Using velo-onto-epistemology to reimagine the candidate-supervisor-relationship

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, the candidate-supervisor-relationship is predicated on a supervisor as teacher/expert – candidate as learner/novice model. But what becomes possible when the materialities of this power dynamic are destabilised and reimagined? This article draws from emerging feminist ontologies to introduce the concept of velo-onto-epistemology [VOE] as a means of re-cycling candidate-supervisor-relationships. VOE acknowledges the agency of the bicycle in moving and being moved. This novel approach is used to explore how stor(i)ed encounters and in-the-moment bodily responses enact current-future becomings. Through re-cycling, the candidate-supervisor-relationship is dis-articulated and re-articulated in ways that enable alternative and more equitable understandings of the world to emerge.

KEYWORDS:

• Velo-onto-epistemology
• new materialisms
• candidate-supervisor-relationships
• feminist post-qualitative methodologies
• re-cycling

Acknowledgements

The authors recognise the Quandamooka peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea and air on and in which this project took place and that sovereignty was never ceded. Nina would like to thank Sherilyn for her trust and courage during this undertaking – and also for Sherilyn’s unwavering, purposeful and inspirational supervision over the years.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).