Michelle’s research focus on two distinct areas. The first concerns ongoing research in the areas of human need, human shelter, identity and conflict within the context of sustainable community development. Her current research explores the relationship between globalisation and political violence within the context of heightened global urbanisation trends, increasing democratisation of environments and the link that may be forged between these in terms of the threat posed to human identity and issues of housing and home. Located in a global context, she takes a multi-disciplinary approach, situating the work in international relations, conflict analysis and social theory, drawing from phenomenologically based empirical study. Implicit in the work is the plea for recognition of the challenges facing the construction of, and thus the increasing fragility of, our human identity. Explicitly her work focuses on an enduring concern with peace and conflict and the human need for shelter.
Her second area of research interest concerns learning development within technology enhanced learning environments. Current research is specifically focused on questioning conventional constructivist approaches to learning when teaching is presented in environments where traditional hierarchies and orders may no longer be appropriate.
