Meet Your New Postgraduate Representatives

We are delighted to announce that, following the recent election, Lilyemma Whalley and Marijke Valk have been elected as the new postgraduate representatives on the BAVS Executive Committee!

Lilyemma is pursuing a PhD in English Literature at Queen Mary University of London. Her research explores how Victorian children’s literature fosters a sense of kindness toward the natural world by presenting it as a form of home. Her work examines themes of girlhood, petkeeping, illustrated children’s literature, fictional realms, and natural environments in the nineteenth century. You can follow her on Twitter/X: @LilyemmaWhalley.

Marijke is an AHRC-funded PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham, researching the alchemical revival and the re-enchantment of science in Victorian fin de siècle fiction. Her broader academic interests include pseudo-sciences, spiritualism, and the supernatural, with a particular focus on how occult traditions intersect with scientific discourse in Victorian and Gothic literature. You can find her on Twitter/X: @Marijke_Valk.

Lilyemma and Marijke take over from Hollie Geary-Jones and Carys Hudson, who have done a fantastic job supporting the BAVS postgraduate network. We extend our sincere gratitude for their hard work and dedication.

As postgraduate representatives, Lilyemma and Marijke will be sharing news, calls for papers, articles, and updates relevant to BAVS members. They also welcome reviews, discussions, and opinion pieces from the community. If you have any news or opportunities that should be shared with the BAVS community, please do not hesitate to reach out to them.

They look forward to connecting with you at upcoming PGR events and the BAVS annual conference!