Report on meeting, 13th February 2008.

Five of us met today - Hugh, Kerry, Heather, Richard and Ian - to discuss why we were interested in getting together to discuss (our) ethnographic work, how we'd like the group to work, and when we'd like to meet. Many others expressed an interest in becoming involved, but couldn't make the meeting.

Why the group?
We talked a lot about this. We all had different reasons. Most of us felt we were doing 'ethnographic' work that we didn't really get the opportunity to discuss and work through with others. So, we agreed that this would probably end up being part reading group, and part support group for those involved. We also hoped that this could become a place for us to try some of our ethnographic writing on a sympathetic audience when the time was right.

How will it work?
The organisation will evolve, but we thought that we should start with two hour sessions which, roughly speaking, would be divided into one hour discussing a reading, and one hour moving things on through introducing other related readings, experiences, ideas, etc... In practice and over time, everything will no doubt get thoroughly mixed up. We thought that this blog would be a good idea to enable discussions to continue between meetings, if and when people had anything else to say, and/or others unable to come to the meetings to contribute to the discussions.

When / where?
3-5pm every other Wednesday for the foreseeable future. Our next meeting is on 27 February. I will book a room and post it here.

Reading for next time.
The politics of PhD research seemed like an issue that we should tackle first. I suggested that we read a paper about my PhD which discusses these issues. It's available online at http://www.gees.bham.ac.uk/downloads/gesdraftpapers/iancook-directorscut.htm