Catherine Russell

Catherine Russell completed her PhD in fluvial sedimentology at the University of Leeds in 2017 and went on to lecture in sedimentology and Earth surface processes at the University of Leicester, whilst also affiliated with Louisiana State University. Catherine is a geologist who is interested in human impacts on rivers and their landscapes, including plastic pollution. On experiencing the Louisianan human-modified Mississippi River landscape in 2019, Catherine began adapting traditional geological techniques to modern environments as well as investigating how plastic behaves as a sedimentary particle. In 2020, she established the Anthropocene Sediment Network, which aims to holistically combine human, social, and physical elements of a landscape to aid communication, networking, and learning between communities.

As a Fulbright-Lloyd’s Visiting Scholar at the University of New Orleans, Catherine seeks to learn the deeper impacts of the human-modified landscape on day-to-day living in New Orleans. The key focus of her research will be investigating the novelties of Anthropocene rivers when compared to natural systems, and particularly the consequences of our activities on reservoir water quality. The Fulbright Scholarship will give her the opportunity to build bridges and new connections in her research, as well as to undertake fieldwork in a new environment. The learnings from this research will allow for deeper understanding of the long-term effects of human impact on surface processes across Earth Systems in the Anthropocene.

Oluwagbemisola Anifowose-Eso

Gbemisola is a recent first-class graduate from the University of Warwick where she studied Politics and Sociology.

Through her experience growing up between Nigeria and the UK, Gbemisola recognized that despite the cultural, political, and economic distinctiveness of these countries, they are affected by and responding to the same global issues. Supported by the Fulbright Scholarship, Gbemisola will pursue the MA in Global Thought at Columbia University, where she hopes to conduct an interdisciplinary study of critical global issues – from pandemics to climate crises and social injustice – with the aim of developing practical interventions to address these. She is particularly interested in learning about how urban areas have evolved in the global era and hopes to investigate the contestation of public space in global cities across the world.

Outside of her academics, Gbemisola is looking forward to immersing herself in New York’s iconic jazz scene and exploring the city’s vast culinary offerings.

Derick Wilson MBE

Derick is Reader Emeritus in Education with Restorative Practices (Ulster) undertaking practical reconciliation work in Northern Ireland since 1965 with the Corrymeela Community, as a youthworker, parent and academic. This Fulbright Scholarship strengthens relationships between St Philip’s, a unique Historically Black and Hispanic Serving College, and Corrymeela. St Philip’s wishes to challenge their students more through offering international experiences, while supporting them be at ease in study, work and service within diverse local communities. From his post-doctoral research, he believes that reconciliation in contested and secure societies is promoted when the inter-connected principles of equity, diversity and interdependence underpin learning relationships, organisational cultures and public policy.

St Philip’s and its local partners wish to draw on Derick’s restorative practice in community relations, mediation, conflict studies, educational and criminal justice practices. Restorative practices are future-oriented activities, promoting just, re-invigorated relationships and bringing new life to structures essential for the common good. Restorative cultures are challenging inter-generational spaces in which to develop inclusive learning practices across diverse backgrounds embedding lasting change in our personal lives and institutions.