The ABCs of Research and KM: What Every New Researcher Should Know – An introduction to key research concepts and how to make knowledge move
Date and Time: October 29, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The first event, moderated by Neslihan Sriram-Uzundal, will feature a roundtable discussion on key research concepts and strategies for sharing knowledge in an evolving academic landscape, one that increasingly values podcasts, social media, and open access as tools to reach broader audiences.
The conversation will range from foundational questions about research, such as “What counts as research?” and “How do we move beyond the qualitative vs. quantitative divide?” to practical discussions about knowledge mobilization. Panelists will explore how researchers can effectively disseminate their work, engage non-academic audiences, and navigate the responsibilities and opportunities that come with public scholarship.
There’s No View from Nowhere: Embracing Positionality in Research – Reflecting on identity, privilege, and standpoint in your research journey
Date and Time: November 26, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The second event in the series, mediated by Neslihan Sriram-Uzundal and Aya Halliday, will feature a roundtable discussion on the role of positionality in research. As the academic landscape becomes increasingly inclusive of marginalized voices that have long been excluded from knowledge production, positionality statements have taken on growing importance. Too often, these perspectives have been filtered through dominant narratives, obscuring lived experiences and reinforcing power imbalances. In this context, positionality can serve as a form of scholarly accountability, enabling researchers to acknowledge how their identity, privilege, and standpoint shape the questions they ask and the knowledge they produce. The discussion will examine positionality not only as a methodological tool but also as a reflective practice that legitimizes why a researcher is engaging in a particular study.
Guiding questions will include:
- What is a positionality statement?
- Are positionality statements necessary in all research contexts?
- How can we craft them thoughtfully and ethically?
- Can they deepen our understanding of identity and privilege in the research process?
This event invites participants to critically engage with their own research identities and consider the transformative potential of embracing positionality in academic work.
Rethinking Ethnography as a Way of Knowing – Learning to use ethnography as a critical, respectful methodology
Date and Time: January 28, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The third event in the series, organized by Neslihan Sriram-Uzundal, Aya Halliday, and Britney Vu, aims to explore both theoretical and practical dimensions of ethnographic research. Rooted in anthropology, ethnography has long been critiqued for its colonial legacy, epitomized by the image of the white researcher entering a faraway field and representing it back to the West. Contemporary ethnography, however, is increasingly attentive to these critiques. It seeks to disrupt extractive narratives by embracing more reflexive, collaborative, and decolonial approaches. This event brings together a series of students’ paper presentations that reflect on the evolving nature of ethnography today. Discussions will range from fundamental questions, such as “What is ethnography?” and “How do we conduct fieldwork?” to more in-depth considerations of research ethics, power dynamics, and decolonial methodologies. The session invites participants to critically rethink ethnography not just as a method, but as a way of knowing shaped by identity, history, and context.
Interrogating Our Own Work: The Art of Debating Your Research Project – Engaging with critique and building confidence in defending your ideas
Date and Time: February 11, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The series will conclude with the event Interrogating Our Own Work: The Art of Debating Your Research Project, organized by Britney Vu. It is designed to foster open, supportive, and critical engagement with ongoing research. Too often, students work in isolation, and while conferences and symposiums offer spaces to present ideas, meaningful feedback is frequently limited by time constraints. This event aims to fill that gap by creating a safe and constructive environment for students to share their work-in-progress, receive thoughtful critique, and practice articulating and defending their research decisions. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their methodologies, assumptions, and findings as they learn from the perspectives of others. Whether presenting an outline or a literature review, refining a dissertation chapter, preparing for a defense, or testing a new idea, this session offers a unique opportunity to interrogate one’s work in dialogue with a supportive scholarly community.
