Centre for Love, Sex and Relationships

The Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships

A research group dedicated to deepening our understanding of the nature and significance of intimacy, how relationships may be supported by technology, social institutions, and the state.

The Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships (CLSR) is a research group within the School of Philosophy, Religion, and the History of Science at Leeds. We are interested in deepening our understanding of the nature and significance of intimacy, and exploring the ways different relationships might be impacted by technology, social institutions, and the state. The centre exists to foster academic research at Leeds, establish connections with industry leaders, organise events and workshops, support graduate research, and to engage with the public.

Directors: Dr. Natasha McKeever and Dr. Luke Brunning.

Our research

CLSR is the only centre in the UK dedicated to researching love, sex and relationships. Our network consists of over 20 permanent staff and graduate students.

Example research topics

Sexual ethics
Relationship types
Marginalised intimacies
The nature of intimate emotions
Love and technology
Intimate ways of living
Relationships and change
Relationship ethics
Politics of intimacy
Intimacy and the state

Our funders

We have received generous funding contributions from The British Academy and The Society for Applied Philosophy, in addition to Leeds University’s Institutional Translational Funding and Building Impact Momentum Programme.

Centre blog: Instagram @Leeds_CLSR

Twitter: @LeedsCLSR

Research projects

Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Rosa Vince is going to be joining us from this September! They will be working with us for two years on an exciting research project called “[Radical] Feminism, [Radical] Sex: a new approach to sex and objectification”. They’ll be mentored by Dr. Robbie Morgan.

Dr. Luke Brunning’s Book “Romantic Agency” is out now! “Beautifully written, clear and direct, Brunning’s romantic agency challenges ideological preconceptions and opens new intellectual territory” (QUILL REBECCA KUKLA) “Romantic Agency is a thoughtful philosophical reflection on how we might expand the freedom that we - and others - experience in our romantic relationships” MEG-JOHN BAKER https://lukebrunning.com/romantic-agency

Impact and engagement

CLSR has a supportive, collaborative and exciting research environment. At Leeds, we host a weekly reading group, organise academic workshops and support graduate research. Beyond the university, we strive to form partnerships with industry experts and engage with the public. We do this by organising a number of free and accessible events throughout the year, including Leeds Love Month and a Philosophy Valentines Day Event. We collaborate with non-academic institutions such as The Philosophers Yard, Feeld and Leeds Salon. We have recently made an appearance on BBC Leeds Radio, and have written public blogs and newspaper articles for The Guardian, Elle Magazine and The Conversation, among others. We have also published and featured on a number of podcast episodes, available via: Ethics Untangled, Full Insight and Let’s Chat Ethics.