Situated in Tokyo Bay, Yokohama is the second largest city in
Japan which played host to the XVIII World Congress of Sociology between the 13th
and 19th July 2014 titled ‘Facing an Unequal World – Challenges for
Global Sociology’. The International Sociological Association (ISA) emphasised
the prominent issue of inequality by bringing together over 6,000 delegates
from varying fields of social knowledge. The academic timetable of the congress
incorporated Research Committees, Working Groups and Thematic Group sessions
all with the common goal of debating and discussing issues of global
inequality.
The Visual Sociology Working Group (WG03) and the Sociology
of Ageing Research Committee (RC11) held a joint session that focused on ‘Visual
Methods in Ageing Research Methodological Issues’. I presented a paper in this
joint session titled ‘Methodological complexities involved when using visual
methods in dementia research’. The
presentation was well received and enabled a discussion surrounding some of the
ethical issues of using visual methods in research, specifically when involving
participants that are considered vulnerable.
The experience of presenting at this congress was invaluable
and I met many researchers both new and established from all over the world as
well as some familiar names from the UK. The end of congress farewell party
then enabled all delegates to come together socially and share their
experiences of presenting at or being part of this prestigious event that
focussed on such important global issues. The opportunity to present my
research to an international audience at the World Congress of Sociology would
not have been possible without obtaining a Postgraduate International Conference Travel Grant
from the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness (SHI) to whom I am
very grateful.
Written by Sarah Kate Smith 04.08.14
No comments:
Post a Comment