Elizabeth Meehan is a Research Associate for the COUNTER project at the Cyberspace Research Unit, School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, UK. Her doctoral research in Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast, examined the links between marketing, tourism and cultural identity in the commodification of place for tourism purposes. It considered the global and local tensions that arise at the local level when place is marketed for the global market. The thesis revealed the extent to which identities are shaped by different and sometimes conflicting cultural understandings and agendas, and the likely impact this has upon community identity.
Elizabeth also completed an MSc in Rural Development at Queen’s University Belfast. This led to the opportunity to work on a rural tourism development project in MG, Brazil. As a member of the infrastructural team for the project, she was involved in the SWOT analysis for the APA Cachoeira das Andorinhas region. She has also completed a BA in Social Science and H Dip in Social Policy. Subsequently, she worked as a community/policy worker in Sydney, Australia. Prior to which, she was a member of the Government Steering Committee for The Grand Parenting in Modern Ireland Policy Report with Age Action Ireland, 2000.
Selected Publications:
Meehan, E. (In press) The Heritage Agenda in Divided Societies: The impacts of international tourism. In: Gómez-Heras, M. (Ed.) Cuaderno técnico: Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad para una conservación sostenible del patrimonio pétreo. Dpto. Publicaciones Universidad Popular José Hierro, S.S. de los Reyes. ISBN: 84-95710-XX-X
Meehan, E. (2006) Preserving Cultural Heritage, the Local Agenda on the Global Stage: the Impacts of International Tourism In: Fort, R. et al. (Eds.) Heritage Weathering & Conservation. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 819-825. ISBN: 0415-40150X
Muldoon, K., Meehan, E., McLaughlin, A. (2005) Forging Links: A directory to help community groups improve their environment. Christie, S. (Ed). Northern Ireland Environment Link, Belfast. 167pp
