Dr Nicholas Cimini

Faculty: Education, Health and Sciences

School: School of Education

Subject Area: Social Science

Lecturer in Sociology

Teaching responsibilities

I currently teach on the following modules: Introduction to Social Inequalities; Doing Qualitative Research; Science, Technology and Society; The Sociology of Health and Illness. I also supervise a number of students with their independent studies and applied research. (Students are advised to contact me to arrange an appointment for a personal supervision meeting).

Research interests

My general research interest lies in the areas of Marxism, social inequalities and science and technology studies. I have more specific interests in medical science and the social study of disability, research methods, sociological theories of language and ideology (such as those emanating from Gramsci, Bakhtin and Habermas), and information communication technologies. I studied for a PhD at the University of Sheffield on 'The Politics of Genetics, Disability and Reproductive Medicine'. In the thesis I take a Marxist stance on the social and political questions posed by recent advances in the genetic and reproductive sciences. In particular, my attention is focused on the political economy of reproductive medicine: who designs, controls and profits from technological advances in this area? I conclude by demonstrating a need for scientists, doctors and other 'experts' to be more reflexive about the limitations of their knowledge and practice, and about the role of science in society today.

Membership of professional bodies and advisory committees

I am the Health and Safety Representative for Derby University UCU.

Recent Conferences

'The Politics of Special Education: A Critical Analysis of Segregating Children' (February, 2012) Special Educational Needs Conference, University of Derby: http://prezi.com/ksrk53mzszxb/the-politics-of-special-education-a-critical-analysis-of-segregating-children/

'The False Dichotomies of Contemporary Reproductive Politics: Dialogues Between Faith and Reason in the Age of Genomics' (April, 2011). Sociology of Religion Conference. University of Birmingham.

'An Experience Collecting Data with a 'Research Wiki': Some of the Challenges of Policy Deliberation Online' (May, 2010) Invited presentation given at Edinburgh Napier University.

'Struggles Online Over the Meaning of 'Down's Syndrome'' (September, 2008) Disability Studies Conference, Lancaster University.

'Struggles over the Meaning of Disability: A Dialogic Interpretation' (April, 2007) Second International Conference on Multicultural Discourse at Zhejiang University, China.

Undergraduate qualifications

• BA (Hons) Social Sciences, University of Paisley

Postgraduate qualifications

• MSc Science and Technology Studies, University of Edinburgh
• MSc by Research in Science and Technology Studies, University of Edinburgh

Research qualifications

• PhD on 'The Politics of Genetics, Disability and Reproductive Medicine', University of Sheffield

Edit this person's details

Site Map

Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate and professional courses
International students
Online courses
Services for business

Part time courses
Buxton College
School leavers 16+
About the University
Job vacancies

Research
Faculties
Departments
Press and Community
Staff search