Xanthaki
alexandra is a leading expert on indigenous rights in international law. among her several publications, her monograph indigenous rights and united nations standards: self-determination, culture and land (cambridge university press) is considered a reference source on the topic. in 2011 alexandra co-edited reflections on the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (hart) and most recently, in 2017, indigenous peoples' cultural heritage (martinus nijhoff/ brill). her work has been cited repeatedly in united nations documents and she has given keynote speeches around the world, including the arctic centre, rovaniemi; the kl bar, malaysia; trento, italy; and london. she has worked closely with the un expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples, the un special rapporteur on indigenous issues, the ilo. currently she is working with minority rights group international on the rights of the latin american community in the 7sisters re-development in haringey, london. she has taught civil servants, indigenous leaders and activities in vietnam, pretoria, kyiv, and london. she is a senior research fellow at the institute of advanced legal studies (university of london). before she joined brunel university, alexandra taught in keele and liverpool. she has received the star award for her teaching and stduent support. she is a member of the human rights faculty of the centre for continuing education at the university of oxford and has been an external examiner in several law departments, currently at birkbeck. since october 2015, alexandra leads the athens refugee project, where she takes brunel law students to athens to volunteer in migrant and refugee sites, provide assistance and learn more on the refugee crisis in europe from discussions with state authoriites, ngos and igos. she has found invaluable partners in maria voutsinou from the greek ombudsman for human rights and kenneth hansen from faros ('the lighthouse'), an ngo on unaccompanied minors. brunel university has received a congratulatory letter from the greek state for this project. in 2017, alexandra organised a series of academic multi-disciplinary events on migrant and refugee rights in london (with ials) and athens. qualifications: llb (athens); llm (qub); phd (keele); lawyer (athens bar) international human rights; international minority rights student support as the director of research, i am responsible for the strategic direction of the school in relation to staff research activity and research student matters.
![Professor Alexandra Xanthaki]()
Professor Alexandra Xanthaki
Alexandra is a leading expert on indigenous rights in international law. AMong her several publications, her monograph Indigenous Rights and United Nations Standards: Self-determination, Culture and Land (Cambridge University Press) is considered a reference source on the topic. In 2011 Alexandra co-edited Reflections on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Hart) and most recently, in 2017, Indigenous Peoples' Cultural Heritage (Martinus Nijhoff/ Brill). Her work has been cited repeatedly in United Nations documents and she has given keynote speeches around the world, including the Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi; the KL Bar, Malaysia; Trento, Italy; and London. She has worked closely with the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues, the ILO. Currently she is working with Minority Rights Group International on the rights of the Latin American community in the 7sisters re-development in Haringey, London. She has taught civil servants, indigenous leaders and activities in Vietnam, Pretoria, Kyiv, and London. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (University of London). Before she joined Brunel university, Alexandra taught in Keele and Liverpool. She has received the STAR award for her teaching and stduent support. She is a member of the Human Rights Faculty of the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford and has been an external examiner in several law departments, currently at Birkbeck. Since October 2015, Alexandra leads the Athens Refugee Project, where she takes Brunel law students to Athens to volunteer in migrant and refugee sites, provide assistance and learn more on the refugee crisis in Europe from discussions with state authoriites, NGOs and IGOs. She has found invaluable partners in Maria Voutsinou from the Greek Ombudsman for Human Rights and Kenneth Hansen from Faros ('The Lighthouse'), an NGO on unaccompanied minors. Brunel University has received a congratulatory letter from the Greek state for this project. In 2017, Alexandra organised a series of academic multi-disciplinary events on Migrant and Refugee Rights in London (with IALS) and Athens. Qualifications: LLB (Athens); LLM (QUB); PhD (Keele); Lawyer (Athens Bar) International Human Rights; International Minority Rights Student Support As the Director of Research, I am responsible for the strategic direction of the School in relation to staff research activity and research student matters.
Jones
professor jones is director of the pan-university institute for communities and society. meredith is a transdisciplinary scholar who works at the intersections of feminist theories of the body with media, gender, and cultural studies. she is particularly interested in popular culture, visuality, and embodiment, and has published widely in these areas. her latest edited volume, performing the penis: phalluses in 21st century cultures (with evelyn callahan) comprehensively introduces the emerging discipline of penis studies. she is currently working on a monograph about vulvas and on a yearbook about genital transformations in media and culture. beautyscapes: mapping cosmetic surgery tourism (written with ruth holliday and david bell) won the 2020 foundation for sociology of health and illness prize. this book is based on extensive fieldwork carried out in thailand, malaysia, south korea, tunisia, spain, and czech republic. it also comprises digital research into cosmetic surgery websites and cosmetic surgery communities on social media. skintight: an anatomy of cosmetic surgery, meredith's first monograph, is a widely-cited foundational text in studies of makeover culture, cosmetic surgery and feminist theories of the body. her other books include a major collection of feminist writing about cosmetic surgery that she co-edited with philosopher cressida heyes, cosmetic surgery: a feminist primer. she often speaks publicly about social media, popular culture and feminism, and is an expert on the socio-cultural aspects of the kardashians. she hosted a scholarly kimposium! in 2015 and kimposium! the sequel was held in september 2021. meredith is active in the creative industries and founded the trunk series of books with artist and designer suzanne boccalatte, which includes curated collections of artworks and essays about hair and blood. currently she is collaborating with taylor & francis group to deliver a series of projects around new and innovative modes of publishing. the goal is to develop more digitally relevant, flexible, inclusive and faster ways of publishing for academics as well as community, industry, and ngo groups. qualifications phd in cultural studies, university of western sydney, 2006 ba hons. in women's studies, 1st class, university of sydney, 1998 meredith's work is in the broad fields of feminist theory, cultural studies, gender studies, and cultural sociology. she has researched and written about cosmetic surgery and other body modifications for more than two decades. her book skintight: an anatomy of cosmetic surgery is a key text in feminist thinking about makeover culture, bodies, and media. in sun, sea, sand and silicone, an international esrc funded research project that explored the phenomenon of cosmetic surgery tourism, meredith and a team of academics from australia and the uk followed people from the uk, australia and china who went to thailand, malaysia, tunisia and south korea seeking cosmetic surgery. the book based on this project, beautyscapes: mapping cosmetic surgery tourism, won the 2020 foundation for sociology of health and illness prize. meredith is the editor of the routledge series gender, bodies and transformation. she welcomes proposals for the series. animal/human studies, body modifications, especially cosmetic and plastic surgery, cultural studies, digital studies, embodiment, fashion theory, feminist theories of the body, gender studies, media studies, popular culture, trans studies, visual studies
![Professor Meredith Jones]()
Professor Meredith Jones
Professor Jones is Director of the pan-university Institute for Communities and Society. Meredith is a transdisciplinary scholar who works at the intersections of feminist theories of the body with media, gender, and cultural studies. She is particularly interested in popular culture, visuality, and embodiment, and has published widely in these areas. Her latest edited volume, Performing the Penis: Phalluses in 21st Century Cultures (with Evelyn Callahan) comprehensively introduces the emerging discipline of Penis Studies. She is currently working on a monograph about vulvas and on a yearbook about genital transformations in media and culture. Beautyscapes: Mapping Cosmetic Surgery Tourism (written with Ruth Holliday and David Bell) won the 2020 Foundation for Sociology of Health and Illness Prize. This book is based on extensive fieldwork carried out in Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Tunisia, Spain, and Czech Republic. It also comprises digital research into cosmetic surgery websites and cosmetic surgery communities on social media. Skintight: An Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery, Meredith's first monograph, is a widely-cited foundational text in studies of makeover culture, cosmetic surgery and feminist theories of the body. Her other books include a major collection of feminist writing about cosmetic surgery that she co-edited with philosopher Cressida Heyes, Cosmetic Surgery: A Feminist Primer. She often speaks publicly about social media, popular culture and feminism, and is an expert on the socio-cultural aspects of the Kardashians. She hosted a scholarly Kimposium! in 2015 and Kimposium! The Sequel was held in September 2021. Meredith is active in the creative industries and founded the Trunk series of books with artist and designer Suzanne Boccalatte, which includes curated collections of artworks and essays about Hair and Blood. Currently she is collaborating with Taylor & Francis Group to deliver a series of projects around new and innovative modes of publishing. The goal is to develop more digitally relevant, flexible, inclusive and faster ways of publishing for academics as well as community, industry, and NGO groups. Qualifications PhD in Cultural Studies, University of Western Sydney, 2006 BA Hons. in Women's Studies, 1st Class, University of Sydney, 1998 Meredith's work is in the broad fields of Feminist Theory, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Cultural Sociology. She has researched and written about cosmetic surgery and other body modifications for more than two decades. Her book Skintight: An Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery is a key text in feminist thinking about makeover culture, bodies, and media. In Sun, Sea, Sand and Silicone, an international ESRC funded research project that explored the phenomenon of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism, Meredith and a team of academics from Australia and the UK followed people from the UK, Australia and China who went to Thailand, Malaysia, Tunisia and South Korea seeking cosmetic surgery. The book based on this project, Beautyscapes: Mapping Cosmetic Surgery Tourism, won the 2020 Foundation for Sociology of Health and Illness Prize. Meredith is the editor of the Routledge series Gender, Bodies and Transformation. She welcomes proposals for the series. Animal/Human Studies, Body Modifications, especially Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Cultural Studies, Digital Studies, Embodiment, Fashion Theory, Feminist Theories of the Body, Gender Studies, Media Studies, Popular Culture, Trans Studies, Visual Studies
Watkin
william watkin is professor of contemporary philosophy and literature. he has been at brunel university since 1999, and has held a personal chair there since 2008. he is currently director of research for the arts and humanities department, a position he has held more than once. during his time at brunel he has also served as head of english and of the english and creative writing division and deputy head of the school. professor watkin has extensive experience with research assessment. he wrote english’s successful rae2008 bid, our first submission as a unit to the rae. he then supervised the early stages of our successful ref 2014 bid, overseeing the school’s internal mock-ref. he took over the final stages of the ref2021 submission, creating a vision for the division "transforming the literary landscape." this submission was highly commended by the university and resulted in one of the highest gpas at brunel. prof. watkin’s research profile is extremely well-established, highly-regarded, influential and wide-ranging. his main area of interest for the last decade has been the philosophy of indifference. although a well-established philosopher, watkin began his career working on contemporary poetics and literary theory and wrote three books in this area. the third of these "the literary agamben", was highly regarded by agamben himself and paved the way for the second phase of watkin's career as he transitioned from a literary theorist to a continental philosopher. watkin is the world's leading expert on the philosophy of giorgio agamben. of his fourth book "agamben and indifference" agamben himself wrote: "watkin has produced a work of astonishing originality, which any attempt to read twentieth-century philosophy will be obliged to confront”. of the same book leading philosoher françois laruelle wrote: “watkin’s sharp lens is indispensable for those who want to grasp a central aspect of contemporary philosophy." watkin is also one of the leading voices on the philosophy of alain badiou having written two books on key concepts in badiou's overall project: "badiou and indifferent being" and "badiou and communicable worlds". watkin's seventh book, "bioviolence: how the powers that be make us do what they want" applies his philosophy of indifference to biopolitical theory, another area where he has extensive expertise. "bioviolence" is also the first attempt by watkin to apply indifferential thought to contemporary, real-world examples. this project is continued in his next book "herd immunities: the philosophy of covid" which analyses the global pandemic using the indifferential reasoning he has developed in the earlier work. watkin is a published journalist with articles in the independent, the week, newsweek europe, the big issue, the conversation, the new philosopher, tes and the white review. he has made various media appearances, and is also also a blogger and film-maker. he has a strong interest in the internet, social media, disinformation and, more recently ai. he is also a painter and large abstract acrylics. many of the covers of his books were painted by him. research areas: continental philosophy: agamben, badiou, derrida, deleuze, foucault, kristeva, nancy, esposito analytical philosophy: extensional logic, frege, wittgenstein, carnap, quine literary theory contemporary and modern poetics violence biopolitics covid social media, ai and digital culture prof. watkin will supervise projects on any aspects of the work of agamben, badiou, nancy and deleuze. further he will consider supervising students on any areas of literary theory, continental philosophy, contemporary literature, experimental poetry and poetics in general. his current research interest is indifference as a development, completion and critique of discourses of difference that have predominated in the humanities for the last forty years. he just completed a monograph on the work of philosopher giorgio agamben in relation to indifference. agamben is one of watkin’s areas of specialisation, having published the first critical monograph on agamben and literature in 2010. he is currently working on deleuze and indifference. his other major project is a consideration of the complex relation between poetry and philosophy since heidegger, which conceives of poetry/literature as a mode of thinking or, as watkin calls it, logopoiesis. his 2010 agamben monograph is part of a three volume study of logopoiesis which will include work on nancy and badiou in the years to come. previously watkin has published books on the new york school of poetry in relation to avant-gardism and theoretical consideration of literatures of mourning in the modern era. he has published numerous articles on contemporary experimental poetry: ashbery, o’hara, koch, schulyer, hejinian, silliman, bernstein, and du plessis contemporary poetry and poetics literature and philosophy contemporary continental philosophy: agamben, badiou, deleuze, nancy indifference william watkin has taught a wide variety of areas at brunel. his current teaching interests revolve around the changing face of literary theory in the new millennium. he runs courses on the relation of philosophy to literature and the arts from the historical origins of aesthetics through to the most contemporary philosophical statements on aesthetics and literature. he has also taught contemporary literature for many years, specialising in contemporary poetry and poetics. he has a wider interest in poetics and has taught the history of poetry. another interest is the avant-garde and experimentalism. he taught modernism and the avant-garde for many years and continues to run seminars on experimental, contemporary poetry. activities: key publications: “the poetics of presentation: lyn hejinian’s my life project and the work of giorgio agamben” textual practice 2012. “the / turn and the “ ” pause: agamben, derrida and the stratification of poetry” in textures series, lexington press 2011. “poetry’s promiscuous plurality: on a part of jean-luc nancy’s the muses[pg1] ” in jean-luc nancy and plural thinking suny 2011. the literary agamben: adventures in logopoiesis (london: continuum university press, march 2010). “derrida’s limits: aporias between ‘ousia and grammē’,” derrida today 3.1 (2010): 113-136. “projective recursion: the structure of ron silliman’s tjanting,” jacket 39 (2010). “taking steps beyond elegy: poetry, philosophy, lineation, and death,” textual practice 23.6 (2009): 1051-1065. “the materialization of prose: poiesis versus dianoia in the work of godzich & kittay, schklovsky, silliman and agamben,” paragraph 31.3 (2008): 344-364. “‘systematic rule-governed violations of convention’: ron silliman’s poetic procedures,” contemporary literature 48.4, 2007: 499-529. “counterchange: derrida’s poetry,” in encountering derrida: legacies and futures of deconstruction (london: continuum, 2007). on mourning: theories of loss in modern literature. (edinburgh university press, 2004). “revolution, melancholia and materiality in the work of julia kristeva”. paragraph 26.3 (2003): 86-107. “friendly little communities: derrida’s politics of death.” strategies: journal of theory, culture and politics 15.2 (2002): 219-237. in the process of poetry: the new york school and the avant-garde. (lewisburg, penn.: bucknell university press, 2001). “poetry machines: repetition in the early poetry of kenneth koch.” entertext 1.1 (dec. 2000): 83-117.
![Professor William Watkin]()
Professor William Watkin
William Watkin is Professor of Contemporary Philosophy and Literature. He has been at Brunel University since 1999, and has held a personal Chair there since 2008. He is currently Director of Research for the Arts and Humanities Department, a position he has held more than once. During his time at Brunel he has also served as Head of English and of the English and Creative Writing Division and Deputy Head of the School. Professor Watkin has extensive experience with research assessment. He wrote English’s successful RAE2008 bid, our first submission as a unit to the RAE. He then supervised the early stages of our successful REF 2014 bid, overseeing the school’s internal mock-REF. He took over the final stages of the REF2021 submission, creating a vision for the division "Transforming the Literary Landscape." This submission was highly commended by the university and resulted in one of the highest GPAs at Brunel. Prof. Watkin’s research profile is extremely well-established, highly-regarded, influential and wide-ranging. His main area of interest for the last decade has been the philosophy of indifference. Although a well-established philosopher, Watkin began his career working on contemporary poetics and literary theory and wrote three books in this area. The third of these "The Literary Agamben", was highly regarded by Agamben himself and paved the way for the second phase of Watkin's career as he transitioned from a literary theorist to a continental philosopher. Watkin is the world's leading expert on the philosophy of Giorgio Agamben. Of his fourth book "Agamben and Indifference" Agamben himself wrote: "Watkin has produced a work of astonishing originality, which any attempt to read twentieth-century philosophy will be obliged to confront”. Of the same book leading philosoher François Laruelle wrote: “Watkin’s sharp lens is indispensable for those who want to grasp a central aspect of contemporary philosophy." Watkin is also one of the leading voices on the philosophy of Alain Badiou having written two books on key concepts in Badiou's overall project: "Badiou and Indifferent Being" and "Badiou and Communicable Worlds". Watkin's seventh book, "Bioviolence: How the powers that be make us do what they want" applies his philosophy of indifference to biopolitical theory, another area where he has extensive expertise. "Bioviolence" is also the first attempt by Watkin to apply indifferential thought to contemporary, real-world examples. This project is continued in his next book "Herd Immunities: The Philosophy of Covid" which analyses the global pandemic using the indifferential reasoning he has developed in the earlier work. Watkin is a published journalist with articles in The Independent, The Week, Newsweek Europe, The Big Issue, The Conversation, The New Philosopher, TES and The White Review. He has made various media appearances, and is also also a blogger and film-maker. He has a strong interest in the internet, social media, disinformation and, more recently AI. He is also a painter and large abstract acrylics. Many of the covers of his books were painted by him. Research Areas: Continental philosophy: Agamben, Badiou, Derrida, Deleuze, Foucault, Kristeva, Nancy, Esposito Analytical philosophy: Extensional logic, Frege, Wittgenstein, Carnap, Quine Literary Theory Contemporary and Modern Poetics Violence Biopolitics Covid Social media, AI and digital culture Prof. Watkin will supervise projects on any aspects of the work of Agamben, Badiou, Nancy and Deleuze. Further he will consider supervising students on any areas of literary theory, continental philosophy, contemporary literature, experimental poetry and poetics in general. His current research interest is indifference as a development, completion and critique of discourses of difference that have predominated in the humanities for the last forty years. He just completed a monograph on the work of philosopher Giorgio Agamben in relation to indifference. Agamben is one of Watkin’s areas of specialisation, having published the first critical monograph on Agamben and literature in 2010. He is currently working on Deleuze and indifference. His other major project is a consideration of the complex relation between poetry and philosophy since Heidegger, which conceives of poetry/literature as a mode of thinking or, as Watkin calls it, logopoiesis. His 2010 Agamben monograph is part of a three volume study of logopoiesis which will include work on Nancy and Badiou in the years to come. Previously Watkin has published books on the New York School of poetry in relation to avant-gardism and theoretical consideration of literatures of mourning in the modern era. He has published numerous articles on contemporary experimental poetry: Ashbery, O’Hara, Koch, Schulyer, Hejinian, Silliman, Bernstein, and Du Plessis Contemporary Poetry and Poetics Literature and Philosophy Contemporary Continental Philosophy: Agamben, Badiou, Deleuze, Nancy Indifference William Watkin has taught a wide variety of areas at Brunel. His current teaching interests revolve around the changing face of literary theory in the new millennium. He runs courses on the relation of philosophy to literature and the arts from the historical origins of aesthetics through to the most contemporary philosophical statements on aesthetics and literature. He has also taught contemporary literature for many years, specialising in contemporary poetry and poetics. He has a wider interest in poetics and has taught the history of poetry. Another interest is the avant-garde and experimentalism. He taught modernism and the avant-garde for many years and continues to run seminars on experimental, contemporary poetry. Activities: Key Publications: “The Poetics of Presentation: Lyn Hejinian’s My Life Project and the work of Giorgio Agamben” Textual Practice 2012. “The / Turn and the “ ” Pause: Agamben, Derrida and the Stratification of Poetry” in Textures Series, Lexington Press 2011. “Poetry’s Promiscuous Plurality: On a Part of Jean-Luc Nancy’s The Muses[PG1] ” in Jean-Luc Nancy and Plural Thinking SUNY 2011. The Literary Agamben: Adventures in Logopoiesis (London: Continuum University Press, March 2010). “Derrida’s Limits: Aporias between ‘Ousia and Grammē’,” Derrida Today 3.1 (2010): 113-136. “Projective Recursion: The Structure of Ron Silliman’s Tjanting,” Jacket 39 (2010). “Taking steps beyond elegy: poetry, philosophy, lineation, and death,” Textual Practice 23.6 (2009): 1051-1065. “The Materialization of Prose: Poiesis versus Dianoia in the work of Godzich & Kittay, Schklovsky, Silliman and Agamben,” Paragraph 31.3 (2008): 344-364. “‘Systematic rule-governed violations of convention’: Ron Silliman’s Poetic Procedures,” Contemporary Literature 48.4, 2007: 499-529. “Counterchange: Derrida’s Poetry,” in Encountering Derrida: Legacies and Futures of Deconstruction (London: Continuum, 2007). On Mourning: Theories of Loss in Modern Literature. (Edinburgh University Press, 2004). “Revolution, Melancholia and Materiality in the Work of Julia Kristeva”. Paragraph 26.3 (2003): 86-107. “Friendly Little Communities: Derrida’s Politics of Death.” Strategies: Journal of Theory, Culture and Politics 15.2 (2002): 219-237. In the Process of Poetry: The New York School and the Avant-Garde. (Lewisburg, Penn.: Bucknell University Press, 2001). “Poetry Machines: Repetition in the Early Poetry of Kenneth Koch.” EnterText 1.1 (Dec. 2000): 83-117.
Neocleous
i am professor of the critique of political economy in the department of social and political sciences, having joined brunel in 1994 in what was then a department of government. i am a critical theorist who focuses on questions of state and capital, especially as they pertain to police, security, and war. i also have an interest in the political imagination, especially concerning bodies, monstrosity, subjectivity, fear and death. i am currently working on a book called the most beautiful suicide. in february 2025, pacification: social war and the power of police will be published with verso. the security abolition manifesto, co-authored as part of the anti-security collective, was published in july 2024 (red quill books) and can be downloaded for free here. the book is available in greek translation here. the book will soon be available in turkish, spanish, portuguese, french and italian. recent books include the politics of immunity (verso, 2022). more detail of my research is given in the links above called 'research' and 'selected publications'. the 'selected publications' section lists only my books. most of my published work, including my books, is available for free on shadow libraries. much of it is also available either here: or here: if there is a publication of mine that you can't find on those sites, email me and i'll do my best to provide it. qualifications: phd philosophy (middlesex) msc politics and sociology (birkbeck) bsc philosophy and sociology (city) i am currently working on a book called the most beautiful suicide. in february 2025, pacification: social war and the power of police will be published with verso. the security abolition manifesto, co-authored as part of the anti-security collective, was published in july 2024 (red quill books) and can be downloaded for free here. the book is available in greek translation here. the book will soon be available in turkish, spanish, portuguese, french and italian. recent books include the politics of immunity (verso, 2022), taking my earlier critique of security, the state, order, fear, death and the body politic in a new direction. an interview about the politics of immunity can be found on red medicine, here: mark neocleous-the politics of immunity a second interview about the politics of immunity can be found on the new books network, here: mark neocleous-the politics of immunity in 2021 a new edition of a critical theory of police power was published by verso: a critical theory of police power. this is also available as an audiobook: critical theory of police power audiobook interviews about a critical theory of police power can be read: in english, here: a plague of blue locusts and another in english here: a theory of police power - interview with kpfa fm in spanish, here: the police we have is the police liberalism wants and in greek, here: capitalism created by police power there is also a special issue of the journal social justice on the book and its impact over 20 years: social justice special issue on a critical theory of police power various books and essays are available in chinese, korean, spanish, portuguese, russian, greek, turkish, french, italian and german. undergraduate programmes module convenor or co-convenor reason, unreason and the people: political thought from hobbes to freud (yr 1) plato's republic (yr 2) karl marx and the critique of political economy (yr 3) administration ref co-ordinator for politics chair of the board of examiners for the department of arts and humanities
![Professor Mark Neocleous]()
Professor Mark Neocleous
I am Professor of the Critique of Political Economy in the Department of Social and Political Sciences, having joined Brunel in 1994 in what was then a Department of Government. I am a critical theorist who focuses on questions of state and capital, especially as they pertain to police, security, and war. I also have an interest in the political imagination, especially concerning bodies, monstrosity, subjectivity, fear and death. I am currently working on a book called The Most Beautiful Suicide. In February 2025, Pacification: Social War and the Power of Police will be published with Verso. The Security Abolition Manifesto, co-authored as part of The Anti-Security Collective, was published in July 2024 (Red Quill Books) and can be downloaded for free here. The book is available in Greek translation here. The book will soon be available in Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian. Recent books include The Politics of Immunity (Verso, 2022). More detail of my research is given in the links above called 'Research' and 'Selected Publications'. The 'Selected Publications' section lists only my books. Most of my published work, including my books, is available for free on shadow libraries. Much of it is also available either here: or here: If there is a publication of mine that you can't find on those sites, email me and I'll do my best to provide it. Qualifications: PhD Philosophy (Middlesex) MSc Politics and Sociology (Birkbeck) BSc Philosophy and Sociology (City) I am currently working on a book called The Most Beautiful Suicide. In February 2025, Pacification: Social War and the Power of Police will be published with Verso. The Security Abolition Manifesto, co-authored as part of The Anti-Security Collective, was published in July 2024 (Red Quill Books) and can be downloaded for free here. The book is available in Greek translation here. The book will soon be available in Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian. Recent books include The Politics of Immunity (Verso, 2022), taking my earlier critique of security, the state, order, fear, death and the body politic in a new direction. An interview about The Politics of Immunity can be found on Red Medicine, here: Mark Neocleous-The Politics of Immunity A second interview about The Politics of Immunity can be found on the New Books Network, here: Mark Neocleous-The Politics of Immunity In 2021 a new edition of A Critical Theory of Police Power was published by Verso: A Critical Theory of Police Power. This is also available as an audiobook: Critical Theory of Police Power Audiobook Interviews about A Critical Theory of Police Power can be read: in English, here: A Plague of Blue Locusts and another in English here: A Theory of Police Power - Interview with KPFA FM in Spanish, here: The police we have is the police liberalism wants and in Greek, here: Capitalism created by police power There is also a special issue of the journal Social Justice on the book and its impact over 20 years: Social Justice Special Issue on A Critical Theory of Police Power Various books and essays are available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Greek, Turkish, French, Italian and German. Undergraduate Programmes Module convenor or co-convenor Reason, Unreason and the People: Political Thought from Hobbes to Freud (Yr 1) Plato's Republic (Yr 2) Karl Marx and the Critique of Political Economy (Yr 3) Administration REF co-ordinator for Politics Chair of the Board of Examiners for the Department of Arts and Humanities
Xanthopoulou
ermioni is a senior lecturer in law and director of research for brunel law school . she is currently teaching eu, migration and refugee law. her research focuses on (eu) criminal, migration, and asylum law, as well as human rights. ermioni was granted the athena swan research award 2022-2023 to conduct her individual research project on externalising trends of asylum law. together with dr. nayyeri, they published evidence that the government's asylum policy was unlauful. ermioni also participated in itflows, a three-year long research project funded by european commission's horizon 2020, as a member of the bul team assessing human rights challenges posed by technological tools predicting migration. moreober, she is the author of 'the european arrest warrant in a context of distrust: is the court taking rights seriously?'. european law journal, pp. 218 - 233. issn: 1351-5993 she is also the author of 'fundamental rights and mutual trust in the area of freedom, security and justice: a role for proportionality?' published with hart publishing in 2020 and of several other publications. her article, 'mutual trust and rights in eu criminal and asylum law: three phases of evolution and the unchartered territory beyond blind trust', was awarded the 2017 common market law review prize for young academics. ermioni conducted her doctoral research at king's college london (2012-2017) with a scholarship from the centre of european law. crime, security, migration, asylum, human rights. eu area of freedom security and justice, eu criminal law, eu asylum and migration law, eu human rights and constitutional law. publications e xanthopoulou 'the european arrest warrant in a context of distrust: is the court taking rights seriously?' (2023) european law journal e xanthopoulou & m nayyeri 'written evidence on human rights of asylum seekers' (2022) parliament human rights joint committee e xanthopoulou, ‘mapping the eu’s externalisation devices: repulsion, emergency and neo-coloniality’ (2023) (under peer-review with european journal of migration and law) ermioni is the author of 2018) 'mutual trust and rights in eu criminal and asylum law: three phases of evolution and the uncharted territory beyond blind trust'. common market law review, 55 (2). pp. 489 - 509. issn: 0165-0750 that won the prize for young academics in 2017 by the journal. she is also the author of fundamental rights and mutual recognition in the area of freedom, security and justice: a role for proportionality (hart, forthcoming) ‘international fight against impunity and eu counter-terrorism law: the case of foreign terrorist fighters’ co-authored with t. konstadinides (peer-reviewed chapter for the edited book by dr. montaldo and dr. marin, the fight against impunity in eu law 2020, hart publishing) ‘legal uncertainty, distrust and injustice in brexit asylum cooperation’ (peer-reviewed chapter for the edited book by ahmed and fahey, on brexit: law, justice and injustices 2020, edgar) ‘the quest for proportionality for european arrest warrant and fundamental rights protection in a mutual recognition environment’ (2015) new journal of european criminal law32-52 other "mutual trust and fundamental rights in the dublin system: a role for proportionality?" odysseus blog (2021) 'from mutual trust to mutual distrust in the eu’s area of freedom, security and justice' real blog (2021) 'brexit spells sliding safeguarding duties' (2019) britain must commit to upholding civil liberties if the eu is to agree on security co-operation after brexit (the conversation, 2018) radu judgment: a lost opportunity and a story of how the mutual trust obsession shelved human rights (kslr eu law blog, 2013) european union law migrant, state and the law refugee policy and practice
![Dr Ermioni Xanthopoulou]()
Dr Ermioni Xanthopoulou
Ermioni is a Senior Lecturer in law and Director of Research for Brunel Law School . She is currently teaching EU, migration and refugee law. Her research focuses on (EU) criminal, migration, and asylum law, as well as human rights. Ermioni was granted the Athena Swan Research Award 2022-2023 to conduct her individual research project on externalising trends of asylum law. Together with Dr. Nayyeri, they published evidence that the government's asylum policy was unlauful. Ermioni also participated in ITFLOWS, a three-year long research project funded by European Commission's Horizon 2020, as a member of the BUL team assessing human rights challenges posed by technological tools predicting migration. Moreober, she is the author of 'The European Arrest Warrant in a context of distrust: Is the Court taking rights seriously?'. European Law Journal, pp. 218 - 233. ISSN: 1351-5993 She is also the author of 'Fundamental Rights and Mutual Trust in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: A Role for Proportionality?' published with Hart Publishing in 2020 and of several other publications. Her article, 'Mutual Trust and Rights in EU Criminal and Asylum Law: Three Phases of Evolution and the Unchartered Territory beyond Blind Trust', was awarded the 2017 Common Market Law Review Prize for young academics. Ermioni conducted her doctoral research at King's College London (2012-2017) with a scholarship from the Centre of European Law. Crime, security, migration, asylum, human rights. EU area of freedom security and justice, EU Criminal law, EU asylum and migration law, EU human rights and constitutional law. Publications E Xanthopoulou 'The European Arrest Warrant in a context of distrust: Is the Court taking rights seriously?' (2023) European Law Journal E Xanthopoulou & M Nayyeri 'Written evidence on human rights of asylum seekers' (2022) Parliament Human Rights Joint Committee E Xanthopoulou, ‘Mapping the EU’s Externalisation Devices: Repulsion, Emergency and Neo-coloniality’ (2023) (under peer-review with European Journal of Migration and Law) Ermioni is the author of 2018) 'Mutual trust and rights in EU criminal and asylum law: Three phases of evolution and the uncharted territory beyond blind trust'. Common Market Law Review, 55 (2). pp. 489 - 509. ISSN: 0165-0750 that won the prize for Young Academics in 2017 by the journal. She is also the author of Fundamental Rights and Mutual Recognition in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: A Role for Proportionality (Hart, forthcoming) ‘International Fight against Impunity and EU Counter-Terrorism Law: The Case of Foreign Terrorist Fighters’ co-authored with T. Konstadinides (peer-reviewed chapter for the edited book by Dr. Montaldo and Dr. Marin, The Fight Against Impunity in EU Law 2020, Hart Publishing) ‘Legal Uncertainty, Distrust and Injustice in Brexit Asylum Cooperation’ (peer-reviewed chapter for the edited book by Ahmed and Fahey, On Brexit: Law, Justice and Injustices 2020, Edgar) ‘The quest for proportionality for European Arrest Warrant and fundamental rights protection in a mutual recognition environment’ (2015) New Journal of European Criminal Law32-52 Other "Mutual Trust and Fundamental Rights in the Dublin System: A Role for Proportionality?" Odysseus Blog (2021) 'From mutual trust to mutual distrust in the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice' REAL Blog (2021) 'Brexit spells sliding safeguarding duties' (2019) Britain must commit to upholding civil liberties if the EU is to agree on security co-operation after Brexit (The Conversation, 2018) Radu judgment: A lost opportunity and a story of how the mutual trust obsession shelved human rights (KSLR EU Law Blog, 2013) European Union Law Migrant, State and the Law Refugee Policy and Practice
Forde
louise joined brunel law school in september 2020. her research interests lie primarily in the areas of youth justice and international children's rights law, and she has conducted extensive research focused on the realisation of children's rights within the context of the justice system. she is also interested in child participation, and has conducted several research projects which have included children as research advisors and participants. she is currently conducting research on children's rights under the uncrc to access and participate in cultural life and the arts. louise holds a phd in law from university college cork, awarded in 2018. during the course of her phd, she was awarded a government of ireland postgraduate scholarship from the irish research council, and the president james slattery prize in law from the school of law in ucc, for her research entitled “’welfare’ and ‘justice’ in irish youth justice: a children’s rights analysis of diverse approaches to youth justice”. she also holds an llm (research), llm (criminal justice), and bcl from the school of law, ucc, and has completed a higher diploma in teaching and learning in higher education and a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning in higher education. between 2018-2020, louise was a postdoctoral researcher at the centre for children’s rights and family law in the school of law, ucc, where she also lectured on modules including child law, international human rights law and juvenile justice. she was a visiting lecturer in leiden law school in 2019. louise's research has been published in journals including youth justice: an international journal, criminology and criminal justice, the howard journal of criminal justice and the international journal of children's rights. she is co-author of children in conflict with the law: rights, resarch and progressive youth justice, published by palgrave macmillan in 2023. she has authored reports for bodies such as save the children, the irish penal reform trust, and other governmental and non-governmental bodies, and contributed to the un global study on children deprived of their liberty. she was appointed to the editorial board of youth justice: an international journal in 2019. louise's primary research interests lie in the area of youth justice and international children's rights law. she is particularly interested in the ways in which international children's rights principles can be used to develop domestic law and policy. her most recent research also looks at children's right under the uncrc relating to free participation in and access to creative arts and cultural life. she has a keen interest in children's participation, and is interested in conducting research that includes participatory methods with children and which values the contribution that can be made by listening to children's voices and experiences. youth justice international children's rights law implementation of international children's rights principles in domestic law child participation children's right to access and participate in cultural life and the arts evidence law sentencing & penology criminal law children and the law
![Dr Louise Forde]()
Dr Louise Forde
Louise joined Brunel Law School in September 2020. Her research interests lie primarily in the areas of youth justice and international children's rights law, and she has conducted extensive research focused on the realisation of children's rights within the context of the justice system. She is also interested in child participation, and has conducted several research projects which have included children as research advisors and participants. She is currently conducting research on children's rights under the UNCRC to access and participate in cultural life and the arts. Louise holds a PhD in Law from University College Cork, awarded in 2018. During the course of her PhD, she was awarded a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship from the Irish Research Council, and the President James Slattery Prize in Law from the School of Law in UCC, for her research entitled “’Welfare’ and ‘justice’ in Irish youth justice: A Children’s Rights Analysis of Diverse Approaches to Youth Justice”. She also holds an LLM (Research), LLM (Criminal Justice), and BCL from the School of Law, UCC, and has completed a Higher Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Between 2018-2020, Louise was a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Children’s Rights and Family Law in the School of Law, UCC, where she also lectured on modules including Child Law, International Human Rights Law and Juvenile Justice. She was a visiting lecturer in Leiden Law School in 2019. Louise's research has been published in journals including Youth Justice: An International Journal, Criminology and Criminal Justice, the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice and the International Journal of Children's Rights. She is co-author of Children in Conflict with the Law: Rights, Resarch and Progressive Youth Justice, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2023. She has authored reports for bodies such as Save the Children, the Irish Penal Reform Trust, and other governmental and non-governmental bodies, and contributed to the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of their Liberty. She was appointed to the editorial board of Youth Justice: An International Journal in 2019. Louise's primary research interests lie in the area of youth justice and international children's rights law. She is particularly interested in the ways in which international children's rights principles can be used to develop domestic law and policy. Her most recent research also looks at children's right under the UNCRC relating to free participation in and access to creative arts and cultural life. She has a keen interest in children's participation, and is interested in conducting research that includes participatory methods with children and which values the contribution that can be made by listening to children's voices and experiences. Youth Justice International children's rights law Implementation of international children's rights principles in domestic law Child participation Children's right to access and participate in cultural life and the arts Evidence Law Sentencing & Penology Criminal Law Children and the Law
Luoma
colin joined brunel law school as a lecturer in 2021. prior to joining brunel, he was a legal researcher with minority rights group international and a civil litigation attorney working in private practice. colin earned his phd in connection with his thesis entitled 'indigenous cultural rights violations and transitional justice in the settler colonial state'. his doctoral research analysed the treatment of indigenous peoples’ cultural rights violations in transitional justice initiatives implemented in settler colonial states. more broadly, his research is focused on the intersections between indigenous and minority rights and transitional justice, historical wrongdoing, and environmental justice. transitional justice international human rights law indigenous rights minority rights environmental justice land law legal skills and method multiculturalism and human rights
![Dr Colin Luoma]()
Dr Colin Luoma
Colin joined Brunel Law School as a Lecturer in 2021. Prior to joining Brunel, he was a Legal Researcher with Minority Rights Group International and a civil litigation attorney working in private practice. Colin earned his PhD in connection with his thesis entitled 'Indigenous Cultural Rights Violations and Transitional Justice in the Settler Colonial State'. His doctoral research analysed the treatment of indigenous peoples’ cultural rights violations in transitional justice initiatives implemented in settler colonial states. More broadly, his research is focused on the intersections between indigenous and minority rights and transitional justice, historical wrongdoing, and environmental justice. Transitional Justice International Human Rights Law Indigenous Rights Minority Rights Environmental Justice Land Law Legal Skills and Method Multiculturalism and Human Rights
Havsteen-Franklin
dominik havsteen-franklin is a professor of practice (arts therapies) at brunel university, with a ph.d. in art psychotherapy and metaphor. he is also head of the international centre for arts psychotherapies training (icapt) for central and north west london nhs foundation trust, vice president for the european federation of art therapy and a member of the council for the british association of art therapists. his research focuses on applying empirical methods to investigating and evaluating the use of arts to facilitate changes in health conditions. his recent research has centred on co-designing and investigating arts-based dynamic interpersonal therapy (adit) for depression, creative and resilience engagement (care) for frontline healthcare workers, developing arts-based psychosocial practice in south africa, and is a co-applicant for an nihr funded large scale rct (era) investigating the effectiveness of arts therapies for heterogenous groups in mental health services. dominik supervises phd students from a range of arts disciplines. he also continues to work as a consultant, an art psychotherapist and a clinical supervisor for the national health service. arts therapies, practice development, change process, mentalization, embodiment, attachment, psychodynamic practice, art psychotherapy, health, qualitative inquiry/ investigation, group consultation research: nominal group technique, repertory grid technique, focus groups. qualitative data analysis: thematic analysis, grounded theory. participatory research design
![Dr Dominik Havsteen-Franklin]()
Dr Dominik Havsteen-Franklin
Dominik Havsteen-Franklin is a Professor of Practice (Arts Therapies) at Brunel University, with a Ph.D. in Art Psychotherapy and Metaphor. He is also head of the International Centre for Arts Psychotherapies Training (ICAPT) for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Vice President for the European Federation of Art Therapy and a member of the Council for the British Association of Art Therapists. His research focuses on applying empirical methods to investigating and evaluating the use of arts to facilitate changes in health conditions. His recent research has centred on co-designing and investigating Arts-based Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (ADIT) for depression, Creative and Resilience Engagement (CaRE) for frontline healthcare workers, developing arts-based psychosocial practice in South Africa, and is a co-applicant for an NIHR funded large scale RCT (ERA) investigating the effectiveness of arts therapies for heterogenous groups in mental health services. Dominik supervises PhD students from a range of arts disciplines. He also continues to work as a consultant, an art psychotherapist and a clinical supervisor for the National Health Service. Arts Therapies, Practice Development, Change Process, Mentalization, Embodiment, Attachment, Psychodynamic Practice, Art psychotherapy, Health, Qualitative Inquiry/ Investigation, Group Consultation Research: Nominal Group Technique, Repertory Grid Technique, Focus Groups. Qualitative Data Analysis: Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory. Participatory Research Design
Westenberger
dr paula westenberger is a senior lecturer in intellectual property law at brunel university london, where she teaches and convenes undergraduate and postgraduate intellectual property law modules at brunel law school, and is a member of the centre for artificial intelligence at brunel university. paula joined brunel in 2018, having previously held positions at queen mary university of london and buckinghamshire new university. she holds a phd (with scholarship awarded by the centre for commercial law studies) and an llm in intellectual property law from queen mary university of london (qmul), and an llb from the pontifícia universidade católica of rio de janeiro (puc-rio), where she was also part of the human rights centre research group "simulações e realidade". her research interests cover the intersection between copyright law, human rights and culture, with particular focus on topics including limitations and exceptions to copyright, the use of digital technology by cultural heritage institutions, and the relationship between artistic freedom and copyright law. she is currently researching the interface between cultural heritage, artificial intelligence and copyright law. paula is deputy editor for the european copyright and design reports (ecdr), a member of the british literary and artistic copyright association (blaca) and a peer reviewer for intellectual property law academic journals. paula is a qualified lawyer in brazil, where she has practiced in the field of intellectual property law. paula's research interests cover the intersection between copyright law, human rights and culture, with particular focus on topics including limitations and exceptions to copyright, the use of digital technology by cultural heritage institutions, and the relationship between artistic freedom and copyright law. paula is currently researching the interface between cultural heritage, artificial intelligence and copyright law. llb: lx3071 intellectual property law (module convenor) llm: lx5646 international intellectual property law (module convenor) lx5653 european and international media law (module convenor) lx5616 privacy and data protection lx5621 philosophical foundations of intellectual property lx5642 copyright, design and allied rights lx5651 cultural heritage law - comparative and international perspectives
![Dr Paula Westenberger]()
Dr Paula Westenberger
Dr Paula Westenberger is a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law at Brunel University London, where she teaches and convenes undergraduate and postgraduate intellectual property law modules at Brunel Law School, and is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Brunel University. Paula joined Brunel in 2018, having previously held positions at Queen Mary University of London and Buckinghamshire New University. She holds a PhD (with Scholarship awarded by the Centre for Commercial Law Studies) and an LLM in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), and an LLB from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), where she was also part of the Human Rights Centre research group "Simulações e Realidade". Her research interests cover the intersection between copyright law, human rights and culture, with particular focus on topics including limitations and exceptions to copyright, the use of digital technology by cultural heritage institutions, and the relationship between artistic freedom and copyright law. She is currently researching the interface between cultural heritage, artificial intelligence and copyright law. Paula is Deputy Editor for the European Copyright and Design Reports (ECDR), a member of the British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association (BLACA) and a peer reviewer for intellectual property law academic journals. Paula is a qualified lawyer in Brazil, where she has practiced in the field of intellectual property law. Paula's research interests cover the intersection between copyright law, human rights and culture, with particular focus on topics including limitations and exceptions to copyright, the use of digital technology by cultural heritage institutions, and the relationship between artistic freedom and copyright law. Paula is currently researching the interface between cultural heritage, artificial intelligence and copyright law. LLB: LX3071 Intellectual Property Law (module convenor) LLM: LX5646 International Intellectual Property Law (module convenor) LX5653 European and International Media Law (module convenor) LX5616 Privacy and Data Protection LX5621 Philosophical Foundations of Intellectual Property LX5642 Copyright, Design and Allied Rights LX5651 Cultural Heritage Law - Comparative and International Perspectives
Nayyeri
dr mohammad nayyeri is a lecturer in law in the public and international law division at brunel law school. mohammad gained his phd in law in 2020 at king’s college london. his thesis focused on the role of international legal practice in theorising human rights and engaged with general legal theories and contemporary philosophical approaches to human rights. having previously studied law in iran up to phd level and qualified as attorney at law, he was awarded a chevening scholarship from the british council and studied an llm in human rights at birkbeck, university of london. he also obtained a graduate diploma in law (gdl) at the university of westminster. before joining brunel, mohammad worked as lecturer in law at the university of kent and held visiting positions at the london school of economics (lse) and king’s college london where he taught a range of classes on public law, eu law, property law and jurisprudence. he also worked as legal advisor and senior associate at the university of essex human rights in iran unit. more recently, mohammad held fellowships at the centre for human rights erlangen-nürnberg (chren) and the max planck institute for comparative and international private law in hamburg. mohammad has extensive experience of working with ngos and has had conduct of cases and representations before international bodies and mechanisms including the un working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and the un committee on the rights of the child, and national bodies including national contact points (ncps) in business and human rights cases. mohammad has been accepted by various judicial authorities including the uk’s courts and tribunals as an independent legal expert able to give opinion on legal issues and conditions relating to iranian law and in asylum and immigration cases. he is also recognised and listed as a country expert by the european union agency for asylum (euaa). mohammad has also been instructed as an independent expert by leading law firms across the uk, canada, us, australia, sweden, norway and the netherlands and produced numerous expert reports which he has presented to various courts, most recently regarding the recognition and enforcement of a major arbitral award before the hague court of appeal and the high court in london. mohammad's research interests particularly concern human rights law and philosophy, international law, constitutional law, comparative law, and jurisprudence. jurisprudence and legal theory human rights theory international human rights law immigration and asylum law business and human rights law of the european union public law islamic law comparative law contract law public law european union law international law business and human rights the migrant, the state and the law
![Dr Mohammad Nayyeri]()
Dr Mohammad Nayyeri
Dr Mohammad Nayyeri is a Lecturer in Law in the Public and International Law Division at Brunel Law School. Mohammad gained his PhD in Law in 2020 at King’s College London. His thesis focused on the role of international legal practice in theorising human rights and engaged with general legal theories and contemporary philosophical approaches to human rights. Having previously studied law in Iran up to PhD level and qualified as Attorney at Law, he was awarded a Chevening Scholarship from the British Council and studied an LLM in Human Rights at Birkbeck, University of London. He also obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at the University of Westminster. Before joining Brunel, Mohammad worked as Lecturer in Law at the University of Kent and held visiting positions at the London School of Economics (LSE) and King’s College London where he taught a range of classes on public law, EU law, property law and jurisprudence. He also worked as Legal Advisor and Senior Associate at the University of Essex Human Rights in Iran Unit. More recently, Mohammad held fellowships at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (CHREN) and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg. Mohammad has extensive experience of working with NGOs and has had conduct of cases and representations before international bodies and mechanisms including the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and national bodies including National Contact Points (NCPs) in business and human rights cases. Mohammad has been accepted by various judicial authorities including the UK’s Courts and tribunals as an independent legal expert able to give opinion on legal issues and conditions relating to Iranian law and in asylum and immigration cases. He is also recognised and listed as a country expert by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). Mohammad has also been instructed as an independent expert by leading law firms across the UK, Canada, US, Australia, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands and produced numerous expert reports which he has presented to various courts, most recently regarding the recognition and enforcement of a major arbitral award before the Hague Court of Appeal and the High Court in London. Mohammad's research interests particularly concern human rights law and philosophy, international law, constitutional law, comparative law, and jurisprudence. Jurisprudence and Legal Theory Human Rights Theory International Human Rights Law Immigration and Asylum Law Business and Human Rights Law of the European Union Public Law Islamic Law Comparative Law Contract Law Public Law European Union Law International Law Business and Human Rights The Migrant, the State and the Law
Hakak
dr yohai hakak joined brunel in september 2014. dr. hakak's practice experience is in mental health social work. his areas of research interests are migration, embodiment, parenting, risk-perception, youth, religion, gender and mental health and the connection of these areas with social work. dr hakak published in these areas numerous articles. his last manuscript titled haredi masculinities between the yeshiva, the army, work and politics: the sage, the warrior and the entrepreneur was an ethnographic study of jewish haredi (ultra-orthodox) young men in israel. it was published by brill in 2016. the outcomes of yohai’s academic work included also several award-winning documentary films. yohai is interested in supervising students in the following areas and in relation to social work: migration embodiment religious minorities masculine identities mental health risk and its perception mixed couples yohai's current areas of research interest are: embodiment in academic and professional practice | brunel university london the migration of professionals mixed families religious minorities mental health state power
![Dr Yohai Hakak]()
Dr Yohai Hakak
Dr Yohai Hakak joined Brunel in September 2014. Dr. Hakak's practice experience is in mental health social work. His areas of research interests are migration, embodiment, parenting, risk-perception, youth, religion, gender and mental health and the connection of these areas with social work. Dr Hakak published in these areas numerous articles. His last manuscript titled Haredi Masculinities between the Yeshiva, the Army, Work and Politics: The Sage, the Warrior and the Entrepreneur was an ethnographic study of Jewish Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) young men in Israel. It was published by Brill in 2016. The outcomes of Yohai’s academic work included also several award-winning documentary films. Yohai is interested in supervising students in the following areas and in relation to social work: Migration Embodiment Religious minorities Masculine identities Mental health Risk and its perception Mixed couples Yohai's current areas of research interest are: Embodiment in Academic and Professional Practice | Brunel University London The migration of professionals Mixed families Religious minorities Mental health State power
Cruz
liliana montoya de la cruz is the programme lead for the ma in art psychotherapy. she is an art therapist, visual artist and art educator born in colombia, and has lived most of her life in europe between the uk, france and spain. she has an ma in art therapy from the pablo de olavide university in seville, where she has been lecturing and tutoring since 2017. as an art therapist she has worked with children and adolescents in schools and in social services with women victims of domestic abuse. more recently she has worked in the humanitarian sector with the red pencil and the red cross implementing art therapy first-aid interventions for asylum seekers in refugee reception centres in malaga, spain. since 2007 she runs a community arts studio in surrey and in 2014 she co-founded an inclusive arts school in southern spain. she is also a practising visual artist using primarily ceramics as her medium of expression.
![Ms Liliana Montoya De La Cruz]()
Ms Liliana Montoya De La Cruz
Liliana Montoya De La Cruz is the Programme Lead for the MA in Art Psychotherapy. She is an Art Therapist, Visual Artist and Art Educator born in Colombia, and has lived most of her life in Europe between the UK, France and Spain. She has an MA in Art Therapy from the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, where she has been lecturing and tutoring since 2017. As an art therapist she has worked with children and adolescents in schools and in social services with women victims of domestic abuse. More recently she has worked in the humanitarian sector with the Red Pencil and the Red Cross implementing Art Therapy first-aid interventions for asylum seekers in refugee reception centres in Malaga, Spain. Since 2007 she runs a community arts studio in Surrey and in 2014 she co-founded an inclusive arts school in Southern Spain. She is also a practising visual artist using primarily ceramics as her medium of expression.
Lau
pin lean is a senior lecturer (associate professor) in bio-law at brunel law school, joining brunel university london in january 2021. a former practising barrister and solicitor, she was a corporate-commercial attorney working primarily in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, technology law, and general corporate advisory matters. prior to joining brunel university, she was an attorney on secondment with the legal services team (based in belgrave, london) in the general counsel's organization of american express international, where she was a key senior legal counsel for the asia-pacific region. she obtained her sjd in comparative constitutional law from central european university, budapest, hungary, in 2019 (nostrified in the uk in 2020), earning highest honours, summa cum laude, for her thesis titled 'comparative legal frameworks for pre-implantation genetic interventions' (which has been written into a monograph published by springer switzerland). pin lean is the general manager of the centre for artificial intelligence: social & digital innovations. she is an active member of the brunel international law research group, living avatars research group, the human rights, society and the arts research group, and reproduction research group. externally, she is part of the elsi2.0 workspace, an international collaboratory on genomics and society research; a member of the european association of health law (eahl), and a general manager of the interest group on supranational bio-law of the eahl; and a member of the daughters of themis: international network of women business scholars. she has held visiting fellowships with the centre for health, law and emerging technologies (helex), ndph (medical sciences division), university of oxford; the centre for ethics and law in the life sciences (cells) at the university of hannover, germany; and participated in the centre for ethics and law in biomedicine (celab) in central european university, hungary. pin lean also leads the uk & european chapter of the global responsible metaverse alliance as director of research; and is an invited member of the united nations (un) international telecommunications union (itu) working group on the metaverse, focusing on competition, economics, standards and regulatory aspects of the metaverse. her research encompasses european, international, and comparative law for genome editing (with a focus on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, reproductive technologies and women's bodies; and the proliferation of virulent gene-edited pathogens and global bio-security); propertization and commodification studies of genetic materials and biomedical technologies; the ethico-legal governance for artificial intelligence (ai) systems (with a focus on protection of fundamental rights, spatial 'body citizenship' and bio-constitutional implications of the ai-augmented biological human body, and ai in women's health); and technologies horizon scanning and legal future foresighting for new and emerging technologies and environments, such as the metaverse. she has written widely on topics straddling the fringes of laws, technologies and society, and has been invited as a speaker by many national and international organisations, including on podcasts relating to technologies, and media interviews with news organisations in the uk, us, france, germany, brazil, hungary, malaysia, japan, and india. recently, she was invited as an expert panelist by the uk regulatory alliance, the digital cooperation regulation forum (drcf) in its first metaverse symposium. she has also consulted as an expert with the uk law society on technologies and horizon scanning in its future worlds 2050 project. pin lean previously consulted on a multi-trust funded project for the world health organization (who), food and agriculture organization (fao) and the oie (world organization for animal health), on developing and piloting of a tripartite one health assessment tool for antimicrobial resistance relevant legislation. she also completed a project with researchers from the eahl to produce a joint statement for the european commission's 2021 thematic networks, with a proposal for health as a fundamental value, as part of the eu pharmaceutical strategy. she led a project on ai-driven technologies in women's healthcare, funded by the institute for communities & society. besides this, she is also working on several book projects, including health and ip rights in eu health law, and eu health databases; on the eu draft law for artificial intelligence and data protection; on ai gender data gap and data feminism; and on femtech and effective ai stewardship for women's healthcare. she is also a contributor in the eurogct project (european gene & cell therapy project) funded by the european commission's horizon 2020 work programme, contributing in the area of data misuse and mission creep in eu health laws relating to patient involvement and patient data. she was the keynote speaker, with the presentation titled 'hidden figures: algorithmic biases in health and medical ai - european law perspectives' at the xvi inter-autonomous conference on the legal protection of patients: science and data as ingredients for the transformation of healthcare organisations. she led a european commission health policy platform project, together with civil society organisation, health action international, to produce a joint statement and policy recommendations for the european commission 2022 thematic networks, on the impact of artificial intelligence on health outcomes (reducing health inequalities) of marginalised groups in the eu - presenting this report to the european commission in luxembourg in april 2023. she currently leads the stakeholder network for this project on the eu health policy platform. from august 2023, pin lean leads a project (lex-hmt) focusing on legal and regulatory aspects of immersive biomedical technologies in virtual worlds, and is expected to provide oral evidence to the ai all-parliamentary group (ai appg) in the uk house of lords in november 2023. she has also recently been successful as co-investigator in a ukri-funded regulatory science & innovation network funding application with the global counsel and digital catapult, on spatial computing, web3.0 and the metaverse. pin lean's research interests encompass european, international and comparative law for genome editing (with a focus on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, reproductive technologies and women's bodies; and the proliferation of virulent gene-edited pathogens and global bio-security); propertization and commodication studies and debates of genetic materials and biomedical technologies; and the ethico-legal governance of ai systems (with a focus on ai in healthcare, and the protection of individual rights and fundamental liberties in ai, spatial 'body citizenship', and bio-constitutional concerns of the ai-augmented biological human body; and ai, gender data gap and data feminism in women's healthcare); and technologies horizon scanning and legal future foresighting for new and emerging technologies and environments, such as the metaverse. bio-constitutionalism and human rights implications of new and emerging biomedical technologies (gene editing, artificial intelligence, 3d organ bioprinting, xenotransplantation, cryo-preservation, reproductive cloning, etc) bioethics and feminist legal approaches to bioethics european, international and comparative law for genome editing technologies (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and reproductive technologies) ethico-legal governance of artificial intelligence (ai) systems, particularly ai in healthcare protection of human rights and fundamental liberties in the metaverse and web3.0 admitted as a fellow of the hea (march 2022) modules taught:- tort law artificial intelligence, ethics and law (ai and health in the metaverse) artificial intelligence, bias and power law, science, and technology studies (genome editing technologies) bioethics and biomedical law
![Dr Pin Lean Lau]()
Dr Pin Lean Lau
Pin Lean is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Bio-Law at Brunel Law School, joining Brunel University London in January 2021. A former practising barrister and solicitor, she was a corporate-commercial attorney working primarily in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, technology law, and general corporate advisory matters. Prior to joining Brunel University, she was an attorney on secondment with the Legal Services Team (based in Belgrave, London) in the General Counsel's Organization of American Express International, where she was a key senior legal counsel for the Asia-Pacific region. She obtained her SJD in Comparative Constitutional Law from Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, in 2019 (nostrified in the UK in 2020), earning highest honours, Summa cum Laude, for her thesis titled 'Comparative Legal Frameworks for Pre-Implantation Genetic Interventions' (which has been written into a monograph published by Springer Switzerland). Pin Lean is the General Manager of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence: Social & Digital Innovations. She is an active member of the Brunel International Law Research Group, Living Avatars Research Group, the Human Rights, Society and the Arts Research Group, and Reproduction Research Group. Externally, she is part of the ELSI2.0 Workspace, an international collaboratory on genomics and society research; a member of the European Association of Health Law (EAHL), and a General Manager of the Interest Group on Supranational Bio-Law of the EAHL; and a member of the Daughters of Themis: International Network of Women Business Scholars. She has held visiting fellowships with the Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies (HeLEX), NDPH (Medical Sciences Division), University of Oxford; the Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLs) at the University of Hannover, Germany; and participated in the Centre for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine (CELAB) in Central European University, Hungary. Pin Lean also leads the UK & European chapter of the global Responsible Metaverse Alliance as Director of Research; and is an invited member of the United Nations (UN) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Working Group on the Metaverse, focusing on competition, economics, standards and regulatory aspects of the Metaverse. Her research encompasses European, international, and comparative law for genome editing (with a focus on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, reproductive technologies and women's bodies; and the proliferation of virulent gene-edited pathogens and global bio-security); propertization and commodification studies of genetic materials and biomedical technologies; the ethico-legal governance for artificial intelligence (AI) systems (with a focus on protection of fundamental rights, spatial 'body citizenship' and bio-constitutional implications of the AI-augmented biological human body, and AI in women's health); and technologies horizon scanning and legal future foresighting for new and emerging technologies and environments, such as the Metaverse. She has written widely on topics straddling the fringes of laws, technologies and society, and has been invited as a speaker by many national and international organisations, including on podcasts relating to technologies, and media interviews with news organisations in the UK, US, France, Germany, Brazil, Hungary, Malaysia, Japan, and India. Recently, she was invited as an expert panelist by the UK regulatory alliance, the Digital Cooperation Regulation Forum (DRCF) in its first Metaverse Symposium. She has also consulted as an expert with the UK Law Society on technologies and horizon scanning in its Future Worlds 2050 Project. Pin Lean previously consulted on a multi-trust funded project for the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the OiE (World Organization for Animal Health), on developing and piloting of a Tripartite One Health Assessment Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance Relevant Legislation. She also completed a project with researchers from the EAHL to produce a Joint Statement for the European Commission's 2021 Thematic Networks, with a proposal for Health as a Fundamental Value, as part of the EU Pharmaceutical Strategy. She led a project on AI-driven technologies in women's healthcare, funded by the Institute for Communities & Society. Besides this, she is also working on several book projects, including health and IP rights in EU health law, and EU health databases; on the EU Draft Law for Artificial Intelligence and data protection; on AI gender data gap and data feminism; and on FemTech and effective AI stewardship for women's healthcare. She is also a contributor in the EuroGCT Project (European Gene & Cell Therapy Project) funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Work Programme, contributing in the area of data misuse and mission creep in EU health laws relating to patient involvement and patient data. She was the keynote speaker, with the presentation titled 'Hidden Figures: Algorithmic Biases in Health and Medical AI - European Law Perspectives' at the XVI Inter-Autonomous Conference on the Legal Protection of Patients: Science and Data as Ingredients for the Transformation of Healthcare Organisations. She led a European Commission Health Policy Platform project, together with civil society organisation, Health Action International, to produce a Joint Statement and policy recommendations for the European Commission 2022 Thematic Networks, on the impact of artificial intelligence on health outcomes (reducing health inequalities) of marginalised groups in the EU - presenting this report to the European Commission in Luxembourg in April 2023. She currently leads the Stakeholder Network for this project on the EU Health Policy Platform. From August 2023, Pin Lean leads a project (Lex-HMT) focusing on legal and regulatory aspects of immersive biomedical technologies in virtual worlds, and is expected to provide oral evidence to the AI All-Parliamentary Group (AI APPG) in the UK House of Lords in November 2023. She has also recently been successful as Co-Investigator in a UKRI-funded regulatory science & innovation network funding application with The Global Counsel and Digital Catapult, on spatial computing, web3.0 and the Metaverse. Pin Lean's research interests encompass European, international and comparative law for genome editing (with a focus on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, reproductive technologies and women's bodies; and the proliferation of virulent gene-edited pathogens and global bio-security); propertization and commodication studies and debates of genetic materials and biomedical technologies; and the ethico-legal governance of AI systems (with a focus on AI in healthcare, and the protection of individual rights and fundamental liberties in AI, spatial 'body citizenship', and bio-constitutional concerns of the AI-augmented biological human body; and AI, gender data gap and data feminism in women's healthcare); and technologies horizon scanning and legal future foresighting for new and emerging technologies and environments, such as the Metaverse. Bio-constitutionalism and human rights implications of new and emerging biomedical technologies (gene editing, artificial intelligence, 3D organ bioprinting, xenotransplantation, cryo-preservation, reproductive cloning, etc) Bioethics and feminist legal approaches to bioethics European, international and comparative law for genome editing technologies (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and reproductive technologies) Ethico-legal governance of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly AI in healthcare Protection of human rights and fundamental liberties in the Metaverse and Web3.0 Admitted as a Fellow of the HEA (March 2022) Modules Taught:- Tort Law Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Law (AI and Health in the Metaverse) Artificial Intelligence, Bias and Power Law, Science, and Technology Studies (genome editing technologies) Bioethics and Biomedical Law
Solomon
dr solon solomon is senior lecturer (associate professor) in the division of public & international law at brunel university london, having established and serving as co-director of the bul international law group and heading the bul emerging law voices interview series on the brunel law school youtube channel and on spotify. former member of the knesset legal department on international and constitutional issues and holder of the george weber award from the hebrew university of jerusalem, he has held visiting positions in a number of academic institutions including king's college london, humboldt zu berlin, tel aviv university and the british institute of international and comparative law. he is currently co-convenor of the international law section in the society of legal scholars, covering the united kingdom and ireland and serves as mentor for new international lawyers in the realms of the mentorship program established by the american society of international law. dr solomon's research lies on the interdisciplinarity between psychology and international law. in 2024, his award-winning film 'migrating fears', discussing the feelings around migration and encompassing interviews with uk politicians, refugees, psychologists and legal experts, premiered in london. solomon is the author of the justiciability of international disputes (wlp, 2009) cited before the permanent court of arbitration and co-editor of the volume applying international humanitarian law in judicial and quasi-judicial bodies: international and domestic aspects (tmc asser press, 2014), presented in a special event in the hague by the then serving judges sir christopher greenwood and silvia fernandez de gurmendi, the british judge to the international court of justice and the international criminal court's president. his research has appeared in a number of journals including the journal of international dispute settlement, the journal of conflict & security law, the chinese journal of international law, the nordic journal of international law and the german law journal. he has rendered lectures and talks in various academic venues, most notably at the university of cambridge, the harvard law school, the university of melbourne and the australian national university. he sits on the editorial board of the military law and the law of war review, published under the auspices of the international society for military law and the law of war. dr solomon holds a phd from king’s college london dickson poon school of law, an llm in public international law from the hebrew university of jerusalem and a first-class honors bachelor of laws from the aristotle university of thessaloniki. he has extensive media presence, with his views hosted in outlets such as the washington post, the chicago tribune, the bbc, newsweek magazine, the times, the financial times, the globe & mail,the straits times and haaretz. www.migratingfears.com dr solomon's research interest focuses on how the human rights discourse and particularly socio-economic rights and the right to mental health, can interact with disciplines beyond the legal world, such as psychology and psychiatry. on this account, dr solon solomon is currently researching on the legal assessment of civilian war trauma and the repercussions for the warfare rhetoric and for the laws of war existing framework. research areas include the interrelation between psychology and human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and refugee law
![Dr Solon Solomon]()
Dr Solon Solomon
Dr Solon Solomon is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Division of Public & International Law at Brunel University London, having established and serving as co-Director of the BUL International Law Group and heading the BUL Emerging Law Voices interview series on the Brunel Law School YouTube channel and on Spotify. Former Member of the Knesset Legal Department on international and constitutional issues and holder of the George Weber Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he has held visiting positions in a number of academic institutions including King's College London, Humboldt zu Berlin, Tel Aviv University and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is currently co-convenor of the International Law Section in the Society of Legal Scholars, covering the United Kingdom and Ireland and serves as mentor for new international lawyers in the realms of the mentorship program established by the American Society of International Law. Dr Solomon's research lies on the interdisciplinarity between psychology and international law. In 2024, his award-winning film 'Migrating Fears', discussing the feelings around migration and encompassing interviews with UK politicians, refugees, psychologists and legal experts, premiered in London. Solomon is the author of The Justiciability of International Disputes (WLP, 2009) cited before the Permanent Court of Arbitration and co-editor of the volume Applying International Humanitarian Law in Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies: International and Domestic Aspects (TMC Asser Press, 2014), presented in a special event in The Hague by the then serving judges Sir Christopher Greenwood and Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, the British judge to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court's President. His research has appeared in a number of journals including the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, the Journal of Conflict & Security Law, the Chinese Journal of International Law, the Nordic Journal of International Law and the German Law Journal. He has rendered lectures and talks in various academic venues, most notably at the University of Cambridge, the Harvard Law School, the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University. He sits on the Editorial Board of the Military Law and the Law of War Review, published under the auspices of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War. Dr Solomon holds a PhD from King’s College London Dickson Poon School of Law, an LLM in Public International Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a First-Class Honors Bachelor of Laws from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has extensive media presence, with his views hosted in outlets such as The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The BBC, Newsweek Magazine, The Times, The Financial Times, The Globe & Mail,The Straits Times and Haaretz. www.migratingfears.com Dr Solomon's research interest focuses on how the human rights discourse and particularly socio-economic rights and the right to mental health, can interact with disciplines beyond the legal world, such as psychology and psychiatry. On this account, Dr Solon Solomon is currently researching on the legal assessment of civilian war trauma and the repercussions for the warfare rhetoric and for the laws of war existing framework. Research areas include the interrelation between psychology and human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and refugee law