Zhiwen Yang
- Email: nktc4627@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: Visualising the Youth Climate Movement: Framing Processes and Collective Identity Construction
- Supervisors: Dr Maria Rovisco, Professor Paul Bagguley, Professor Katy Parry (from School of Media and Communication)
Profile
I began my doctoral study in School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds in 2024. Before starting my PhD, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Journalism at Chengdu University of Technology, followed by an MSc in Media, Culture and Society at the University of Glasgow. During my master’s study, I conducted a research project investigating the motivations of grassroots activists and their communicative strategies under surveillance.
Prior to my academic journey at Leeds, I worked across diverse industries, including consulting, retail, journalism, and marketing, experiences that ultimately shaped my sociological interests. In 2021, I filmed a documentary, titled Dancing on Thin Ice, which explored the dilemmas faced by China’s working class during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, I travelled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where I worked as a voluntary teacher.
Research interests
My research interest lies at the intersection of visual communication and social movements, with a particular focus on the process of collective identity in loosely connected and individualised contexts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Radio and Television Journalism, Chengdu University of Technology
- Master of Science, Media, Culture and Society, University of Glasgow