I am currently studying for MLitt in Archaeological Studies. I am a former paediatric nurse and am very interested in paleopathology and the influence of migration on epidemiology. I am also interested in diet and historical use of plants, climate events and the impact of all aforementioned upon health, wellbeing and morbidity/ mortality rates. I also have a special interest in augmentative and alternative communication skills and techniques and based my dissertation on the use of AAC to improve the experience of the acute nursing setting for children with profound and complex additional needs and communication impairments for my nursing degree; gaining 86%. I learned and have since used a variety of AAC methods such as objects of reference, hand over hand sign with DeafBlind children, BSL levels 1&2 and communication systems such as Makaton. This has also led to an additional interest in archaeoacoustics, and things like drumming and rhythm, and also the place of the person with communication impairment at different points in history.

I do not have any current experimental archaeological projects at present but would love to get involved. I also have a PGCE and taught health and social care in an FE setting for several years, during which time I was the co-author of a foundation degree in Health and Social Care.