The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of
Portsmouth is making available a number of PhD studentships in core areas
of interest. Within the History area, one of the topics is the history of
everyday dangers and risks and how they have been understood and managed in
Britain since c.1900.

Debates about safety and risk management are integral to contemporary
British society, but are as yet under-historicised. This PhD will lead the
development of this broad area. Within the broad remit of a focus on
20th-century Britain, there is great freedom for the successful candidate
to define the parameters of the project in conjunction with the supervisor,
Dr Mike Esbester. Possible areas might include: how people have constructed
and responded to risk in everyday life; the development and role of safety
organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and
local safety councils; the use of safety education as a means of governing
individuals and actions; the role of the state in managing risk. These
areas might be accessed by exploring topics including workplace safety,
road safety or home safety.

The studentship will start on 1 September 2015 and last for 3 years
full-time; it covers fees, with additional payment for teaching during the
course of the PhD. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified UK/ EU
candidates.

For full details of this scheme, including the application process, please
see: http://www.port.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/history-sociology-and-politics/current-phd-opportunities/phd-project-opportunity.html

Informal enquiries about this topic to Mike Esbester: mike.esbester@port.ac.uk

The deadline for applications is midnight on 31 July 2015; interviews are
expected to take place in the week commencing 10 August, in Portsmouth.