GSD Alumnus Isabel Coelho Govier Publishes Research in Warwick’s Reinvention Journal

The Global Sustainable Development community are proud to celebrate alumni Isabel Coelho Govier, after their dissertation was published in Reinvention: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research.

Isabel’s dissertation, titled “Access to Information and Support for LGBTQI+ People Seeking Asylum: A Qualitative Exploration of Coventry’s Asylum Accommodation”, appears in Volume 18, Issue 2 of the journal. In the article, Isabel investigates the complex barriers faced by LGBTQI+ asylum seekers in Coventry, focusing on their access to critical information and support whilst living in accommodation provided by the asylum system. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups, Isabel uncovered how isolation, fear of discrimination, and limited tailored services created a cycle of marginalisation and restricted access, and their findings highlight how institutional unpreparedness and insufficient support structures compound vulnerability for this population.

Isabel completed their research under the supervision of Prof Chris Dolan, bringing together her passion for development studies, human rights, and social justice. Their work is an excellent example of the kind of interdisciplinary, socially conscious research that GSD seeks to nurture — combining academically rigorous, qualitative social science methods with real-world policy relevance to influence socially-meaningful change.

Prof Chris Dolan (Isabel’s dissertation supervisor) commented:

“Bel’s work is a shining example of high quality undergraduate research into complex issues - and a demonstration that the days when only post-graduate research was deemed publishable are rightly behind us. I hope many other undergraduates will feel inspired to pick up the baton and pursue publication.”

You can access Isabel’s full article here.