The Popular Culture Research Network (PopCRN)
PopCRN is an international research network supporting interdisciplinary scholarship on popular culture, media, and everyday life.
Established in 2021, the network brings together researchers across career stages and institutions to develop ambitious collaborative research programs that combine intellectual depth with public relevance.
Jo Coghlan is a co-founder of PopCRN and continues to lead its research strategy, partnerships, mentoring initiatives, and collaborative publishing programs. The network operates as both a research incubator and a dissemination platform, enabling scholars to move from early ideas to peer-reviewed publications, sustained partnerships, and international visibility.
Since its establishment, PopCRN has delivered more than twenty themed international conferences and workshops, generating hundreds of scholarly papers and keynote addresses across global participants. The network has produced a substantial body of outputs including edited collections, special journal issues, and monographs with major international publishers, alongside strong engagement from HDR and early career researchers.
At its core, PopCRN is committed to building generous research cultures that support intellectual risk, interdisciplinary thinking, and long-term scholarly development. The network prioritises mentoring, collaborative authorship, and accessible pathways into publication, strengthening collective capacity across the field.
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Hosts international conferences, symposia, and workshops
Develops collaborative publishing programs including edited collections, special issues, and monographs
Supports mentoring and professional development for HDR and early career researchers
Builds international research partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration
Translates research into public scholarship and media engagement
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As co-founder and research lead, Jo shapes PopCRN’s intellectual direction, publication strategy, partnerships, and mentoring frameworks. She works closely with collaborators to design long-term research programs, support emerging scholars, and ensure that collaborative projects move effectively from concept to publication and public impact.
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Researchers, students, and collaborators are welcome to engage with PopCRN through multiple pathways:
Join the mailing list for event and collaboration updates
Submit conference abstracts and panel proposals
Participate in edited collections and special journal projects
Partner on collaborative research initiatives and grant development
Contribute to public scholarship and outreach activities
