Dr. Yunis Alam,Head of Department-Sociology/Criminology
Information about Dr. Yunis Alam at the University of Bradford.
- School of Social Sciences
(Faculty of Mgmt, Law & Social Sciences) - Email:
- m.y.alam1@bradford.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- +44 1274 233178
Biography
Yunis Alam is Head of Department, Sociology and Criminology, at the University of Bradford. He has particular interests in public sociology, ethnography, ethnic relations, consumption, popular culture and how these relate with and have an impact on identity.He is working with PhD students who wish to explore some of these interests, but has also supervised students researching various themes and issues, such as post natal depression, heavy metal music, employment and the experiences of minoritised students in higher education.
Research
I have particular interest and expertise in a number of interconnecting areas such as ethnic relations, consumption, radicalisation, social cohesion, multiculturalism, ethnography, public sociology. I have completed a number of externally funded research projects, each exploring some of themes outlined above, using, in the main, an ethnographic methodology.I am presently exploring the significance and sociological understanding of car culture, an interest that emerged and has been developing for over a decade. I have given a number of high profile conference/seminar papers around the car, ethnicity and identity and also produced a research article exploring similar themes. in 2020, I published a research informed book called Race, Taste, Class and Cars (with Policy Press).
Using research that has underpinned my work around car culture, I am developing a more intensive research project which looks at a range of interlinked issues, including consumption, taste, the performance of ‘race’ and racism in greater depth. Examples including British South Asian wedding culture, the rise of dessert parlours as well as food culture more generally.
At present, I completing a book (also with Policy Press) that connects coloniality and decoloniality with creative and popular cultures.
Teaching
Details on teaching interests, highlights and modules are available for Dr. Yunis Alam as follows:
Teaching interests
My areas of teaching interest and expertise are fairly closely connected to the broader concept of identity; who we think we are, and what forces and structures help us locate us in the world with our own sense of self. Specifically, research around ethnicity/race, class, taste, consumption and popular culture hold particular fascination for me, At the same time, I have a long standing interest in the extent to which postcolonial literatures reveal insights about society, its structures and identity more generally.I am presently supervising a number of students with a wide range of focal points. One research student is undertaking ethnographically oriented work as a means of explore the intersections of ethnicity and employment. I am also supervising a student who is analysing aspects of mental health, whilst another is undertaking research related to child sexual exploitation. I have also supported students researching the motives and features of contemporary terrorism, Islam in the West, Higher Education and Muslim heritage students in the UK as well as research relating specifically to the city of Bradford, its history of migration and transition.