As a Human and Political Geographer, I focus on the complex epistemological production of maritime space and the critical issues of maritime security and counter-piracy in the Horn of Africa.
About Dr Jessica Simonds
As a Human and Political Geographer, I specialise in exploring the production of maritime space and examining the critical issues of maritime security and counter-piracy in the Horn of Africa. I also have significant professional experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, working on International Development projects focusing on post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. Additionally, I bring a background in security intelligence in the Arabian Peninsula. I have experience working in youth politics and sustainable development. I am enthusiastic about supervising PhD projects that intersect Political Geography and Security Studies, critical Security Studies, critical Geopolitics, Global Governance, Maritime Studies, Post-Conflict Development, Sustainable Development, and Migration.
Teaching
For 2023/2014, I am the Module Leader for GE4009 Sustainable Development.
For 2023/2024, I will teach on the following modules:
- GE5012 Going Places
- GE4012 People and Places
- GE5016 Geopolitics and the Global Economy
- GE5018 Research Design
- GE6001 Dissertation
Research
- Critical Security Studies
- Global Governance
- Maritime security and counterpiracy in the Horn of Africa
- Marxist Theory
- Migration
- Political Geography and Security Studies
- PostConflict Development
- Postconflict reconstruction and reconciliation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
- Security intelligence in the Arabian Peninsula
- Space, Territory, Time, and Power
- Spatial Epistemologies of the Sea
- Sustainable Development
Published Work
Simonds, J. (2022). Book Review: Piracy and the Privatisation of Maritime Security: Vessel Protection Policies Compared. International Journal of Maritime Crime & Security (IJMCS), 2(2), pp.114–119.
Simonds, J. K. (2022) ‘Constructing Insecure Maritime Spaces: Navigational Technologies and the Experience of the Modern Mariner’, Benjamin de Carvalho & Halvard Leira (eds.) The Sea and International Relations. 1st edition Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Simonds, J. K. (2020) How Seafarers are Redirecting Security Consciousness [online]. Available from: http://cimsec.org/in-the-deep-end-how-seafarers-are-redirecting-security consciousness/45070 (Accessed 28 August
Simonds, J. K. (2017) Report on Piracy in 2016 Launched. [Online]. Available from: https://www.seafarerswelfare.org/news/2017/report-on-piracy-in-2016-launched.
Qualifications
PhD International Studies - Queen’s University Belfast, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics – 2017-2021
MA Violence, Terrorism and Security - Queen’s University Belfast, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics – 2015-2017
BA (Hons) International Politics and Conflict Studies - Queen’s University Belfast, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics – 2012-2015.
Memberships:
British International Studies Association
European International Studies Association
International Studies Association
Royal Geographical Society