Minutes of C-SAP Anthropology Reference Group 9th June 2006 Boyd-Orr Building Glasgow University 12.45 – 4.30pm In attendance: Bob Simpson, Elsa Rodeck, Toby Kelly, Andrew Garner (representing the ASA), Gemma Jones (representing the RAI), David Mills, Apologies: Mark Harris, Chris McDonaugh, Garry Marvin, Soumhya Venkatesen, Robert Gibb, Narmala Halstead, Julia Holdsworth, Michaela Lord, Tom Hall Reference Group members Other Reference Group members not present include Gillian Bentley (Chair), Jonathan Skinner, Victoria Goddard, Bonnie Van der Steeg and Ma Angels Trias e Valls. The meeting began with two presentations, one by Yvette Taylor (Sociology at Newcastle) on her CSAP funded research into the role of students as widening partiicpation’ ambassadors, and the other by Gemma Jones (RAI Education Officer) on her work seeking to develop anthropology’s presence within the Citizenship curriculum. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising: The minutes were discussed and approved, and it was noted that the reports of previous Reference Group meetings were yet to appear on the C-SAP web-site. David Mills responded that he would raise this again with the C-SAP team. Report on Reference Group membership David Mills described his efforts to ensure that every department was represented on the Reference Group. He circulated a letter that he had sent to all Heads of department after the last HoDs meeting in Keele. This had resulted in several new appointments to the Group. There are still however a number of departments with no nominated C-SAP reference group member – including LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL. Bob Simpson noted the low attendance at the meeting (several members were marking as a result of the end of the pay dispute), but also welcomed the fact that it was being held in Glasgow, and reiterated the importance of holding meetings outside Birmingham. He also suggested that the value of Reference Group membership should be reiterated to departments – including its value to members in career terms, and its role in providing information about existing resources (eg bibliographies of readings for new lecturers) and upcoming funding streams. Gemma Jones suggested that the next Reference Group meeting should also include a discussion of advice on how best to bid for funding C-SAP has available, as a way of involving reference group members in bids. It was also suggested that Reference Group members be encouraged to mentor new lecturers, and to inform them about the training opportunities and resources at C-SAP. Reference Group members stepping down in 2006 include Hilary Callan, Mark Harris, Sarah Johns. David Mills thanked them for their support and help. Replacement members from St Andrews and Kent are currently being sought.
Discussion of role of new Anthropology co-ordinator There was a discussion of the best way to publicise the forthcoming Anthropology co-ordinator post. It will be a 0.4 (two days a week) appointment, with a disciplinary agenda combined with a responsibility for a specific region (such as Scotland or Northern Ireland) and thematic area. Toby Kelly asked when the post was to be advertised, and pointed to the importance of making the appointment as soon as possible. The job descriptions are currently being prepared, and the post will be
advertised along with a call for consultants. The post will be available as either a secondment from another institution, or as a post based in Birmingham with regular travel to the designated region. Salary-related costs would be included in the post, subject to negotiation with the host institution. David agreed to prepare some notes for the C-SAP director, who is currently writing the further particulars, and also to publicise the post widely within Anthropology. He also agreed to prepare handover notes for the new appointee. David pointed to the resources available to the discipline within C-SAP, including the annual £60k available in an open competition for project funding. He noted that each year at least one Anthropology application has been successful. He also described the 2005-6 co-ordinator budget of £8000 for Anthropology had been used. This included Work by Denise Carter creating web-resources for new lecturers - £700 Yvette Taylor’s research into the use of students in promoting universities - £1500 Research by Gemma Jones into school perceptions of anthropology - £2055 New lecturer’s workshop - £1000 Research-taster’s day at UEL.- £200 Annual Lecture - £200 Web-based welcome package for new postgraduates, being developed by Anthropology matters - £500 It was suggested that the next Reference group meeting should discuss disciplinary priorities for the new co-ordinator in making use of this annual budget. C-SAP New Lecturer’s workshop and feedback David tabled participants’ (broadly positive) feedback on the C-SAP new lecturers workshop held in April 2007, and Toby Kelly led the Reference Group in recommending strongly that the workshop continue on an annual basis, ideally as part of the ASA’s annual conference. Andrew Garner reported that the ASA was keen to make space for such workshops, whilst Bob S emphasised the importance of the ASA conference also encouraging linkages between research and teaching-related initiatives Conference 2007 Suggestions for activities at the C-SAP 2007 Conference ‘Teaching in Public’ included holding a media-workshop for anthropologists interested in addressing broader audiences. The ASA representative Andrew Garner agreed to propose to the ASA committee that this media-workshop could be convened jointly by the two organisations as a way of working together on an issue of vital importance for the discipline. Gemma Jones suggested that a media professional from one of the corporate ethnography companies might be willing to lead a workshop for free. It was also suggested that biological anthropologists should be involved in such an event, and could use it to talk about the increasingly high profile of forensic anthropology. AOB: Bob Simpson thanked David for all his work at C-SAP over the last six years and for ensuring Anthropology’s strong representation within C-SAP The meeting ended at 4.30pm.