Dr David Wilkin: From Town to Gown: Are we purely academics?

Abstract:

Why do we want to be researchers? For personal kudos, for money, perhaps to achieve social change? Whatever our motivation, at some point we must settle on a research question to ask. We commit to solving a problem and in doing so, we set a course for the rest of our lives. For years we dedicate ourselves to be completely taken over by that topic, it becomes our friend, our enemy and our challenge. Eventually, we become subject matter experts. We move from the questioner to the questioned, we provide knowledge and inspire change. We move from learner to teacher. People look to us for leadership, for help and hope. But what duty do we owe? Did we merely visit our topic, collect the prize, and move out - or do we owe a duty to society? Are we more than just research tourists? In this session, David will be discussing our positions of privilege and what we can give back to society.

About this discussion group:

This newly formed discussion group is part of the BSC Hate Crime Network, and has been designed to create a supportive space for PGRs and ECRs who are researching within the broad area of hate studies. PGRs could include students studying at MA and doctoral level, and ECRs includes those researchers who are within five years of receiving their doctorate. The group brings PGRs and ECRs together to share their research projects, discuss methodological issues, and consider best practices when researching sensitive topics.

The group will touch upon, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Working with and supporting victims

• Managing the sensitivity of hate studies research

• Ethical issues

• Working with policy-makers and practitioners

• Creative and inclusive research methods

• Our responsibility as researchers

• Working with perpetrators of hate crime

In addition to these discussions, the group will also organise occasional training sessions with more experienced researchers. These training sessions could cover some of the above, but please get in touch if there are any particular areas that you would benefit from. These sessions will be led by an experienced researcher within the area of hate studies, but there will continue to be an emphasis on open discussion and Q&A. All sessions will run online (unless otherwise stated) via MS Teams. These will be bi-monthly on a Wednesday afternoon lasting 1 hour (2-3pm). Presenters will speak for approximately 25 minutes, and this will be followed by a discussion.

If you would like to present at one of these discussion groups, please contact Leah Burch (burchl@hope.ac.uk @LeahFBurch) with a short bio and abstract. This does not need to be detailed but should give a broad overview of a potential topic/issue/method that you would like to discuss. Alternatively, if you have a theme/question that you would like discuss or for a training session, please get in touch.

To stay up to date with these events and access joining details, please ensure that you follow the British Society of Criminology Hate Crime Network on Twitter @BscHcn and are subscribed to our JISCmail account https://t.co/E0KNH46fSa?amp=1