9:00-9:30

Registration and Refreshments

9.30-10:40

The Politics of Social Research

Speakers:

• Gurnam Singh, Coventry University
• Therese O’Toole, University of Bristol

Followed by questions and discussion

10:40-11:00

Coffee/Tea break

11:00-12:15

Concurrent workshops on:

1. Making an Impact in the ‘Real World’: Communicating PhD Research. 

Working with policy makers/the voluntary sector and other actors in disseminating research findings.

Facilitator: Peter Ratcliffe, University of Warwick

2. Teaching and Politics, the Politics of Teaching

Teaching politically controversial issues, managing seminar debates, the role of personal politics in teaching sociology

Facilitator: Joyce Canaan, Birmingham City University

12:15-13:00

Buffet Lunch

13:00-14:15

Concurrent workshops on:

1. Researching the Political

Conducting research with/on groups or individuals who have conflicting views to your own e.g. racists. Or researching those which whom you are highly sympathetic.  How do you negotiate personal politics and objectivity within this context?

Facilitator: Les Back, Goldsmiths

2. Activist Academic

Communicating research outside of academia, especially using new media –blogs, zines, journalism… how can PhD students get their research out there and what might be the challenges associated with different media?

Facilitator: Rebecca Leach and Phil Burton-Cartledge, Keele University

14:15-14:30

Coffee/Tea Break

15:30-17:00

Researching the Political: Closing Discussion

An open forum for all attendees to reflect on the day, share thoughts, discuss contentious issues which have arisen and think about where our research might go from here.  We would like this to be a creative session with small and whole group discussions.

Facilitators: Lucy Mayblin and Michelle Kempson

17:00

Close