My name is Aaron Sheridan and I’m a historical researcher from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. My main interests lie in modern and contemporary history, especially the history of Scotland and the history of drugs and medicine. I graduated in 2018 and 2019 from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Health History, respectively, and plan on returning in 2021 to begin my PhD studies. Besides writing for my coursework, I have also written for the online critical magazine Conter and published reviews in The Strathclyde Telegraph.
Currently, I am working with Castle Rock Edinvar, an Edinburgh housing association, to deliver the People and Placemaking in Scotland project. Over the course of 2020, I will be looking at the history of housing in Scotland, the Edinburgh and Lothian region and the peripheral housing schemes in Pilton and Craigmillar and the Southside district of the city centre. Beyond a general social history of housing, the project will also examine several themes: the growth of consumerism and the redefinition of housing as a consumer product; the characterisations of council and social housing tenants in history; and the media’s role in both of the previous two themes. The blog posts here are part of the outputs planned for the year ahead, along with in-company and sectoral conference presentations.
I plan to continue with the topic of Scottish housing into my PhD studies (and continue with this blog) and will also look to investigate historical issues which continue to create problems or issues in Scottish society today. For instance, the consumption of heroin and other drugs are particular interests of mine, especially relevant given the spate of drug-related deaths from those who began using in the 1980s. Other issues I’d like to investigate in coming years include the growth of online subcultures, working-class youth culture, alcoholism, and ‘anti-social behaviour’.
You can contact me or find more information about my projects at:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AC_Sheridan
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncsheridan/
Email: aaroncsheridan@gmail.com
Aaron Colin Sheridan 