The Power Space and Cultural Change Research Cluster in the Department of Geography and Planning is co-hosting a two-day ‘Risky Methods Workshop’ with MethodsNW at the University of Liverpool. This event is specifically directed towards Social Science Early Career Researchers who are engaging with environments and methods that might be considered ‘risky’.

Some of the most crucial questions social science researchers are currently examining entail risk. There is the risk of harm, for example, to vulnerable participants when undertaking research. There is a risk of discomfort to researchers who enter into emotionally demanding situations. Moreover, to examine some of the most pressing societal concerns requires a use of methods that themselves might be deemed ‘risky’. This two-day workshop will focus on methods training for researchers undertaking research that entails ‘risk’ (including restrictive or ethically-challenging work) and methods that may themselves be considered ‘risky’ (forms of ethnography, archival and interview work that fall outside of convention). This will provide a crucial basis for researchers whose projects are on the interface of risk and society.

Confirmed keynote speakers are:

• Dr Kate Gooch (University of Leicester)
• Dr Jennifer Fleetwood (Goldsmiths College)

Confirmed presenters include:

• Dr Kathy Burrell (University of Liverpool)
• Dr Fabienne Emmerich (Keele University)
• Dr Sarah Marie Hall (University of Manchester)
• Dr Arshad Isakjee (University of Liverpool)
• Professor Dominique Moran (University of Birmingham)
• Dr Kimberley Peters (University of Liverpool)
• Dr Amaha Senu (Cardiff University)
• Dr Jennifer Turner (University of Liverpool)
• Dr Geraint Whittaker (University of Liverpool)

Dedicated workshops include:

• Reflections on a risky research environment
• Ethics for risky research
• Negotiating access to risky environments
• Reflections on risky research methods
• Working with alternative access
• Risk in the context of GDPR (supported by University of Liverpool’s Ethics and Legal and Compliance teams)

**Please note, that attendance to this event is capped and is targeted to Postgraduate Research students and Early Career Academics (within 8 years of PhD completion) who can attend both days of the workshop** Participants will be asked to confirm attendance 7 days prior to the event to allow spaces to be offered to the waiting list.

Refreshments including lunch will be provided for both days. A wine reception will be held on Monday 23rd. Please email Jennifer.turner@liverpool.ac.uk with any dietary requirements.

£50 travel bursaries are available for all attendees who indicate they are PGR (or ECR and do not have an alternative means of funding attendance). Please email Jennifer.turner@liverpool.ac.uk to request the offered bursary. In doing so, you should confirm that you are either a PGR student or an ECR without alternative means of funding attendance.

A small number of additional £50 bursaries are available and subject to demand. They are not guaranteed. If you wish to apply for this, you should provide a reason for this request e.g. travelling from London, etc.

Bursaries are used at your discretion e.g. for overnight accommodation or travel and will be paid following completion of a payment request form at the end of the event.

If there are no tickets remaining, please email Jennifer.turner@liverpool.ac.uk to be added to the waiting list. Spaces will be re-allocated on a first come, first served basis.

We look forward to welcoming you all to Liverpool on July 23rd.