By Nando Sigona (originally published in Postcard from...) Channel 4 ‘Who are you?‘ series* by/with Turner-Prize winner Grayson Perry is a fascinating exploration into contemporary portraiture and society, as one alone was not already a big enough challenge! the series follows Perry’s creative journey to the production of portraits that capture individuals (not the usual portrait... Continue Reading →
Two new IRiS Working Papers (no. 6 and 7) exploring issues related migration, social networks and integration policy and practice are out today. Using a wide range of literature, Dr Marta Kindler and colleagues (IRiS WP no. 6) focus upon the ways in which social networks and social capital have been found to promote or... Continue Reading →
Please find below details of 3 Research Fellow vacancies to work on the project ‘Understanding the Practice and Developing the Concept of Welfare-Bricolage (UPWEB)’ which is part of the NORFACE-Research-Network ‘The Future of Welfare States’ and connects researchers in Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal and Germany. The project will reconceptualise welfare theory by mapping how residents... Continue Reading →
Public Seminar: 20 January, 12.30-2.30pm in Room 710, Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham. This winter Jacob Lind, a PhD student from Malmö University, is visiting IRiS to conduct ethnographic fieldwork for six months among migrant children and families in an irregular situation. His work is part of a research project led by Dr Anna Lundberg,... Continue Reading →
In September 2014, the Conservative think-tank Bright Blue hosted an oral evidence session on immigration. A team of high-profile commissioners interviewed experts from academia, government, journalism, the third sector and business. There were eight main sessions: business and growth; work and poverty; education, research, innovation and skills; local communities and public services; refugees, border control, visas and detention... Continue Reading →
All are welcome at this seminar by Professor Ralph Grillo (University of Sussex), to be held on 19 November 2014 from 1.00 to 2.30 pm, Room 429: 4th Floor (West), Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham Synopsis Contemporary European societies are all in varying degree multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, and 'superdiversity' (or rather, 'super-diversification') in its various... Continue Reading →
Migration Studies, OUP
The new issue 2(3) of Migration Studies is out. It contains a short symposium on the impacts of irregular status with contributions by Elzbieta Gozdziak, Janina Sohn, Daniela Borodak and Ariene Tichit. Using ethnographic methods, Gozdziak examines how irregular immigration status affects the educational opportunities of children in the US, concluding that “the kind of assistance and support Latino students need will not come solely from immigration reform and policy changes, but rather paradigm shifts in our attitudes toward and programs for Latino children and their families as well as policies aimed at alleviating poverty of immigrant families” (Gozdziak, 2014, pp. 392–414). The nexus immigration status and educational attainments is the focus also of Söhn’s article (2014). Borodak and Tichit explore the impact of status on migration projects and conclude that, while “the total duration of migration to a foreign country is the…
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IRiS is launching this academic year the first MA course on superdiversity. This course combines training in theory and research methods with a close exploration of the impact and consequences of superdiversity on policy-making and public services. It explores how the diversification of diversity is transforming society globally. For more info on the MA: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/social-policy/migration-superdiversity-policy.aspx
Superdiversity: Theory, Method and Practice. Rethinking society in an era of change. 23-25th June 2014, University of Birmingham Report by Rachel Humphris @rachel_humphris The Conference on ‘Superdiversity: Theory, method and practice. Rethinking society in an era of change’ took place at the University of Birmingham from the 23rd to the 25th of June. The event,... Continue Reading →
Conversations with Iris: Podcast on migration, diversity and displacement
The Age of Superdiversity 