Biography
Chase Ledin is a sociologist and historian of public health, whose work broadly explores the sociocultural dimensions of sexual health promotion and community engagement in Scotland and England. His research and teaching contribute to the sociology and history of medicine, critical public health, and medical education. He currently works as a Interdisciplinary Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
Research Interests
Critical Public Health; History of Medicine; Medical Education; Sexual Health; Social Theory; Sociology of Health & Illness
Education
2018-2022
Doctor of Philosophy, Social and Cultural Theory
Thesis: “Post-AIDS Imaginaries: Configuring Speculative Futures in the Cultures of HIV Intervention.”
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
2015-2016
Master of Arts, Contemporary Literature, Culture and Theory
Thesis: “The ‘End of AIDS’: Toward a Theory of Death in the New Chronic Mode.”
King’s College London, England, United Kingdom
2010-2014
Bachelor of Arts, Honours English and Sociology of Sexuality
Senior Project: “Methods for Implementing Gender-Inclusive Housing at The Ohio State University: A Benchmark Study.”
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Publications
ORCID: 0000-0001-5024-0625
Academic Journals:
Ledin, Chase. HIV Prevention and the Impact of It’s a Sin (2021) in Scotland. Journal of Popular Television. Forthcoming 2023.
Ledin, Chase, and Benjamin Weil. (2022). ‘Healthy Publics’ and the Pedagogy of It’s a Sin. European Journal of Cultural Studies 26(1), pp. 102-109.
Ledin, Chase. (2021). Retroactivism and Futurity in 120 BPM and Théo et Hugo. Modern and Contemporary France 30(2), pp. 179-191.
García-Iglesias, Jaime, and Chase Ledin. (2021). ‘Who cares if you’re poz right now?’: Barebackers, HIV and COVID-19. Sociology of Health and Illness 43(9), pp. 1981-1995.
Ledin, Chase, and Benjamin Weil. (2021). ‘Test Now, Stop HIV’: COVID-19 Pandemic and the ‘End of HIV’. Culture, Health and Sexuality 23(11), pp. 1470-1484.
Book Chapters:
Ledin, Chase. “Contaminating the ‘End of AIDS’ in Contemporary British AIDS Media,” in: Capturing Contagion: Visual Culture and Epidemic Disease Since 1750. Edited by Marsha Morton and Ann-Marie Akehurst. New York: Routledge. Forthcoming 2023.
Møller, Kristian, and Chase Ledin. (2021). “Viral Hauntology: Specters of AIDS in Infrastructures of Gay Sexual Sociability,” in: Affects, Interfaces, Events. Edited by Bodil Marie Stavning Thomsen, Jette Kofoed & Jonas Fritsch. Vancouver: Imbricate! pp. 147-162.
Book Reviews:
Underman, Kelly. (2020). Feeling Medicine: How the Pelvic Exam Shapes Medical Training. Book review by Chase Ledin (2021). The Polyphony. Online.
Broqua, Christophe. (2020). Action=Vie: A History of AIDS Activism and Gay Politics in France. Book review by Chase Ledin (2021). Sociology of Health and Illness 43(6), pp. 1559-1560.
Atanasoski, Neda., and Kalindi, Vora. (2019). Surrogate Humanity: Race, Robots, and the Politics of Technological Futures. Book review by Chase Ledin. (2021). Fantastika Journal 5(1), pp. 86-88.
Kagan, Dion. (2018). Positive Images: Gay Men and HIV/AIDS in the Culture of Post-Crisis. Book review by Chase Ledin. (2021). The Journal of Homosexuality 68(1), pp. 173-176.
Milanich, Nara. (2019). Paternity: The Elusive Quest for the Father. Book review by Chase Ledin. (2020). New Genetics and Society 40(2), pp. 246-248.
Stoner, Andrew. (2019). The Journalist of Castro Street: The Life of Randy Shilts. Book review by Chase Ledin. (2020). Media History 26(2), pp. 230-232.
Lothian, Alexis. (2018). Old Futures: Speculative Fiction and Queer Possibility. Book review by Chase Ledin. (2020). Fantastika Journal 4(1), pp. 168-171.
TV and Film Reviews:
Ledin, Chase. Parodying Gender & the Robot Apocalypse in BigBug (2022). Fantastika Journal. Forthcoming 2022.
Poetry Magazines:
“Busted, In Holborn.” Chelsea Station Magazine, November 2015.
“Seventh Shard.” Rogue Poetry Review, September 2015.
“Madame Mñ,” “Near Home,” and “Photogenic.” A Literation Magazine, May 2015.
“Sexual Illusions.” Glitterwolf Magazine, Issue Seven, April 2015.
“The Artist and the Poet.” Glitterwolf Magazine, Issue Six, April 2014.
“Rain Bucket.” Mosaic Magazine at The Ohio State University, April 2013.
“Smoke Ring Heritage.” Glitterwolf Magazine, Issue One, April 2012.
Online:
Ledin, Chase. (2021). “Speculation: imagining better queer health futures.” ECR Spotlight, GenderEd, University of Edinburgh. 20 Sept.
Ledin, Chase. (2021). “UK Blood Donation and Homonationalism.” Blog Post. Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh. 13 Jul.
Ledin, Chase. (2020). “Desiring Objects.” The Polyphony. 4 Jun.
Ledin, Chase. (2020). “Axis: A Portrait.” Poem. Bottoms Up: Alcohol, Sex and Me. SX-Scotland. 19 Feb. (Podcast narrated by David Mahoney, January 2021.)
Gubacsi, Beata. (2020). “Being Human – Haunting Our Bodies Workshop.” The Polyphony. 7 Feb.
Ledin, Chase. (2019). “What Would All-Male Sex Ed Look Like for Queer Boys?” Blog Post. Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh. 6 Nov.
Weil, Benjamin, and Ledin, Chase. (2019). “PrEP at the After/Party: The ‘Post-AIDS’ Politics of Frank Ocean’s ‘PrEP+’.” Somatosphere. 4 Nov.
Ledin, Chase. (2019). “The Mundane Virus.” The Polyphony. 11 Oct.
Ledin, Chase. (2018). “Is PrEP a Queer Technology?” Blog Post. Oxford Queer Studies Network, Oxford University. 6 Dec.
Dupuis, Adam. (2018). “What are People Learning about HIV/AIDS in the PrEP Era? What are Serosorting, ‘Inevitable’ Transmission, and U=U?” Interview. Instinct Magazine. 24 Nov.
Ledin, Chase. (2018). “When Generations Hurt.” Blog Post. The Queerness. 4 Sept. (Adapted from a creative essay, 26 May 2016).
Kime, Molly. (2015). “Gender-Inclusive Housing Initiative Inspired by Undergraduate Research of Young Alumnus.” Research Spotlight. College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University. 20 Apr.
Reports:
Ledin, Chase, Olujoke Fakoya, and Jaime Garcia-Iglesias. (2022). HIV Activists during COVID-19 in the UK. Report. Edinburgh, UK: The University of Edinburgh.
White Papers:
Ledin, Chase. (2014). “Gender Politics and Trans Visibility in Gender-Inclusive Housing.” National Association of Student Personnel Administrators GLBT Knowledge Community White Paper (Washington, D.C.), pp. 7-9.
Research Projects
2022
The Evolution of British HIV Activism during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Co-Investigator with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias (Edinburgh) and Olujoke Fakoya (Hertfordshire). This ethnographic project uses focus groups and interviews with HIV activist groups in London, UK, to examine how HIV activism and community advocacy initiatives changed during the early COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-March 2021).
2021
The Visual Histories of HIV/AIDS in Scotland: A Digital Exhibition. Research assistant for Ingrid Young. University of Edinburgh. Drawing from materials in the Lothian Health Services Archive, this exhibition at the Sex, Drugs and Scotland’s Health Conference (19-21 Oct 2021) will showcase the visual histories of HIV/AIDS health promotion and harm reduction in Scotland since the 1980s.
‘Getting to Zero’: The Role of Post-AIDS Imaginaries in Scottish HIV Health Promotion. Small grant research funded by the Glasgow Medical Humanities Network and the Wellcome Trust (Sept-Dec 2021). Mentor: Dr Laura Kelly (Strathclyde). This scoping project looks at the role of ‘post-AIDS imaginaries’ in recent Scottish HIV visual health promotion to understand if/how critical conversations about ‘ending HIV’ can contribute to HIV literacy strategies, and if/how ‘post-AIDS imaginaries’ might help to develop new intervention strategies to ‘end’ new HIV transmissions in Scotland. Learn more about the project here.
Public Engagement
February 2023
Exploring Imagined Health Futures in Glasgow, Scotland. Creative workshop in partnership with Scottish Drugs Forum.
March 2022
The Contemporary Politics of HIV/AIDS. Invited Roundtable with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias and Ulla McKnight. Edinburgh Political Union at the University of Edinburgh. 3 March 2022.
December 2021
HIV Futures in Scotland. Creative workshops with Garry McLaughlin. Part of the ‘Getting to Zero: The Role of Post-AIDS Imaginaries in Scottish HIV Health Promotion‘ research project. Online. 7-8 Dec.
November 2021
Renewing Bodies, Visualising Affects. Creative workshop with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias. Being Human Festival. Edinburgh, Scotland.
October 2021
Curator. Visual Histories of HIV/AIDS Health Promotion in Scotland. Digital Exhibition. Sex, Drugs and Scotland’s Health. Online. 19-21 October 2021.
August 2021
Guest Curator. Rear View: HIV/AIDS Graphic Communication Archive. Online.
May 2021
AIDS Cultural Activism and Speculative Health Promotion. Invited Lecture. Staff Pride Network at The University of Edinburgh. Online.
February 2021
The Visual Histories of AIDS Retroactivism. Invited Lecture. Edinburgh University History Society. Online. (Lecture recording here).
October 2020
Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society Showcase. Usher Institute Annual Lecture & Showcase. University of Edinburgh. Online.
Townhall Talk. The Fathers Project dir. Leo Herrera. GAZE International LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2020. Online.
November 2019
Haunting Our Bodies. Creative Graphics Workshop with Garry McLaughlin. Festival of Bodies, Being Human Festival. Edinburgh, Scotland.
October 2019
Screening and Film Talk. 120 Beats per Minute dir. Robin Campillo. Sci-Screen, British Science Association. Edinburgh, Scotland.
April 2019
Guest Speaker. Tales from the Tea Room (podcast). 24 Apr.
Conferences and Presentations
April 2023
“HIV Activists in England during COVID-19.” Co-presention with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias and Olujoke Fakoya. British Sociological Association – Medical Sociology Conference. 12-14 April 2023.
November 2022
“HIV Activists during COVID-19.” UK International Coronavirus Network Annual General Meeting. Cambridge, UK. 3 Nov 2022.
October 2022
“Sexual Ecologies and HIV Prevention after COVID-19.” EROSS Seminar Series. Dublin City University. Online. 19 Oct 2022.
July 2022
“Who cares if you’re poz right now? Learning and adapting risk and responsibility from HIV to COVID-19 among barebackers.” Digital poster co-authored with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias. AIDS 2022 Conference. Montreal, Canada. 29 Jul-2 Aug 2022.
June 2022
“Viral Hauntology: Specters of AIDS in hookup app sexual health disclosure designs.” Co-presentation with Kristian Møller. NORA Conference. University of Oslo, Norway. 20-22 June 2022.
December 2021
“AIDS Retroactivism and Speculative Health Promotion.” Queer Temporalities in Literature, Cinema, and Video Games International Conference. University of Murcia, Spain. Online. 2-4 December 2021.
“¿A quién le importa ahora si tienes VIH? Placer y riesgo durante la COVID-19: el caso de los ‘apeleros’.” Co-presentation with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias. Encuentro Intercongresal del Comité de investigación de Sociología de la Salud de la FES. Online. 2-3 December 2021.
October 2021
“Promoting the ‘End of AIDS’ in Scottish Sexual Health Outreach.” Sex, Drugs, and Scotland’s Health Conference. Online. 19-21 October 2021.
September 2021
“From sex in parks to glory holes: Sex and risk among barebackers during COVID-19.” Co-presentation with Jaime Garcia-Iglesias. British Sociological Association – Medical Sociology Conference. Online. 3 September 2021.
“Speculative Health: STI Prophylaxis, AMR and Queer STS.” Queering STS Conference. University College London. Online. 1 September 2021.
July 2021
“The Politics of Speculative Inquiry in Post-AIDS Health Promotion.” Short presentation. Interrogating Speculative Futures: A workshop on the politics of imagining a future with(out) chronic illness. Online. 19-20 July 2021.
May 2021
“Intercultural Activism, Health Promotion and Russell T. Davies’s It’s a Sin.” Invited Talk. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Online. 25 May 2021.
September 2020
“Viral Hauntology: Spectres of AIDS in Infrastructures of Gay Sexual Sociability.” Co-presentation with Kristian Møller. Viral Masculinities Conference. Virtual. 11 September 2020.
August 2020
“PrEP at the After/Party: The ‘Post-AIDS’ Politics of Frank Ocean’s “PrEP+”. Co-authored with Ben Weil (presenter). EASST/4S. Virtual. 18-21 August 2020.
January 2020
“Post-Viral Futures: The Politics of AIDS Histories in Leo Herrera’s ‘The Fathers Project’.” HIV/AIDS in the 21st Century: Memorialisation, Representation and Temporality. University of Manchester, England. 16-17 January 2020.
October 2019
“Post-AIDS: Viral Futures and the After/ing of HIV/AIDS Histories.” Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society. University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 17 October 2019.
June 2019
“The Poly/Sex Matrix, or Theory after Sex-Talk.” Gayness in Queer Times Conference. University of Brighton, England. 13-14 June 2019.
May 2019
“After ACT UP: Activism, Intimacy and the Post-Crisis Project.” 120 Beats per Minute Symposium. King’s College London, England. 10-11 May 2019.
December 2018
“Queer Anticipation, HIV and the Politics of Negotiated Safety.” Curious Symposium. Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. 5 December 2018.
“Conceptualising PrEP as Play: HIV and Negotiated Safety.” Usher Social Science Seminar. University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 4 December 2018.
September 2018
“Queer Approaches: Teaching the HIV Epidemic in Secondary Education.” Critically Queer Conference. University of Bristol, England. 20-21 September 2018.
“(Critical) Queer Histories.” Panel Chair. Critically Queer Conference. The University of Bristol, England. 20-21 September 2018.
“Grind(r)ing for Utopia: On Utopian Aesthetics and Developing Queer Community in Digital Contexts.” Utopian Acts Conference. London, England. 1 September 2018.
April 2018
“The Subject (R)evolution of HIV Ink and Bodies that Care.” Panel: “Of Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Augmentations: The Modified Body in Literature and Culture.” Northeast Modern Language Association Annual Convention. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 12-15 April 2018.
May 2017
“On Performing the Epidemic Imaginary and Post-AIDS Discourse.” Queer Places, Practices, and Lives III Symposium. The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio, USA. 12-13 May 2017.
June 2016
“HIV Ink: Complicating the Performance of Viral Ownership.” Queer Performance Now Conference. King’s College London, England. 3 June 2016.
February 2016
“The Face of the HIV Activist: A Critical Account of Stigma in 2016.” English Postgraduate Research Forum. King’s College London, England. 24 February 2016.
April 2015
“Gender-Inclusive Housing 201.” Northeast Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender College Conference. University at Albany, SUNY, New York, USA. 10-12 April 2015.
“Gender-Inclusive Housing 101.” Northeast Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender College Conference. University at Albany, SUNY, New York, USA. 10-12 April 2015.
February 2015
“Situating Gender in Gender-Inclusive Housing.” Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference. Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA. 13-15 February 2015.
May 2014
“Complicating Identitarian Space: The Queer Potential of Gender-Inclusive Housing.” Queer Places, Practices, and Lives II Symposium. The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio, USA. 16 May 2014.
April 2014
“On Gender-Inclusive Housing.” Meeting of the Arts & Sciences Advisory Committee. The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio, USA. 24 April 2014.
“Methods for Implementing Gender-Inclusive Housing at OSU.” English Undergraduate Studies Forum. Department of English, The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio, USA. 17 April 2014.
“Where’s the Room for Heteronormativity in Gender-Inclusive Housing?” Undergraduate Queer Studies Conference, Ohio University. Athens, Ohio, USA. 11 April 2014.
March 2014
“Methods for Implementing Gender-Inclusive Housing at OSU.” Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio, USA. 26 March 2014.
Seminars & Workshops
2021
Invited Discussant. Visual Epidemics. Public presentation of student projects. Contagion: Anthropology and Global Health course. University of St. Andrews. Online. June 2021.
2020
Convener. Desiring Objects, Desiring Archives. Thinking Through Things Online Workshop. November 2020.
Participant. A History of Public Health in Post-War Britain. Online Seminar. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. April 2020.
Participant. COVID-19: Tackling the Novel Coronavirus. Online Seminar. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. March 2020.
Participant. Thinking Through Things. ECR Medical Humanities Training. Wellcome Collections, London, UK. 12 Feb 2020.
Scholarships, Grants, and Awards
2022
UK-ICN ECR Travel Grant to support focus group delivery in London, UK (£408). UK International Coronavirus Network and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Apr 2022.
UK-ICN ECR Grant to support the “HIV activists during COVID-19” ethnographic project (£2,730). UK International Coronavirus Network and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Feb-Sept 2022.
2021
Glasgow Medical Humanities Network ECR Foundation Award (£1000). Sept-Dec 2021.
Small grant to complete The Visual Histories of HIV/AIDS in Scotland: A Digital Exhibition. Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh (£480). August 2021.
Small grant to attend the British Sociological Association (BSA) Conference 2021. Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh (£103). July 2021.
COVID-19 Disruption PhD Funding Extension. College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Edinburgh (Ph.D funding). April 2021.
2020
Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant. Edinburgh College of Art (£180). March 2020. Declined due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Small grant to attend Viral Masculinities Conference. Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh (£180). February 2020. Declined due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2019
Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant. Autumn 2019. Edinburgh College of Art. (£250)
Postgraduate Research Expenses Grant. Spring 2019. Edinburgh College of Art. (£450)
2018-2021
Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship. The University of Edinburgh (Ph.D. funding).
Edinburgh College of Art Ph.D. Scholarship. The University of Edinburgh (Ph.D. funding).
2018
C.A.I.T.Y. Travel Grant. Northeast MLA (NeMLA) Convention 2018, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. April 13-15, 2018.
2014
Buckeye Pride Community Impact Award (for the Implementation of Gender-Inclusive Housing at OSU). Presented by the Multicultural Center, The Ohio State University, USA. April 22, 2014.
Honorable Mention in Humanities Research. English Undergraduate Studies Forum, Department of English, The Ohio State University, USA. April 21, 2014.
Margaret Shifter Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership. Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, The Ohio State University Chapter, USA. April 4, 2014.
Second Place in Humanities Research. “Methods for Implementing Gender-Inclusive Housing at OSU.” Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, The Ohio State University, USA. March 26, 2014.
2013
Mortar Board National College Senior Honour Society. Initiate of the Mabel G. Freeman Chapter at The Ohio State University, USA. April 2013.
2012
Ohio State University Board of Trustees Student Recognition Award. Presented by the Ohio State Board of Trustees, The Ohio State University, USA. September 2012.
Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. Initiate of the Alpha Pi Iota Chapter at The Ohio State University, USA. February 2012.
Teaching Experience
Teaching Fellow. BMedSci in Bioethics, Law and Social Science. Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School. September 2022-April 2023.
Guest Lecturer. “Contemporary Patienthood”. BMedSci in Health Sciences. Edinburgh Medical School. October 2022.
Tutor and Guest Lecturer. Introduction to Qualitative Research. Masters of Public Health programme. Edinburgh Medical School. September-November 2022.
Undergraduate Dissertation Supervisor. Design & Screen Cultures. Edinburgh College of Art. September 2022-March 2023.
Guest Lecturer. “Queer Cinema and the Histories of AIDS Activism.” 2-hour lecture for Contemporary Cinema. Edinburgh College of Art. March 2021 and March 2022.
Social Science Tutor. Social and Ethical Aspects of Medicine. Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh. September 2020-Present.
Humanities Tutor. Contemporary Cinema. Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. January 2020-May 2022.
Dissertation Co-Supervisor. Master of Public Health (MPH) Dissertation. Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh. January-September 2020.
Exam Marker. History of Western Medicine. School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh. December 2019.
Social Science Tutor. Health, Ethics and Society. Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh. September 2019-May 2020.
English Second Language (ESL) Teacher. iTutorGroup. May 2018-November 2019.
Teaching Assistant. Burnsville High School, ISD 191. Aug 2017-Jun 2018.
Teaching Assistant (Symbols & Structure in Literature, Art & Film), Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP), Duke University – East Campus. Jun 2015.
Analytical Writing Tutor. Hilliard, Ohio (USA). Aug 2014 – May 2015.
English Enrichment Tutor. Young Scholars College Success Program, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, The Ohio State University. Aug 2014.
Teaching Assistant (Apocalyptic Literature; Creative Writing). Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP), University of Georgia. Jun – Jul 2014.
Professional Experience
Academic Service
External Representative for the Board of Studies curriculum committee. The School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, The University of Edinburgh. 2022/23 academic year.
Peer Reviewer. Variously for Culture, Health and Sexuality; Fantastika Journal; MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture; Qualitative Health Research; and Sexualities.
Community Volunteering
Volunteer, SX – Sexual Health & Wellbeing for GBMSM. Waverley Care. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Editorial Roles
Editor-in-Chief. The Polyphony – Medical Humanities Journal. Institute of Medical Humanities at Durham University. July 2022 – July 2023.
Associate Editor. The Polyphony – Medical Humanities Journal. Institute of Medical Humanities at Durham University. February 2021-Present.
Professional Memberships
Member of the British Sociological Association (2021-present)
Member of the Interdisciplinary Research in Sexual Health Network of Scotland (2018-present)
Member of the Northern Network of Medical Humanities Research (2020-present)
Member of the UK International Coronavirus Network (2022-present)
Chase Ledin 