School of Education postgraduate researchers published on BERA Blog Special Issue

School of Education postgraduate researchers, have been published on the BERA Blog Special Issue.

Marianne Talbot and Sylvia Ikomi, School of Education postgraduate researchers, have been published on the BERA Blog Special Issue: ‘Beyond Navel Gazing: Autoethnography as a catalyst for change’. Sylvia, who is on Stuart Hall Foundation scholarship, shares her experience of presenting her research (which includes her own lived experience of the adultification of black girls), while Marianne reflects on her experience as a mature PGR.

The British Educational Research Association (BERA) support the development of their members that are Early Career Researchers. Their Social Justice Special Interest Group gave us an opportunity to share our experience with and thoughts about autoethnography during one of their meetings. This led to the creation of this special edition blog. My blog gave me an opportunity to share an observation that I have made of the impact sharing my lived experience of adultification has had on the professionals that I educate on the topic of adultification. Writing the blog reinforced my interest in using autoethnography and this is something that I will continue to embrace as I develop my PhD thesis. I would encourage students that specialise in education to engage with the rich range of opportunities that BERA offers.

I was already interested in exploring autoethnography as a methodology when I attended a BERA Social Justice SIG meeting in August 2023, which happened to focus on it. I proposed the blog as part of the series, not really expecting it to be taken seriously, but it was! I have found the development process really helpful and supportive, although it has taken a while. I also got to know Sylvia, which has been lovely.

Interested in learning more about research degrees in the School of Education? Find out more here.