Drawing things together, encounter, towards making…

Following the initial path that began with;

•  reflection on my experience,
• some initial questions and concerns and
• an entry in what I have described as the ‘procurement phase’ of the research (following Pelle Ehn) or drawing things together (after Bruno Latour) bringing together various concepts, theories and readings;

I am now entering the initial encounter with research partners or co-researchers. This ‘phase’ is an effort to establish mutual areas of interest, expectations and possible outcomes. With my first research partner, Peoples Voice Media in Manchester, I am already beginning to follow the contours of their work, with two meetings (both with Gary Copitch PVM Chief Exec) and now planning further meetings together with a second research partner Inspiring Communities Together. These meetings will be an opportunity for me to follow their interests, motivations and in Ray Ison’s term ‘enthusiasms for action (see Reading section). I will record these conversations and use them to further develop the research platform and its application.