Staff profile

Research

• Energy futures, and infrastructures
• Professional and expert practices
• Inhabitation and Property
• Government and bureaucracy

• Social Anthropology

• 2021: Effectiveness of energy system models in local government policy making(£20761.32 from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
• 2020: INCLUsive Decarbonization and Energy transition (INCLUDE) - a center for socially inclusive solutions through co-creation with stakeholders(£324096.38 from )
• 2020: MARLIN STAR Community Access to Stored and Transferrable Energy from Floating Renewables(£51999.00 from Innovate UK)
• 2016: Electrifying Anthropology(£13983.48 from Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research)
• 2016: PEOple-Centred development approaches in Practical and Learning Environments (PEOPLE)(£93013.36 from European Commission)
• 2016: Systems Integration of Energy Supply and Demand(£209019.83 from Epsrc)

• 2020: Chair of the Association of Social Anthropologists UK:
• 2017: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts:
• 2017: Visiting Professor University of Bergen :
• 2015: Founding editor of ASAonline, journal of the ASA: Founding editor of ASAonline, journal of the ASA
• 2013: Organising committee of IUAES: Secretary to organising committee of the World Congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Societies, Manchester:
• 2013: Visiting Professor at University of Paris 8 (Saint Denis) and LAVUE (Laboratoire Architecture Ville Urbanisme Environnement):
• 2010: Honorary Secretary of ASA: Secretary to Association of Social Anthropologists 2005-2010:

Available for media contact about:

• Anthropology: Energy, ethics and energy futures

Authored book

• Abram, S. & Lund, K.A. (2016). Green Ice. Tourism Ecologies in the European High North. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Pink, S. & Abram, S. (2015). Media, Anthropology and Public Engagement. Oxford: Berghahn.
• Abram, S. (2011). Culture and Planning. Ashgate.
• Murdoch, J. & Abram, S. (2002). Rationalities of planning: development versus environment in planning for housing. Aldershot Ashgate.

Chapter in book

• Abram, Simone (Accepted). Destination Development Performances, or How we Learn to Love Tourism. In Tourism Destination Development. Viken, Arvid & Granaas, Brynhild Routledge. 63-78.
• Abram, S (Published). Likhet Is Not Equality: Discussing Norway in English and Norwegian. In Egalitarianism in Scandinavia. Approaches to Social Inequality and Difference. Bendixsen S. Bringslid M. & Vike H. Palgrave Macmillan. 87-108.
• Pink, Sarah, Ortar, Nathalie, Waltorp, Karen & Abram, Simone (2023). Imagining energy futures: an introduction. In Energy Futures: Anthropocene Challenges, Emerging Technologies and Everyday Life. Abram, Simone, Waltorp, Karen, Ortar, Nathalie & Pink, Sarah De Gruyter. 10.
• Abram, Simone (2022). Electricity as a Field for Anthropological Theorising and Research. In The Palgrave Handbook of the Anthropology of Technology. Bruun, Maja Hojer, Wahlberg, Ayo, Douglas-Jones, Rachel, Hasse, Cathrine, Hoeyer, Klaus, Kristensen, Dorthe Brogård & Winthereik, Brit Ross Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. 741-755.
• Abram, S (2020). Inheriting Kinship: Norwegian Holiday Property as Relational Practice. In Nordic Inheritance Law through the Ages. Holdgaard, M, Magnusdottir, A & Selmer, B Leiden: Brill. 251-271.
• Abram, Simone & Blandy, Sarah (2018). Ownership and belonging in urban green space. In Legal Strategies for the Development and Protection of Communal Property. Xu, Ting & Clarke, Alison Oxford: Oxford University Press. 177-201.
• Abram, S. (2017). Contemporary Obsessions with Time and the Promise of the Future. In Anthropologies and Futures: Researching emerging and uncertain worlds. Salazar, Juan Francisco, Pink, Sarah, Irving, Andrew & Sjöberg, Johannes London: Bloomsbury Academic. 61-82.
• Abram, S (2017). Learning to Meet (or How to talk to Chairs). In Meeting Ethnography: Meetings as Key Technologies of Contemporary Governance, Development, and Resistance. Sandler, J & Thedvall, R New York: Routledge. 46-68.
• Abram, S. (2017). Im/mobile method/ologies. In Methodologies of Mobility: Ethnography and Experiment. Elliot, A., Norum, R. & Salazar, N.B. Oxford: Berghahn Books. 195-200.
• Abram, Simone (2016). Jokkmokk: Rapacity and Resistance in Sápmi. In Postcolonial Perspectives on the European High North. Huggan, G & Jensen, L Palgrave. 67.
• Abram, S. & Pink, S. (2015). Introduction: Mediating Publics and Anthropology. In Media, Anthropology and Public Engagement. Pink, S. & Abram, S. New York: Berghan. 1-22.
• Abram, S. (2014). ‘Bias Binding’ Re-Calling Creativity in Qualitative Research. In The Craft of Knowledge: Experiences of Living with Data. Smart, C., Hockey, J. & James, A. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 21-38.
• Abram, S. (2014). Rénovation urbaine et participation en Angleterre: enseignements et comparaisons. In Rénovation Urbaine en Europe. Deboulet, A. & Lelévrier, C. Presses Universitaires de Rennes. 85-96.
• Abram, S. & Weszkalnys, G. (2013). Elusive Promises: Planning in the Contemporary World. An introduction. In Elusive Promises: Planning in the Contemporary World. Abram, S. & Weszkalnys, G. Oxford: Berghahn. 1-34.
• Abram, S. (2012). ‘Planlegging i et Kulturperspektiv’ [Culural perspectives on planning]. In Utfordringer for norsk planlegging [Challenges for Norwegian Planning]. Aarsæther, N., Falleth, E., Nyseth, T. & Kristiansen, R. Høyskoleforlaget.
• Abram, S. (2010). Anthropology, Tourism and Intervention? In Thinking Through Tourism. Scott, J. & Selwyn, T. Oxford: Berg. ASA Monograph: 231-253.
• Abram, S. (2008). Public participation and the problem of exclusion. In Transparency in a New Global Order. Garston, C. & Lindh de Montoya, M. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 201-222.
• Abram, S. (2008). Transparency and Participation: Partnership and Hierarchies in British Urban Regeneration. In Transparency in a new global order: unveiling organizational visions. Garsten, C., & Lindh de Montoya, M. Cheltenham, Gloucester: Edward Elgar. 201-222.
• Abram, S. (2007). Participatory depoliticisation: the bleeding heart of neo-liberalism. In Cultures et pratiques participatives: perspectives comparatives. Neveu, C. Paris: l'Harmattan. 113-133.
• Abram, S. (2007). Loyalty and Politics: The discourses of liberalisation. In Professional Identities: Policy and Practice in Business and Bureaucracy. Ardener, S. & Moore, F. Oxford: Berghahn. 87-107.
• Abram, S. (2004). The Smell of Money: minor risks and olfactory sensibilities – the anatomy of a protest. In Facility Siting: Risk, Power and Identity in Land-use Planning. Boholm, Å. & Löftstedt, R. London: Earthscan. 72-88.
• Abram, S. (2003). Anthropologies in policies, anthropologies in places. In Globalisation: Studies in Anthropology. Hylland Eriksen, T. Pluto Press. 138-157.
• Abram, S. (2003). Gazing on Rurality. In Country Visions. Cloke, P. Harlow: Pearson. 32-48.
• Abram, S. & Vike, H. (2001). People out of Place? Perspectives on Participation. In Perspectives on Participation. Connelly, S. Abram, S. & Richardson, T. University of Sheffield, Department of Town and Regional Planning. 4-7.
• Abram, S. (2001). Amongst Professionals: Working with Pressure Groups and Local Authorities. In Inside Organisations: Anthropologists at Work. Gellner, D. & Hirsch, E. Oxford: Berg. 183-203.
• Abram, S. (2001). All that fuss over 100 houses: identities and moralities of building on land. In Identity, Ethnicity and Territoriality. Saltman, M. Oxford: Berg. 71-92.
• Murdoch, J., Abram, S. & Marsden, T. (1999). Technical Expertise and Public Participation in Planning for Housing: ‘Playing the Numbers Game. In Power and Participation: The new politics of British local governance. Stoker, G. London: Macmillan. 198-214.
• Abram, S. (1998). Anthropological Perspectives on Development. In Anthropological Perspectives on Development: Interests, Identities and Sentiments in Conflict. Abram, S. & Waldren, J. London: Routledge. 1-17.
• Murdoch, J., Abram, S. & Marsden, T. (1998). Planning by Numbers: migration and statistical governance. In Migration into Rural Areas: Theories and Issues. Boyle, P. & Halfacree, K. Chichester: Wiley. 236-251.
• Marsden, T., Murdoch, J. & Abram, S. (1997). Rural Sustainability in Britain: The Social Realisation of Sustainability. In The Handbook of Environmental Sociology. Redclift, M. & Woodgates, G. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 467-478.
• Abram, S. (1997). Performing for tourists in France. In Tourists and Tourism: Identifying with People and Places. Abram, S., Waldren, J. & Macleod, D.V.L. Oxford: Berg. 29-50.
• Abram, S. & Waldren, J. (1997). Tourists and Tourism. In Tourists and Tourism: Identifying with People and Places. Abram, S., Waldren, J. & Macleod, D.V.L. Oxford: Berg. 1-12.
• Abram, S. (1996). European Reactions to the Tourist Gaze: A view from the Deep Green Heart of France. In Coping with Tourists. Boissevain, J. Oxford: Berghahn. 174-203.

Edited book

• Abram, Simone, Winthereik, Brit Ross & Yarrow, Thomas (2019). Electrifying Anthropology: exploring electrical practices and infrastructures. Bloomsbury.
• Abram, S. & Weszkalnys, G. (2013). Elusive promises: planning in the contemporary world. Dislocations. Oxford: Berghahn.
• Abram, S. & Waldren, J. (1998). Anthropological Perspectives on Local Development: Knowledge and Sentiments in Conflict. London: Routledge.
• Abram, S., Waldren, J. & Macleod, D.V.L. (1997). Tourists and Tourism: Identifying with People and Places. Oxford: Berg.

Edited Journal

• Abram, S. & Lien, M. (2011). Introduction: Performing Nature at World’s Ends. Ethnos, 76
• Abram, S. & Weszkalnys, G. (2011). Planning in the Contemporary World. Focaal, 61
• Abram S. & Vike, H. (2003). Anthropologies of Governance. Norsk Antropologisk Tidsskrift (Norwegian Journal of Anthropology), 14

Journal Article

• Abram, Simone (2023). Decarbonising Tenants. Housing Finance International (HFI)
• Silvast, Antti, Abram, Simone & Copeland, Claire (2023). Energy systems integration as research practice. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 35(3): 302-313.
• Abram, Simone, Atkins, Ed, Dietzel, Alix, Jenkins, Kirsten, Kiamba, Lorna, Kirshner, Joshua, Kreienkamp, Julia, Parkhill, Karen, Pegram, Tom & Santos Ayllón, Lara M. (2022). Just Transition: A whole-systems approach to decarbonisation. Climate Policy 22(8): 1033 - 1049.
• Silvast, A., Virtanen, M. & Abram, S. (2022). Habits Over Routines: Remarks on Control Room Practices and Control Room Studies. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
• Lazaro, L.L.B., Soares, R.S., Bermann, C., Collaço, F.M.A., Giatti, L.L. & Abram, S. (2022). Energy transition in Brazil: Is there a role for multilevel governance in a centralized energy regime? Energy Research & Social Science 85: 102404.
• Silvast, Antti, Laes, Erik, Abram, Simone & Bombaerts, Gunter (2020). What do energy modellers know? An ethnography of epistemic values and knowledge models. Energy Research & Social Science 66: 101495.
• Hanmer, Clare & Abram, Simone (2017). Actors, networks, and translation hubs: Gas central heating as a rapid socio-technical transition in the United Kingdom. Energy Research & Social Science 34: 176-183.
• Abram, S. (2017). Contradiction in contemporary political life: meeting bureaucracy in Norwegian municipal government. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 23(S1): 27-44.
• Abram, S., Feldman Bianco, B., Khosravi, S., Salazar, N. & de Genova, N. (2017). The free movement of people around the world would be Utopian IUAES World Congress 2013: Evolving Humanity, Emerging Worlds, 5–10 August 2013. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power 24(2): 123-155.
• Abram, Simone & Norum, Roger (2016). An archaeology of Arctic travel journalism. Studies in Travel Writing 20(3): 272-284.
• Abram, S. (2016). Culture? And Planning? Planning Theory and Practice
• Abram, S., Acciaioli, G., Baviskar, A., Kopnina, H., Nonini, D. & Strang, V. (2016). Special Module: Plenary Debate from the IUAES World Congress 2013: Evolving Humanity, Emerging Worlds, 5–10 August 2013. Anthropological Forum 26(1): 74-95.
• Abram, S. (2015). IUAES World Congress 2013: Evolving humanity, emerging worlds, 5–10 August 2013. Critique of Anthropology 35(2): 205-219.
• Abram, S. (2014). Values of property (properties of value): capitalization of kinship in Norway. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change 12(3): 253-266.
• Abram, S. (2014). The time it takes: temporalities of planning. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 20(S1): 129 -147.
• Abram, Simone (2013). Modern fossils: response to Vaden and Salminen. Suomen Antropologi 2013(3): 57-61.
• Abram, S. (2012). The ‘Normal’ Cabin’s revenge: Building Norwegian (Holiday) Home-Cultures. Home Cultures 9(3): 233-256.
• Ween, G. B. & Abram, S. (2012). The Norwegian Trekking Association: Trekking as constituting the Nation. Journal of Landscape Research 37(2): 155-171.
• Abram, S. (2011). Kulttuuri ja yhdyskuntasuunnittelu – mitä antropologia voisi tuoda suunnittelun tutkimukseen. Finnish Journal of Urban Studies 49(2): 26-33.
• Abram, S. & Lien, M. (2011). Performing Nature at World’s Ends. Ethnos: Journal of Anthropology 76(1): 3-18.
• Abram, S., & Weszkalnys, G. (2011). Introduction: Anthropologies of planning-Temporality, imagination, and ethnography. Focaal: European Journal of Anthropology 2011(61): 3-18.
• Abram, S. (2007). Living Through Regeneration - Capturing Multiple Stakeholder Perceptions to Enrich the Qualitative Research Methods Curriculum. CEBE Transactions 4(2): 67-84.
• Abram, S. (2005). Introduction: science/technology as politics by other means. Focaal 2005(46): 3.
• Abram, S. & Booth, P. (2005). Culture, Place and Planning: a Case Study of Problem Based Learning. Transactions - Center for Education in the Built Environment 2(3): 42-60.
• Abram, S. & Cowell,R. (2004). Learning Policy-The Contextual Curtain and Conceptual Barriers. European Planning Studies 12: 209-228.
• Abram, S. & Cowell,R. (2004). Dilemmas of implementation: `integration' and `participation' in Norwegian and Scottish local government. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 22: 701-720.
• Abram, S. (2004). Personality and professionalism in a Norwegian district council. Planning Theory 3: 21-40.
• Abram, S. (2003). Antropologi, Styring og Forvaltning [Anthropologies of Governance]. Norsk Antropologisk Tidskrift (Norwegian Journal of Anthropology) 14: 53-69.
• Abram, S. (2001). Planning and public-making in municipal government. Focaal 21-34.
• Abram, S. (2000). Planning the Public: Some Comments on Empirical Problems for Planning Theory. Journal of Planning Education and Research 19: 351-357.
• Murdoch, J., Abram, S. & Marsden, T. (1999). Modalities of planning: a reflection on the persuasive powers of the development plan. Town Planning Review 70: 191-212.
• Murdoch, J. & Abram, S. (1998). Defining the limits of community governance. Journal of rural studies 14(1): 41-50.
• Abram, S. (1998). Class, countryside and the 'Longitudinal Study'. Journal of Rural Studies 14: 369-380.
• Abram, S., Murdoch, J. & Marsden, T. (1996). The social construction of `Middle England': the politics of participation in forward planning. Journal of Rural Studies 12(4): 353-364.

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• Abram, S. (Published). Contributor to Savage Minds Blog, The Anthropology Project.
• Abram, S. (2005). Living through Regeneration. 28 minute documentary film produced in collaboration with Claire Allam and funded through LDMU Learning and Teaching Grant scheme. Film.
• Abram, S. (2002). Much Ado About Norway. 34 minute documentary film (VHS) produced in collaboration with Cinema Oslo. VHS.

Other (Print)

• Abram, S. (2010). Lokalpolitisk praksis i norge (Political practice in Norway). Antropolognytt 2: 4-5.
• Abram, S. (2008). Reproducing the Norwegian Myth: Egalitarianism and the Normal. CTCC Research Papers 1.
• Abram, S. (2007). Bricks coming out of the ground: Reconstructing Norfolk Park.
• Abram, S. (2006). Living through regeneration. Learning from the experience of residents of Norfolk Park. Yorkshire and Humber Regional Review 16(3): 28-29.
• Abram, S. & Booth, P. (2004). Problem-based Learning in 'culture, Place and Planning. CEBE Case Study
• Abram, S. (2002). Enhancing Local Democracy – the Scandinavian Link. Environmental Governance February: 11-12.
• Abram, S. (2001). Community Planning in Norway and Scotland: Introduction and Findings.
• Connelly, S., Richardson, T. & Abram, S. (2001). Perspectives on Participation.
• Abram, S. (2001). Casting the net wide: lessons from Norway for community strategies. eg 8-10.
• Murdoch, J. & Abram, S. (1998). Building Jerusalem as a Suburb. Parliamentary Brief March : 50-51.
• Abram, S. (1998). Why do people have faith in planning? Rationalities and realities in the British planning system. Papers in environmental planning research 16
• Abram, S., Murdoch, J., Marsden, T. & University of Wales (1996). Participation in strategic forward planning in Buckinghamshire: the making of 'middle England'? Papers in environmental planning research 4
• Abram, S., Marsden, T. & Murdoch, J. (1996). Delimiting debate the bureaucracy of migration. Papers in environmental planning research 6
• Abram, S., Marsden, T. & Murdoch, J. (1996). Constructing Middle England: The politics of participation in forward planning. Papers in environmental planning research
• Abram, S. (1996). Findings: Middle Class Representation in Strategic Planning.
• Abram, S., Marsden, T. & Murdoch, J. (1996). Modalities of Planning: Arenas, Actors and Strategies of persuasion in the development plan review. Papers in environmental planning research 5
• Abram, S. (1994). Policy, Morality and the Art of Government: Review of the 2nd Biannual EASA conference. Anthropology in Action 1(3).
• Abram, S. (1994). Recollections and recreations tourism, heritage and history in the French Auvergne.