Dr Richard Cook

I'm a sociologist primarily concerned with the senses and society. My research interest is what counts as knowledge and whose knowledge is important. I study technology, AI, organisations, subcultures, the environment and society.
I am motivated to join academic research with the public and organisations through technologies for societal benefit and to inform and educate.

My latest funded research project is THINGUISTICS. We are using IOT sensor data (Sap flow, temperature, sway and light levels) from trees to turn it into a synthetic VOICE persona so that THINGS can speak. ======================================================

I am also currently the PROJECT LEAD for the FAST-LITTER £kfunded project that is mapping and analysing "fast-litter" using AI and co-production with District Councils and Community groups. It has featured in THE TIMES, and on Glos Radio and will be on BBC Morning LIVE during the BIG SPRING CLEAN 2026 (available on IPLAYER HERE). ======================================================

Read the speech I gave at a conference in Spain here about THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF NONSENSE

I'm produced an EXHIBITION OF AI GENERATED ART in Bristol of FACSIMILES that challenged visitors perceptions of whose knowledge is important and what counts as knowledge. It speaks to identity and power asymmetries and sits within public pedagogy


In this peer-reviewed Q1 journal, rated at 3* GRAFFITI paper I launched the concept of a SENSEPLACE. These places where sensory craftwork creates deeply meaningful place and space that resonate with memories of time and social interaction.

In this peer-reviewed paper Q1 journal, rated at 3* about CYCLISTS I launched that concept of NARRATIVE MEANINGS. These are temporal and embodied understandings of the landscape that are socially constructed through engagement with place and space.

This peer-reviewed paper in a Q1 journal, rated at 3* documents my invention of the ETHNOGRAM. Ethnograms are a method for capturing and visualising observational data to reveal hotspots and relationships between phenomena at these hotspots.

====================================================== Here is a talk I recently gave to the British Computing Society (Cheltenham).


Get in contact for press or speaking here
You can read some of my thoughts and writings HERE

Recent Publications

Relja, R., Ward, P., Cook, R. and Zhao, A.L., (2025). Credit Dom(me)s, BNPL switches and debt subs: Experiences of pain and pleasure. Journal of Business Research, 194, p.115380. Available here
Cook, R. (2024) Crafting a ‘senseplace’: the touch, sound and smell of graffiti, Senses and Society. Available here

Cook, R. (2024). ‘Ethnograms’. in Kara, H, (ed) The Bloomsbury Handbook of Creative Research Methods. pp.123-133. UK: Bloomsbury Academic. Available here.

Cook, R. (2023) 'Using an ‘ethnogram’ to visualise talk in the classroom'. The International Journal of Research and Method in Education. Vol 18, Issue 3. pp.223-240. Available here

Cook, R. and Hockey, J. (2023) ‘Gravel cycling craft and the senses: scenes, sounds, vibrations, fatigue and typifications on off-road tracks’. Senses and Society. Volume 18, Issue 3. pp.223-240 .Available here

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