Researching and Writing about Africa: A One Day Postgraduate Workshop

Researching and Writing about Africa: A One Day Postgraduate Workshop Friday 11 May 2012
Gordon Manley Building, Training Rooms 1 and 2
Lancaster University

Organised by Lancaster University African Studies Group

The African Studies Group at Lancaster University is organising a workshop for postgraduate students undertaking fieldwork in or research relating to Africa. The aim of this workshop is to stimulate discussion and debate between interested postgraduate students from different disciplines and institutions.

Two main strands will form the focus of the workshop:

Undertaking fieldwork in Africa

What are the challenges of undertaking fieldwork in Africa? How do expectations match the realities on the ground? How can time spent conducting fieldwork be most productive? What methods can be used and what is their cross-cultural appropriateness? How do we take account of our position as researchers based outside the continent?

Writing about Africa

What are the challenges of writing about Africa? How can we engage effectively with writing from the continent? How can research on Africa be most effectively presented? What outlets for publication are appropriate? What are the challenges of presenting research on Africa to non-specialist audiences?

The organisers invite abstracts for 20 minute papers or presentations which engage with these and other questions relating to researching and writing about Africa. Please submit your proposal including a title, a 200 word abstract and a 100 word bio to c.baker@lancaster.ac.uk and s.vermeylen@lancaster.ac.uk by 30 March 2012.

There is a small charge of £10 for participation in the workshop, to include lunch and light refreshments. We welcome postgraduate students who wish to participate in the workshop, but prefer not to present.

Please contact the organisers for a registration form.

Dr Charlotte Baker and Dr Saskia Vermeylen,  Lancaster University
Email: c.baker@lancaster.ac.uk