Dr Manik Deepak Gopinath

Professional biography

A critical gerontologist with expertise and interest in :(1) the intersections of ageing, place and wellbeing, and; (2) intimate and family ties of older adults. 

Qualifications

PhD, University of Dundee

Masters in Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, India

Bachelor in Architecture,College of Engineering, Trivandum, India

Research interests

More than ever, demographic ageing of populations has brought considerations of ageing and living well centre stage. Living well brings into focus questions about ‘wellbeing ’ and ‘place’ broadly construed (to include the material, social, emotional and symbolic). However, discourses, assumptions and expectations around age and ageing, that are deeply and simultaneously personal, historical, cultural, social and political, belie simplistic understandings of living well. My PhD work in considering whether moving home can secure wellbeing at older ages argued for bringing together, ‘relational’ frameworks of place and wellbeing to conceptualising residential mobility in later life.

My overall line of inquiry: How best to develop and operationalise relational frameworks that acknowledge and are sensitive to values and processes in diverse ageing environments?

In my recently completed British Academy/Leverhulme Small Grant project (2017), ‘Coupledom in later life: living together and apart’ (SG170463), Prof. Sheila Peace, Dr. Caroline Holland and I explored how older couples sustain relationships when living apart through care home move separation. Shedding light on the relational,  place and wellbeing implications for older couples, this work challenges the stereotype of ‘single older person’. I have a sustained interest in exploring environments for ageing and living well and more recently in my current project, for older minority ethnic groups. I am also very keen to work collaboratively and in meaningful ways with communities and other stakeholders to  co-create sustainble legacies, exchange knowledge, and support translation of research into practice and policy.

I currently supervise two doctoral students at The Open University and would welcome applications from potential PhD students. I am also the current Co-Lead of CABS, the Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies Research Group at The Open University. The research group brings together a dynamic group of academics and postgraduates researching diverse aspects and topics of ageing.

Esteem indicators:

Co-editor, Families, Relationships and Societies (2020-)

Member, British Society of Gerontology (2015-)

Member, Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) Peer Review College (PRC) (2019-)

Peer reviewer: Abbeyfield Research Foundation

Peer reviewer: Qualitative Research in Health, Buildings and Cities

Panel member, Housing 21 Conference (2021): How is housing responding to the diverse housing and care needs of older people?

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching interests

I am the Module Chair for a level 1 module and teach level 1, 2 and 3 undergraduate modules at The Open University. My teaching draws on my research expertise. I am also interested in the Scholarship of Teaching and have recently completed work on two projects in collaboration with colleagues in the School and Faculty. The first project  explores the concerns of students with caring responsiblities, studying at a distance with a view to inform policies and practices aimed at supporting and retaining such students. The second project explores student motivation in digital learning environments through assessing the impact of using pedagogic digital tools to motivate and develop students as self-directed learners.

Perspectives in Health and Social Care (K118)

Critical Issues in Health and Wellbeing (K219)

Leading, managing, caring (K318)

Investigating health and social care (K323)

External collaborations

Ms Jane Palmer [CEO, Age UK, Milton Keynes], Dr Andrew Balfour [Clinical Psychologist and CEO, The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships, London] and Professor Julienne Meyer, [Professor of Nursing care for older adults at City University, London, and Executive Director, UK wide collaborative programme, ‘My Home Life’ (MHL)] : Coupledom in later life: living together and apart.