New starter at the FBA - Taylor Butler-Eldridge

The Freshwater Biological Association welcomes Taylor Butler-Eldridge, PhD Researcher from the University of Exeter (Human Geography) to the team. Taylor is joining us on a part-time funded placement for three months (March-June 2024).

Drawing on Taylor’s experience in digital design, social science research, and working with local swimming community groups at Windermere, he will further support the FBA with our communications and engagement across multiple projects. This includes our Big Windermere Survey citizen science project following his involvement as a volunteer since 2022. He will also help us develop other online, print, video, and learning materials.

Photo of Taylor talking to swimmers at Rayrigg Meadow designated public bathing site (Wood and Co., 2023)

Photo of Taylor in Windermere undertaking ‘swim-along interviews’ with swimmers (Wood and Co., 2023)

Taylor’s PhD research explores the socio-cultural relationships between outdoor swimming and environmental health at Windermere. His research has engaged invested swimming communities at Windermere using an immersive ethnographic approach, including ‘swim-along interviews’ with different swimmers. Taylor also hosted and presented at the second Windermere Science Evening. 

Photo of Taylor hosting the Windermere Science Evening at The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness.

You can find more information about Taylor’s research at www.swimdermere.com

This placement is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), and the University of Exeter (Human Geography).