self. Relocation and self-concept change” by Stefan E. Hormuth, Heidelberg University. Published by Cambridge University Press. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11: 373-374.

Speller, G.M. (1990). Psycho-Social Impacts of the Channel Tunnel Terminal Project. In H. Pamir, V. Imamoglu & N. Teymur (eds), Culture, Space and History. Proceedings of IAPS 11, Vol 3: 41-51, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Research Reports

Rathouse, K., Richardson, A., Speller, G.M. & Shouler, M. (2006). Views about a water products information scheme. Report for Nieves Bottomley, Water Supply and Regulation, DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Speller, G.M. and Twigger-Ross,C.L. (2005). Improving community and citizen engagement in flood risk management decision making, delivery and flood response. R&D Technical Report SC040033/SR4 Environment Agency: Bristol.

Twigger-Ross, C.L. and Speller, G.M. (2005). Improving the contribution of social science to the Flood Risk Management science programme. R&D Technical Report SC040033/SR5 Environment Agency: Bristol.

Twigger-Ross, C.L. and Speller, G.M. (2005). The Impact of Flooding on Urban and Rural Communities. R&D Technical Report SC040033/SR1 Environment Agency: Bristol.

Speller, G.M. & Ravenscroft, N. (2003). Public Participation work in Brighton & Hove. WP8 for the GreenSpace report. Chelsea School Research Centre, Brighton University, Brighton, UK.

Oppewal, H., Poria, Y., Speller, G.M. & Ravenscroft, N. (2002). Greenspace: Research Rationale and Methodology. School of Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

Oppewal, H., Poria, Y., Speller, G.M. & Ravenscroft, N. (2002). Survey Analyses for the Greenspace Project. School of Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

Speller, G.M., Ravenscroft, N., Oppewal, H. & Poria, Y. (2001). Greenspace in Brighton & Hove : The Case Study Inventory. School of Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

Speller, G.M. (1994). The Effects of and Policy Responses to Pit Closures in Nordrhein Westfalen. Research Report Vol 1 and Vol 2 as part of an ESRC funded study entitled European Perspective of Coalfield Regeneration, directed by C. Critcher and D. Waddington, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

Sime, J.D., Speller, G.M. & Dibben, C. (1993). Research into the Attitudes of Owners and Managers to People Visiting Woodlands. Jonathan Sime Associates (JSA). Report for the Forestry Commission, UK.

Sime, J.D. & Speller, G.M. (1993). Stress Assessment of the Bakerloo Line Control Function. Jonathan Sime Associates (JSA). Report on behalf of London Underground Ltd.

Affiliations

British Psychological Society (BPS), Graduate Member since 1988

International Association for People-Environment Studies (IAPS)

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Community Development XChange (CDX)

The Environment Council (Associate Member)

Presentations

Speller, G M (2006). Cultural and social disconnection in the context of a changed physical environment. Presented at the Housing and Community Research Conference, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia: ISOLATION: Disconnection, solitude and seclusion in a connected world, School of Art, 14 -16 Dec.

Speller, G.M., Ravenscroft, N. and Oppewal, H. (2004). Focusing on Urban Greenspace and Quality of Life in Brighton & Hove. Presented at the 18th Conference of IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria: Evaluation in Progress: Strategies for Environmental Research and Implementation, 7 – 10 July.

Ravenscroft, N., Speller, G.M. and Oppewal, H. (2004). Public Spaces, Shared Spaces? People’s attachment to public parks in Brighton & Hove. Presented at the 18th Conference of IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria: Evaluation in Progress: Strategies for Environmental Research and Implementation, 7 – 10 July.

Oppewal, H., Poria, Y., Ravenscroft, N. and Speller, G.M. (2004). A Choice Experiment Approach to the Valuation of Urban Greenspace. Presented at the 18th Conference of IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria: Evaluation in Progress: Strategies for Environmental Research and Implementation, 7 – 10 July.

Speller, G.M. and Ravenscroft, N. (2004). Evaluating Public Participation Processes and Outcomes. Presented at the 18th Conference of IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria: Evaluation in Progress: Strategies for Environmental Research and Implementation, 7 – 10 July.

Speller, G.M. (2003). The development of a Public Participation Evaluation Matrix: a tool to assess the processes and the outcomes of a local community group’s involvement in public decision making. Invited presentation to the Environmental Psychology Research Group, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

Speller, G.M. (2003). Having to Move: The reconstruction of place and identity. Invited presentation to the Social Psychology Group, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

Speller, G.M. (2002). The Reconstruction of Place and Identity. Best Thesis Award presentation to the BPS Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Huddersfield, UK.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (2001). The re-siting of a redundant coal mining community. Presented at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), Edinburgh University, Scotland.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (2000). Changes in place attachment and identity in the context of an enforced relocation. Presented at the BPS Social Psychology Conference, Nottingham Trent University.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (2000). A community in transition: detachment and reattachment conditions. Presented at the 16th Conference of IAPS (International Association for People-Environment Studies), Paris.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (1999). A Community in Transition: Changes in place attachment and identity. British Psychological Society London Conference, The Institute of Education, University of London.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (1999). Place Attachment, Place Identity and Identity Process Theory: a brief empirical examination. Presented at the conference ‘Environmental Psychology in the UK’, Guildhall University, London.
Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (1999). Semi-detached Bliss? A study of cultural transition as a traditional mining community is relocated. Presented at the Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, Lancaster University.

Speller, G.M., Lewins, A., Twigger-Ross, C. & Lyons, E. (1999). Using QSR NUD*IST Version 4 as a data management tool for a longitudinal study: scope and limitations. Presented at the NUD*IST Conference - Strategies in Qualitative Research: QSR NUD*IST Software and Methodological Issues. Institute of Education, University of London.

Speller, G.M. (1997). Psycho-social impacts of large scale development projects. Presented at Seminario em psicologia ambiental at the I.S.C.T.E., Lisbon, Portugal.

Speller, G.M., Lyons, E. & Twigger-Ross, C. (1996). The imposed relocation of Arkwright: Self-evaluation processes and representation of social change in a mining community. Presented at the EAESP Conference, Gmunden, Austria.

Speller, G.M. (1995). The process of personal and community reconstruction. Presentation to Workshop: Theoretical and Methodological Implications of Empirical Research on Home Loss. EDRA 26, Boston, Ma, USA.

Speller, G.M. (1994). Pit Closures in Germany: Evidence of a political/economic system which is both responsive and responsible in its approach to social and environmental issues. Conference on People and Physical Environment Research: People, Places, the Environment and Development. University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.

Speller, G.M. (1993). Psycho-Social Values of Landscape. Landscape Research Group Conference: Hidden Values of Urban Landscape. Van Mildert College, Durham University, UK.

Speller, G.M. (1992). Metamorphosis of place and the loss of shared memories. Paper presented at IAPS 12: Socio-Environmental Metamorphoses, Builtscape, Landscape, Ethnoscape, Euroscape. International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS) 12, Marmaras, Greece.

Speller, G.M. (1990). Psycho-Social Impacts of the Channel Tunnel Project. Paper presented at IAPS 11: Culture, Space, History. Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Consultancy

Visiting lectureships and research work at other universities:
Instituto Superior de Psycologia Aplicada, Lisbon, Portugal
Robens Institute, University of Surrey
School of Civil Engineering, University of Surrey
Sheffield Hallam University
Thames University
University of Brighton

Grant applications reviewed for:
ESRC

Journal papers refereed for:
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
Journal of Social Psychology
Leisure Studies
Landscape and Urban Planning

Commercial research for:
Brighton & Hove City Council
Collingwood Environmental Planning
DEFRA
Environment Agency
Greenwich Council/NHS Greenwich
Forestry Commission
London Underground