Liz Watson BSc PhD

University Lecturer and Fellow of Newnham College

My research focuses on the social, cultural and political dimensions of environmental management and development in Africa. It spans many issues from understanding environmental change over time to examining connections between landscape and religion. I have also carried out research on social development and natural resource management policies. Most of my research has been carried out in Ethiopia and Kenya, but I have also worked in Ghana, Mozambique and India.

Biography

Career

1992-1993: Research Assistant, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
1998-1999: Research Fellow, School of African and Asian Studies, University of Sussex
1999-2000: Joint Assistant Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge and Newnham College.
2000-2002: University Assistant Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College
2002-present: University Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College

Qualifications

BSc Anthropology, University College London
PhD, University of Cambridge

Research

Liz Watson is a member of the Political Ecology group. Her research interests include:

Religion, Identity and Landscape
Landscape, Indigenous Natural Resources Management, Culture and Change
Konso, Ethiopia
Land Use Patterns and Monitoring Environmental Change over Time
Gender and Natural Resources Management
Identities, Identity politics and Development in the Horn of Africa

Research Students

Samuel Spiegel - 'The Political Ecology of Poverty, Crisis and Gold: Rethinking Resource Governance and Participation in Mining Communities'

Publications

Selected publications:

Watson, E. E. 2009. Living Terraces in Ethiopia: Konso Landscape, Culture and Development. Woodbridge and New York: James Currey (an imprint of Boydell and Brewer) East Africa Series.
Schlee, G. and Watson, E.E. eds 2009 Changing Identifications and Alliances in North-East Africa, Volume I: Ethiopia and Kenya. Oxford : Berghahn Books.
Schlee, G. and Watson, E.E. eds. 2009 Changing Identifications and Alliances in North-East Africa, Volume II: Sudan, Uganda and the Ethiopia-Sudan Borderlands. Oxford: Berghahn Books.
Black, R. and Watson, E.E. (2006). 'Local community, legitimacy, and cultural authenticity in postconflict natural resource management: Ethiopia and Mozambique' Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 24 (2): 263 - 282.
Watson, E.E. (2006). 'Culture and Conservation in Post-Conflict Africa' in S. A. Radcliffe ed. Culture and Development in a Globalizing World: Geographies, Actors and Paradigms. London: Routledge.
Watson, E. E. (20006) 'Making A Living In The Post-Socialist Periphery: Struggles Between Farmers And Traders In Konso, Ethiopia' Africa, 76 (1).
Watson, E.E. (2005) Gender-Sensitive NRM Research-for-development. DFID NRSP Programme Development Report PD123: Gender Sensitive Research For Development. Cambridge UK: Department of Geography: University of Cambridge.
Black, R., Harrison, E.A., Schafer, J. and Watson, E. E. (2005) 'Natural Resource Management and Local Institutions in "Post-Conflict" Mozambique and Ethiopia' European Tropical Forest Research Network News: Special Edition: Forests and conflicts, Vols 43/44: 54-57.
Watson, E. E. (2004). 'What a dolt one is! Language learning and fieldwork in Geography' Area, 36 (1): 59-68.
Watson, E. E. (2004). 'Agricultural Intensification and Social Stratification: Konso contrasted with Marakwet', in Mats Widgren and John Sutton eds. Islands of Intensive Agriculture in Eastern Africa. Oxford: James Currey; Nairobi: British Institute in East Africa. Pp. 49-67.
Watson, E. E. (2003) 'Examining the potential of indigenous institutions for development: the case from Borana, Ethiopia'. Development and Change. 35: 287-309.
Adams, W.M. and Watson, E.E. (2003) 'Indigenous Irrigation and Soil Erosion, Marakwet, Kenya. Land Degradation and Society, 14: 109-122.
Watson, E. E. (2002) 'Capturing a Local Elite: The Konso Honeymoon' in Wendy James, Don Donham, Alessandro Triulzi and Eisei Kurimoto eds. Remapping Ethiopia: Socialism and After, (James Currey and Ohio University Press), pp198-218.

Teaching

Liz Watson is Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Geography. Her teaching includes:

Geographical Tripos (Undergraduate level): 2^nd year: 'Development'; 3^rd year: 'Landscape, Society and Imagination in Africa'
M.Phil in Environment, Society & Development: Core Course: 'Society, Culture and Human Development'; Optional Module: 'Political Ecology and Rural Resources'

External activities

Member of Manager's Committee, African Studies Centre
Trustee, St Matthew's Children's Home, (Ethiopia)
Trustee, Camvol
Member of Council of British Institute in Eastern Africa