Les Back

I joined Goldsmiths in 1993. I studied there as both postgraduate and undergraduate during the 1980s. Prior to returning to the college I taught at the University of Birmingham in the Cultural Studies department and before that had worked as a contract researcher at Birkbeck College and the Institute of Education.

My research interests are the sociology of racism and ethnicity, popular culture and music, urban life, community, social divisions class, social theory and sociological methods.

I have been involved in prisoner education through the Open Book scheme at Goldsmiths, University of London, which works with those from offending and addiction backgrounds to encourage them to take up education, offering them ongoing emotional and practical support throughout their course. One past student said of the scheme: "I learnt to read and write in prison where I had spent most of my adult life, never being able to break the cycle. One day I met everybody from the Open Book Project and since then I have managed to complete a history degree and go on to help others reach their potential, just as Open Book helped me reach mine in a positive way''.