Brian Elliott sees philosophy as a means of thinking through everyday concerns relating to society, politics, and culture. In his teaching at Portland State he strives to make the study of philosophy engaging and relevant to the diverse student body he serves.

Elliott's early research centered on imagination and phenomenology (http://www.amazon.com/Phenomenology-Imagination-Heidegger-Twentieth-Century-Philosophy/dp/0415465931), more recently turning to social philosophy and urbanism (http://www.amazon.com/Constructing-Community-Configurations-Contemporary-Philosophy/dp/0739139665/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8), and Critical Theory and architecture (http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Architects-Thinkers-Brian-Elliott/dp/0415558158/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8).

He is currently working on a new book for Edinburgh University Press titled Natural Catastrophe: Climate Change in the Age of Neoliberal Governance, due to be published in late 2016. Future projects include works on contemporary art theory, architecture and urbanism, and the neoliberal reconstruction of public education.

Elliott is associated with the Public Philosophy Network (PPN) (http://publicphilosophynetwork.ning.com/), which works to promote the relevance of academic philosophy to broader social and political issues beyond the academy. In connection with PPN, he is co-organizing a conference on urban sustainability with the Philosophy of the City group (http://philosophyofthecity.org/).