Career story
I am often asked what motivates my research with young people. For me, co-researching with them to redefine and disrupt narratives around identity, culture and belonging is both educational and transformative. I am driven by new possibilities and new narratives in educational and cultural spaces, in communities, and in wider society, by amplifying voices that have too often been marginalised or silenced.
I believe the role of the researcher extends beyond academia and should actively engage with wider society to drive meaningful change. For instance, I am the co-founder of The Riz Test, which we designed to evaluate how Muslims are represented in film and television. This tool has been taken up by educators, students, media professionals, and the TV/film industry as a means to challenge and address racist and Islamophobic portrayals of Muslims. Over the last 5 years, I established and mentored a Museum Young Collective to lead on change in the heritage and cultural sectors.
My research questions emerge from listening closely to young people and the urgent social justice issues they encounter. In choosing methods, I emphasise care and respect for the communities I work with, so that important themes can be explored collectively, critically and creatively. I draw on approaches that value reflection and action, and that bring stories to life through a decolonial and anti-racist lens, drawing on critical pedagogy and arts-based methods such as poetry.