About
Our group is part of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. We unite staff and postgraduate students working across disciplines.
We have members with a background in modern languages, English, history and archaeology. We also have members from social sciences, medicine and web sciences.
We use ethnographic methods to conduct empirical research. This helps us to explore the role of culture in our fields of study.
Our regular events include open seminars, workshops and training sessions. At these events, we explore the role and potential of ethnography. We put this in the context of our research and the societal challenges we face.
Members of our group use ethnographic research in a wide range of research areas. These include language use, multilingualism, education, globalisation, capitalism, migration and mobility.
Our community
The research group has a wider community through its . We are open to collaboration and the sharing of interdisciplinary knowledge.
Upcoming events
Creative Methods - Presentations, Conversations & Lunch, with Emeritus Professor Karen O'Reilly
Thursday, 9 July 2026, 10am to 2pm, Avenue Campus, Highfield Road
Want to try new things in Ethnography? Or maybe you have already but need some guidance? Explore creative methods in a workshop this July.
Ethnographic practices now extend beyond interviews and participant observation.
New digital tools, smart phones, video, art, photography, mapping and other audio-visual techniques can provide valuable data points for ethnographic research.
But how do we go about incorporating multiple methods? What does it mean for data management? And how do we make sure we're continuing to collect and collate relevant data of ethical integrity and efficacy?
At this event, we'll hear from Emeritus Professor Karen O'Reilly about the principles of ethnography and how these principles can guide us in selecting and applying creative methods to our work.
We'll also hear from fellow researchers about creative methods they have used or are using in their fieldwork.
This insightful discussion will be followed by a networking lunch we're we'll get to share stories and ideas about our work while we eat.
¸£Àû×ÅƬ out more and register your attendance
Helping local winegrowing communities adapt to global challenges
Ethnographic research in Burgundy’s vineyards inspired new perspectives on how rural communities can tackle issues such as globalisation and climate change.
People, projects, publications and PhDs
People
I am fascinated by the capacity of ethnography to trace the powers of history, politics, capitalism and globalism in the micro spaces of ordinary exchanges, encounters and relations.
Ethnography brings complexity and humanity into the understanding of our contemporary world. It has the unique quality of connecting theory to practice.
I'm passionate about ethnography as the best method to capture how multilingual speakers on the move lead and understand their everyday lives.
Related research institutes, centres and groups
-
Centre for Linguistics, Language Education and Acquisition Research
Our research focuses on language learning and teaching, linguistic theory, and second language acquisition. -
Centre for Political Ethnography (CPE)
The research group aims to rescue ethnography from its current void in political science and build the UK's first centre for ethnographic research in politics and administration.