Correspondence

All kinds of Sociologists: Liverpool Sociological Society

I read with interest the soapbox article ´Non-Academic Sociologists´ by Dr Keith Kahn-Harris in Network (pg 40, no 87, Spring 2004). As a graduate, not being able to afford to pursue postgraduate studies and not having secured employment as a ´Sociologist´, I felt quite lost. In truth I felt a bit bemused throughout my degree, but after graduating I felt I was now outside the University and thus had no way of maintaining contact with my subject. I was therefore very delighted when I learned of the BSA and quickly joined.

I was fascinated by the range of study groups in operation and quite fancied going along to a couple and getting involved. However, despite the fact that I was at the time working in Equal Opportunities, which I felt to be very relevant employment in terms of the study groups which had caught my eye, I was a little wary of attending. The impression I got from the literature was that the other members would be mostly academics, and thus it would be difficult for me to contribute anything. This however was not the only barrier (I am not so easily deterred).

The main issue for me about the study groups (which as far as I could see was the best way for me to engage with fellow Sociologists of similar interests) was the fact that each was located somewhere specific. And in terms of the ones I was interested in, this somewhere specific was London (a long way from Liverpool.) I realised that whilst the study groups were important for focusing and sharing ideas on certain topics, what I needed initially was a way of remaining in contact with Sociology generally - and something a bit more local.

Purely through personal interest, I am a member of the Liverpool Geological Society, which runs evening lectures and socials as well as weekend fieldtrips for those with an interest in geology. The membership includes academics, technicians, students, graduates, professional geologists and those who are simply interested in the subject as a hobby (like me). I made some enquiries and was surprised to find that there was no similar society in Liverpool for Sociologists. I have therefore set about creating one, and was greatly encouraged by Dr Kahn-Harris´ article, which showed me that I was not alone in my feelings of isolation and my desire to create a sub-group to address the issue.

I am currently based at Liverpool John Moores University and I am working on the idea of Liverpool Sociological Society with Samantha Caslin, a student at the University of Liverpool. We are going to launch the group initially as a student society linked between the two student unions. We are hoping to bring together students from Sociological disciplines, enlist the help of postgraduate students to give talks, and to contact graduates through the Alumni Associations. The society is open to all kinds of Sociologists, from A-level students to retired Sociologists, from academics to professional sociologists.

Hopefully, such a varied membership will stimulate discussion, and encourage greater collaboration and communication between practising and academic sociologists (as mentioned in the ´Professional News - view from TASA´ article in the last issue of Network). It will also promote a greater feeling of unity amongst those who have studied and/or are interested in Sociology, and maybe generate a greater understanding of Sociology as a discipline, and so might even succeed in partially addressing ´Sociology´s public image problem´ (Soapbox article, Network Summer 2003 issue).

Anyone interested in being involved in the Liverpool Sociological Society should contact:

Sara Louise Elliott Edwards (Liverpool John Moores University) s.edwards@livjm.ac.uk

Samantha Caslin (University of Liverpool) s.caslin@student.liverpool.ac.uk