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    Decoloniality and healthcare higher education: Critical conversations
    (Wiley, 2023-11-07) Pillay, Mershen; Kathard, Harsha; Hansjee, Dharinee; Smith, Christina; Spencer, Sarah; Suphi, Aydan; Tempest, Ali; Thiel, Lindsey
    Background We explore the theoretical and methodological aspects of decolonising speech and language therapy (SLT) higher education in the United Kingdom. We begin by providing the background of the Rhodes Must Fall decolonisation movement and the engagement of South African SLTs in the decoloniality agenda. We then discuss the evolution of decoloniality in SLT, highlighting its focus on reimagining the relationships between participants, students, patients and the broader world. Objective The primary objective of this discussion is to fill a gap in professional literature regarding decoloniality in SLT education. While there is limited research in professional journals, social media platforms have witnessed discussions on decolonisation in SLT. This discussion aims to critically examine issues such as institutional racism, lack of belonging, inequitable services and limited diversity that currently affect the SLT profession, not just in the United Kingdom but globally. Methods The methods employed in this research involve the engagement of SLT academics in Critical conversations on decolonisation. These conversations draw on reflexivity and reflexive interpretation, allowing for a deeper understanding of the relationship between truth, reality, and the participants in SLT practice and education. The nature of these critical conversations is characterised by their chaotic, unscripted and fluid nature, which encourages the open discussion of sensitive topics related to race, gender, class and sexuality. Discussion points We present our reflections as academics who participated in the critical conversations. We explore the discomfort experienced by an academic when engaging with decolonisation, acknowledging white privilege, and the need to address fear and an imposter syndrome. The second reflection focuses on the experiences of white academics in grappling with their complicity in a system that perpetuates racism and inequality. It highlights the need for self-reflection, acknowledging white privilege and working collaboratively with colleagues and students toward constructing a decolonised curriculum. Finally, we emphasise that while action is crucial, this should not undermine the potential of dialogue to change attitudes and pave the way for practical implementation. The paper concludes by emphasising the importance of combining dialogue with action and the need for a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in decolonising SLT education. Conclusion Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the background, objectives, methods and key reflections related to the decolonisation of SLT higher education in the United Kingdom. It highlights the challenges, discomfort and responsibilities faced by academics in addressing decoloniality and emphasizes the importance of ongoing critical conversations and collective action in effecting meaningful change.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Decolonising DMU Progress Report: March 2024
    (De Montfort University, 2024-03-11) Ansley, Lucy; Hall, Richard
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    The impact of national and international financial crises on mental health and well-being: a systematic review
    (Taylor and Francis, 2023-11-07) Talamonti, Deborah; Schneider, Jekaterina; Gibson, Benjamin; Forshaw, Mark
    Background Evidence suggests that financial crises and poor mental health are reciprocally related, but no systematic review has been conducted to synthesise the existing literature on the impact of national and international financial crises on population-level mental health and well-being. Aims The aim of this study was to systematically review the available literature on the global impact of financial crises on mental health and well-being outcomes. Methods After registration on PROSPERO, a systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Wiley, and Web of Science for papers published until 21 November 2022. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement, 98 papers were identified as meeting eligibility criteria. Included studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and results were presented in a formal narrative synthesis. Results Our findings show that financial crises are significantly associated with well-being and occurrence of psychological conditions. Several socio-demographic, cultural, and country-specific characteristics played a crucial role in the prevention of population mental health decline in periods of financial crises. Conclusions Based on the findings of this review, evidence-based recommendations were developed to guide the design of policy actions that protect population mental health during and after financial crises.
  • ItemMetadata only
    Making patients political: Narrating, curating, enacting, and navigating the ‘idealised policy patient’
    (Elsevier, 2023-10-17) Dimond, Rebecca; Stephens, Neil; Herbrand, Cathy
    In this article we develop the concept of the ‘idealised policy patient’ to contribute to a better understanding of patient-family activism and the mechanisms through which powerful and persuasive patient narratives are facilitated and mobilised. The context through which we explore the idealised policy patient is the UK debates about the legalisation of mitochondrial donation, which primarily took place between 2011 and 2015. In our example, the idealised policy patient was constructed around a culturally persuasive narrative of patient suffering, where mitochondrial donation was presented as a desirable and ethical solution. We draw on interviews with patient-families and stakeholders, and documentary analysis to identify four dimensions of the idealised policy patient – narrating, curating, enacting and navigating. Narrating describes how the idealised policy patient appears in public and policy spaces, as a culturally available narrative which conveys certain meanings and is designed to invoke an emotional and practical response. Curating identifies the multiple forms of labour and facilitation involved in supporting patient-families in activist activities which strengthen the dominant narrative and its embodiment. Enacting focuses on the work of patient-families themselves in supporting and contributing to the idealised policy patient in a way that enlivens and embodies the specifically curated narrative. Finally, navigating considers how those offering an opposing viewpoint position themselves in relation to the idealised policy patient. To conclude, we argue that medical sociology has often given insufficient scrutiny to how the capacity of patients to leverage their status for political ends is bolstered through alignment with existing powerful groups, particularly in hegemonic campaigns. We encourage future researchers to examine how the idealised policy patient is reproduced and reorientated within different policy contexts.
  • ItemMetadata only
    The longitudinal effect of disseminating handwashing public health education to children in India via co-created, culturally relevant resources.
    (Access Microbiology, 2024-01-17) Crosby, Sapphire; Younie, Sarah; Ujenia, Harnesh Vijay; Laird, Katie
    Infectious diseases are a leading cause of death for children from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), often due to inadequate hand-hygiene. This study evaluates culturally relevant educational resources as a vehicle to disseminate the importance of handwashing amongst children in India. Employing a participatory action research (PAR) model and mixed methods, this follow-up longitudinal study evaluates a set of innovate educational handwashing resources and workshops specifically co-created for use in the State of Gujarat, and how they aid teachers in the teaching of hand-hygiene over a 3 year period. Working alongside local NGOs on-the-ground, teacher questionnaires (n=58) and focus groups including a brief questionnaire with teachers (n=35) were conducted to assess the impact of trainer workshops. In addition, pre- and post-workshop worksheets were conducted with children (n=98). Percentage change was calculated between children’s pre-and post-worksheet scores and a cumulative frequency of responses to each questionnaire criterion was measured. Data from the focus group found that the resources had been used in over 200 schools by more than 5000 children. In addition, 92.28 % of teachers said they would use the resources within their classrooms in India, with 58.16 % of pupils having an increased understanding of germs/handwashing directly after the workshop. Teachers reported that they are able to teach microbiology and handwashing more effectively. Furthermore, following a focus group, 100 % of teachers noted a reduction in childhood vomiting and diarrhoeal illnesses linked with insufficient hand-hygiene across 46 schools in the State of Gujarat since using the Germ’s Journey resources.
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    Patterns and Prevalence of Corruption in Ghana's Criminal Justice System
    (Routledge, 2022-08-29) Amagnya, Moses Agaawena
    This chapter discusses patterns and prevalence of corruption within Ghana’s criminal justice system (CJS). Corruption is a topical issue across the world, with its prevalence having serious consequences for policing, rule of law, security, and development of nations. This is particularly so when CJSs or institutions that are to ensure compliance with the law and, in some cases, control or prevent corruption are affected themselves. Several studies have reported that citizens of developing countries in Africa and elsewhere perceived their countries’ criminal justice institutions, especially the police and judiciary, to be the most corrupt public institutions. However, little research has considered the views of criminal justice officials themselves regarding corruption within CJSs or institutions. The current study explores the prevalence or concentration of corruption within Ghana’s CJS by interviewing 45 criminal justice personnel and 15 anti-corruption officials across three regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Upper East. Results show that majority of participants perceived corruption as a serious problem and most prevalent in the police compared to the judiciary and Attorney-General’s Department. In addition, the most perceived corrupt criminal justice process was the bail granting stage. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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    Community-based management of acute malnutrition: Implementation quality, and staff and user satisfaction with services.
    (Elsevier, 2023-02-17) Akuu, Joshua A.; Amagnya, Moses A.
    Malnutrition is a global public health problem. According to the 2016 Global Nutrition Report, approximately 2 billion and 800 million people have micronutrient and caloric deficiencies, respectively.1 The report further indicates that 159 million children under the age of 5 years are too short for their age (stunted growth), 50 million are underweight for their height (wasted), and 41 million are overweight.1 Malnutrition generally refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's energy and nutrient intake.2 Malnutrition and its complications account for approximately half of all child deaths worldwide.3 The seriousness of malnutrition has led to several global efforts and interventions to address this health problem.4
  • ItemOpen Access
    Corruption in Ghana’ s Justice System in the Eyes of Police Officers
    (IntechOpen, 2023-11-07) Amagnya, Moses Agaawena
    Corruption is a topical issue worldwide, particularly when criminal justice systems and institutions that ensure compliance with the law and play a key role in controlling corruption are affected. Research shows that citizens in developing countries in Africa and elsewhere perceived criminal justice institutions in their countries, especially the police and judiciary, as among the most corrupt public institutions. However, little research has considered the views of criminal justice officials themselves when it comes to corruption in criminal justice systems. Through a survey of 616 Ghanaian police officers, this study examines police officers' views of corruption in Ghana’s criminal justice system. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to ascertain police officers views of the nature, prevalence, levels, and initiators of corruption. A key finding is that police officers perceive corruption as prevalent in Ghana’s criminal justice system and a serious problem. In addition, high public perceptions of corruption in the police and judiciary recorded in public perception surveys are corroborated by this study. Consistent with prior studies, lawyers, suspects/accused persons, and other judicial officers were identified as common initiators of corruption in the justice system. However, contrary to previous studies, many police officers stated that corruption in criminal justice institutions in Ghana has decreased over the past 5 years. The chapter concludes that leaders of criminal justice institutions should desist from denying corruption allegations and research that find their institutions among the most corrupt. Such denials appear to be influencing officers in the front line. Rather, efforts should be made to address the perception or reality of corruption in criminal justice institutions.
  • ItemOpen Access
    "Singing is what we do (together) - redefining "together". A comparative study”.
    (Università di Bologna, 2021-12-31) van der Sandt, Johann; Schaumberger, Helmut; Coppi, Antonella; Salminen, Sanna; Wolf, Motje
    This article discusses the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on singing with children in schools by providing a descriptive analysis of a comparative look at children's experiences of their singing habits and emotional well-being during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Covid-19 has established itself as (for now) an ever-present variable in our daily lives. This paper offers a descriptive analysis of a comparative study of the Covid-19 lockdown(s) influence on children's singing habits and emotional well-being in Italy, Austria, and Finland. A survey was carried out on children and young people aged 10-20 from Austria, Finland, and Italy on how the Coronavirus lockdown has impacted their everyday lives and their general well-being. Attributes analysed are age, gender, emotional response on the change of singing habits, singing habits before and after Covid-19 lockdown. Until it is certain that rehearsals and communal singing can take place without health risks, alternative options should be explored to effectively plan online teaching in the future. It is the hope that this research, which is only but a start, will spark further research into the matter and contribute to the development of systems and platforms where children can continue their educational and music educational growth by ensuring an uninterrupted singing experience.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Probation Rules
    (N/A, 2021-11-14) Morrison, Roz
    Conference in France delivering a presentation on the Probation Rules
  • ItemOpen Access
    Supporting and challenging hate in an online discussion of a controversial refugee policy
    (Sage, 2024-02-13) Goodman, Simon; Locke, Abi
    Online hate is a serious problem affecting a range of minoritised people. Existing theories suggest that poor behaviour online is due to anonymity but fail to explore how such discussions unfold. This is where a discursive and rhetorical psychological approach is appropriate as it offers a micro-level analysis. In this research paper, a discursive/rhetorical approach is applied to an online debate about a controversial refugee policy in the UK containing 586 comments, to address the question: How are arguably hateful arguments, or those challenging hateful arguments, supported and challenged in the context of an internet discussion about a controversial refugee policy? Analysis demonstrated that support for posts is shown to come in the form of additional points to bolster existing ones. Opposition to posts took the form of simple rejections and counterpoints, sometimes taking a three-part structure of (a) simple rejection, (b) counterpoint and (c) upgrade, but also included insults, ridiculing and name calling. Discursive and rhetorical analyses have been shown to have potential to understand online behaviour offering more detail than relying on anonymity to explain controversial and hateful speech.
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    Enabling Adults With Severe Asthma to Exercise: A Qualitative Examination of the Challenges for Patients and Health Care Professionals
    (Elsevier, 2023-07-13) Apps, Lindsay D.; Chantrell, Stacey; Majd, Sally; Eglinton, Elizabeth; Singh, Sally J.; Murphy, Anna C.; Green, Ruth H.; Hudson, Nicky; Bradding, Peter; Evans, Rachael A.
    Background Adults living with severe asthma have lower physical activity levels, particularly high-intensity physical activity, compared with their healthy peers. Physical inactivity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Objective To understand patient and health care professional attitudes toward exercise and physical activity to inform future strategies for the improvement of healthy lifestyle behaviors, including exercise. Methods Participants recruited from a specialist difficult asthma service were interviewed individually, and health care professionals (HCPs) from primary care, secondary care, and a tertiary center were invited to attend focus groups. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim. We performed thematic analysis on interviews and focus groups separately, followed by an adapted framework analysis to analyze datasets together. Results Twenty-nine people with severe asthma participated in a semi-structured interview. A total of 51 HCPs took part in eight focus groups across the East Midlands, United Kingdom. Final analysis resulted in three major themes: barriers to exercise and exercise counseling - in which patients and HCPs identified disease and non-disease factors affecting those living with severe asthma; attitudes toward HCP support for exercise - highlighting education needs for HCPs and preference for supervised exercise programs; and areas for system improvement in supporting patients and HCPs - challenges exist across health sectors that limit patient support are described. Conclusions Patients identified the important role of HCPs in supporting and advising on lifestyle change. Despite a preference for supervised exercise programs, both patient and HCP barriers existed. To meet patients’ varied support needs, improved integration of services is required and HCP skills need extending.
  • ItemOpen Access
    All Lives Matter discussions on Twitter: Varied use, prevalence, and interpretive repertoires
    (Wiley, 2024-01-23) Goodman, Simon; Perkins, Krystal M.; Windel, Friederike
    All Lives Matter (ALM) has emerged as a response to, and critique of, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) anti-racist movement. ALM has been shown to work to undermine and attempt to deracialise BLM; however, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of how ALM functions in online interactions. The research questions are therefore: What different ways is ALM used in Twitter debates?, How prevalent are these different uses?, and What function do the different uses of ALM perform in the wider debate around BLM? To address these questions, we employed a mixed-method approach drawing on topic modelling and critical discursive psychology of Twitter posts using the hashtag #AllLivesMatter. A corpus of 294,217 unique tweets sent by 145,994 unique users was subject to Structural Topic Modelling (STM), which resulted in 60 topics, and from this, a sub-dataset of 180 tweets was generated for discourse analysis. The STM identified 12 distinct uses of ALM, ranging from direct and even extreme opposition to BLM to criticisms of ALM and support of BLM and anti-racism messages, both of which are explored in the dis-course analysis. Together, the analysis suggests that, at least on Twitter, the ALM hashtag is not one-dimensional nor a settled debate. Moreover, the Twitter public can use the ALM hashtag to denounce racism and the ideological pretext of ALM.
  • ItemMetadata only
    'You feel like you’re drifting apart’: a qualitative study of impacts of endometriosis on sex and intimacy amongst heterosexual couples
    (Taylor and Francis, 2024-01-22) Law, Caroline; Hudson, Nicky; Culley, Lorraine; Mitchell, Helene; Norton, Wendy
    While a wide body of research reports the considerable impact endometriosis can have on sex for women with the condition, studies commonly use a quantitative design and often focus on dyspareunia. There has been a limited amount of qualitative research which includes partners and explores the broader impact on not only sex, but also intimacy and the couple relationship. This paper utilizes findings from the UK-based ENDOPART study which examined the impact of endometriosis on heterosexual couples, via in-depth interviews (n=44). The paper reports the complex ways in which endometriosis symptoms, including but not only dyspareunia, can impact upon sex, intimacy and the couple relationship, as well as partners’ emotional responses and the strategies they employed. It discusses specific and gendered ways in which heterosexual women and couples experience, navigate and manage these impacts in relation to conventions of menstrual etiquette, discourses of male sex drive and practices of emotion work. In demonstrating the range of impacts on women, partners and the couple relationship, and the importance of taking a couple-focused, relational and gendered approach, the paper will be of benefit to practitioners in healthcare and sex- and relationship-focused therapy working with women and couples living with endometriosis.
  • ItemOpen Access
    The Experience of Work-Family Conflict: Does Being the Only Child Matter?
    (Sage, 2024-01-09) Chen, Shujie; Cheng, M.
    A lack of resistance resources in the family, such as a lack of sibling support, might cause the family to be more prone to family crises; however, little if anything is known about whether being the only child will influence the experience of work-family conflict (a family crisis). Using an online questionnaire sample of 622 Chinese employees, we investigated the influence of only child status on work-family conflict and further explored the moderating effect of only child status on the relationship between work-family conflict and its performance outcomes. Analyses revealed that being the only child would spend less time on family responsibilities, thereby decreasing the level of family-to-work conflict; in addition, being the only child would ease the negative impact of work-to-family conflict on family performance. The recommendations for future studies, implications of this study, and the need for further research on only child’s work-family conflict experience are discussed.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Four Misconceptions About Nonverbal Communication
    (SAGE Publications, 2023-02-15) Patterson, Miles L.; Fridlund, Alan J.; Crivelli, Carlos
    Research and theory in nonverbal communication have made great advances toward understanding the patterns and functions of nonverbal behavior in social settings. Progress has been hindered, we argue, by presumptions about nonverbal behavior that follow from both received wisdom and faulty evidence. In this article, we document four persistent misconceptions about nonverbal communication—namely, that people communicate using decodable body language; that they have a stable personal space by which they regulate contact with others; that they express emotion using universal, evolved, iconic, categorical facial expressions; and that they can deceive and detect deception, using dependable telltale clues. We show how these misconceptions permeate research as well as the practices of popular behavior experts, with consequences that extend from intimate relationships to the boardroom and courtroom and even to the arena of international security. Notwithstanding these misconceptions, existing frameworks of nonverbal communication are being challenged by more comprehensive systems approaches and by virtual technologies that ambiguate the roles and identities of interactants and the contexts of interaction.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Perspectives on Indigenous well‐being and climate change adaptation
    (Wiley, 2024-01-11) Jarillo, Sergio; Crivelli, Carlos
    Though it is often said that climate change is a risk to people's well‐being, the specific ways in which it affects people's well‐being is still poorly understood, especially as it relates to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Two interrelated issues contribute to this gap in knowledge: (1) the use of different conceptualizations of well‐being across disciplines; and (2) the limited use of local and context‐specific understandings of well‐being that are meaningful to people exposed to climate change. Here, we review 103 articles covering the topic of climate change adaptation and well‐being. We find that, despite the growing interest on the topic, most of the articles do not include definitions of well‐being. We then propose an approach informed by emic values to better understand how climate change may affect well‐being in Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. We conclude that, given the increasing recognition of well‐being as a fundamental marker of successful adaptation, well‐being should be central to climate change research and policymaking, but for this to be of benefit to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities context‐specific understandings of well‐being are necessary.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Interventions to promote the health and well-being of children under 5s experiencing homelessness in high-income countries: a scoping review
    (BMJ, 2024-01-11) Tu, Yanxin; Sakar, Kaushik; Svirydzenka, Nadia; Palfreyman, Zoe; Perry, Yvonne Karen; Ankers, Matthew; Parikh, Priti; Raghavan, Raghu; Lakhanpaul, Monica
    Objectives Homelessness among families with children under 5 residing in temporary accommodation is a growing global concern, especially in high-income countries (HICs). Despite significant impacts on health and development, these ‘invisible’ children often fall through the gaps in policy and services. The study’s primary objective is to map the content and delivery methods of culturally sensitive interventions for children under 5 experiencing homelessness in HICs. Design A scoping review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Data sources Databases include PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, The Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched up to 24 March 2022. Eligibility criteria This scoping review includes studies that describe, measure or evaluate intervention strategies aimed at improving child health programmes, specifically those yielding positive outcomes in key areas like feeding, nutrition, care practices and parenting. Data extraction and synthesis Articles were selected and evaluated by two independent reviewers, with a dispute resolution system involving a third reviewer for contested selections. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using various tools including the Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, Cochrane RoB V.2.0, the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), each selected according to the type of article. Results The database search yielded 951 results. After deduplication, abstract screening and full review, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. Two predominant categories of intervention delivery methods were identified in this research: group-based interventions (educational sessions) and individual-based interventions (home visits). Conclusion This review highlights effective interventions for promoting the health and well-being of children under 5 experiencing homelessness, including educational sessions and home visits. Research has supported the importance of home visiting to be instrumental in breaking down language, cultural and health literacy barriers.
  • ItemOpen Access
    ‘… They're talking to you as if they're kind of dumbing it down’: A thematic analysis of Black students' perceived reasons for the university awarding gap
    (Wiley, 2024-01-12) Marandure, Blessing; Hall, Jess; Noreen, Saima
    It is widely acknowledged that there is an awarding gap in higher education, with proportionally more White students achieving a good honours degree compared to their minoritized ethnic counterparts. Furthermore, the gap is largest between Black and White students, hence necessitating initiatives to understand the perspectives of Black students on perceived reasons for the awarding gap. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the perspectives of Black undergraduate Psychology students through the use of qualitative methodology. Sixteen participants took part in two focus groups, which were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. Self-determination theory provided a framework for contextualising the findings. Three main themes emerged, with participants describing being exposed to signals of unbelonging such as negative racial stereotypes and microaggressions. Within this theme, they discussed their responses to these signals of unbelonging, such as conforming to perceived White norms in an effort to belong and feel ‘normal’. Participants also highlighted the role played by parental influence and relationships on their academic experience. They also discussed experiences with university tutors that were deemed unfavourable. Together, the racialised experiences identified threatened the fulfilment of their needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness. It is thus imperative that higher education institutions actively engage their Black and minoritized ethnic students in order to understand their experiences and foster a sense of belonging at university. Furthermore, the findings regarding parental influence provide an opportunity for structural redress through widening participation efforts and adequate pastoral support.
  • ItemEmbargo
    Generative AI and re-weaving a pedagogical horizon of social possibility
    (Springer, 2024-02-12) Hall, Richard
    This article situates the potential for intellectual work to be renewed through an enriched engagement with the relationship between indigenous protocols and artificial intelligence (AI). It situates this through a dialectical storytelling of the contradictions that emerge from the relationships between humans and capitalist technologies, played out within higher education. It argues that these have ramifications for our conceptions of AI, and its ways of knowing, doing and being within wider ecosystems. In thinking about how technology reinforces social production inside capitalist institutions like universities, the article seeks to refocus our storytelling around mass intellectuality and generative possibilities for transcending alienating social relations. In so doing, the focus shifts to the potential for weaving new protocols, from existing material and historical experiences of technology, which unfold structurally, culturally and practically within communities. At the heart of this lies the question, what does it mean to live? In a world described against polycrisis, is it possible to tell new social science fictions, as departures towards a new mode of higher learning and intellectual work that seeks to negate, abolish and transcend the world as-is?