Where Next with Emotions in Social Work?
Welcome to our 1st In-person SIG meeting in Munich, Wed 12th March, 1-3.30pm!
Our Researching Emotions SIG started with a membership list of almost 40 international researchers/practitioners, and is still growing. We've had 3 online network meetings since Jan. 2024 and are excited to hold our inaugural in-person SIG in Munich 2025. This half-day event includes an update on the REMOSIG network and initial research groupings, opportunities to share your interests in researching emotions in social work and social care, and hear from a guest speaker.
Whether you're interested in specific emotions, Children and Families' or Adults' social work, emotions in professional practice or organisations, or in exploring the most effective methods to research emotions we welcome you to come along to this World Café event. Hosted by Dr Louise O'Connor, Royal Holloway, University of London, and Dr Sara Carder, St Thomas University, New Brunswick, we very much look forward to seeing you in Munich!
See detailed SIG aims below, If you are interested in researching emotions and like the sound of our aims, do join us. Email louise.oconnor@rhul.ac.uk or m.j.gibson.1@bham.ac.uk to join our membership list. We will give you access to an MS Teams channel where you can add your research interest and publications to share with the REMOSIG network.
Aims
Our aim in the Researching Emotions Special Interest Group (REMOSIG) is to develop and extend research-based knowledge on the topic of emotions in social work. We aim to create a network of researchers, practitioners/managers and educators involved in researching diverse aspects of emotions and emotion practices in social work and social care. The primary purpose of the network is to strengthen knowledge, explore opportunities for collaborative research and publications with a view to increasing the profile and application of research on the topic of emotions in social work. The role and function of emotions in social work and social care are receiving growing attention from a diverse range of researchers, having been traditionally a more neglected topic within the discipline. This SIG will provide a platform for researchers from different regions, theoretical and methodological perspectives, and diverse standpoints. An important element of this will be to explore opportunities for collaborative activities and develop research which illuminates the experience of key stakeholders such as practitioners and people with lived experience of social work services.
Objectives:
· Initial objectives are to establish a network of committed SIG members and develop a communication strategy and targeted plan of activities.
· To meet online a minimum of twice yearly.
· To develop and deliver a structured SIG meeting at the annual ESWRA conference.
· To explore strands of activities/research within the broad topic of emotions in social work.
· To contribute to ESWRA via conference-based activities and website communications.
Scope of SIG: e.g. field of interest; research focus; inclusivity strategies; likely development of the SIG.
REMOSIG is about getting Emotions on the social work research agenda!
We want to exchange ideas, knowledge and research which explore diverse aspects of emotions, the roles and functions of emotions in the practice(s) of social work, and in contemporary social work organisational mechanisms and contexts. We aim to be inclusive by developing a network which includes research-active practitioners/managers as well as academics, and by maintaining a focus on research and knowledge exchange which is committed to social justice and addressing inequalities. We aim to develop a broad representative network of SIG members from a range of countries and from diverse identities (gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality and disability).
SIG Convenors
Convener: Dr Louise O’Connor Royal Holloway University of London
Co-conveners
Dr Matthew Gibson University of Birmingham
Dr Sara Carder St Thomas University, New Brunswick
5List of the initial SIG members.
Dr Maria Appel Nissan Aalborg University
Dr Mark Gregory University of East Anglia
Dr Merete Monrad Aalborg University
Dr Mia Engen Aalborg University
Prof Kimberly Strom University of North Carolina
Dr Alessandro Sicora Università di Trento
Dr Katerina Mikulcová University of Ostrava
Dr Mark Gregory University of East Anglia
Dr Carlene Cornish University of East Anglia
Ms Sara Carder University of East Anglia
Dr Laura Biggert University of East Anglia
Dr Laura Cook University of East Anglia
Prof Jo Finch University of Suffolk
Dr Kim Detjen Independent Social Worker/Tavistock & Portman Clinic
Dr Martin Kettle Glasgow Caledonian University
Dr Nicola O’Sullivan Tavistock and Portman Institute & Trinity College Dublin
Dr Jenny Lloyd Durham University
Dr Rachael Owens Durham University
