Lunchtime Talk: Material Belonging

In this talk, Jessica Miles will draw on her PhD research to share stories of encounters between people and objects that challenge conventional understandings of belonging as purely psychological or cultural. This talk will be an exploration of the idea that inclusion in organisations is not only an emotional or social experience, but also a material one. Our sense of belonging is shaped not just by people, but by the everyday objects, spaces and atmospheres that surround us as we work and create. Jess Miles's research pays close attention to the quiet yet vibrant agency of things, from plants and cables to filing cabinets and coffee mugs, and the roles they play in organisational life. Drawing on emerging insights from her PhD research at the University of Bristol, including work at the Pervasive Media Studio, Jess shares stories of encounters between people and objects that challenge conventional understandings of belonging as purely psychological or cultural. The talk invites us to consider what new possibilities might become possible when we start recognising inclusion as something co‑produced by humans and everyday things.