Andy Balmer

In an entirely on brand bit of fun I’ve had a conversation with #ChatGPT published in @sociologyjnl where we playfully ‘discuss’ #AI ethics, affect & reflexivity. Spoiler alert: ChatGPT doesn’t start a nuclear STS war but it does do some funny stuff. doi.org/10.1177/003803…

Came for the paper, stayed for the gifs. A really interesting piece about how therapy figures in #queer people's divorce accounts. Paper link in the thread. @morgancentre @MCRSociology #familysociology #sociology @samesexdivorce #samesexcouples #sociologicalresearch #gender

I have a new article out at @FRSjournal today, my first official foray into writing about therapy/ therapy culture from a sociological p.o.v. 'Therapy talk in narratives of same-sex divorce and civil partnership dissolution' #therapy #sociology

@JamesHodgsonUoM @DrHEHolmes @VanessaLKMay @MassObsArchive @SocresOnline @MCRSociology @OfficialUoM journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13…

Published a piece today with @JamesHodgsonUoM @DrHEHolmes @VanessaLKMay Kirsty Pattrick at @MassObsArchive in @SocresOnline about the material culture of mass observation, and its focus on personal life, family, objects and methodology. Celebrates the 30th anniversary of SRO!

We're recruiting a PhD student. ESRC funded, for a Msc. Sociology & then PhD Sociology. PhD on Mass Observation Project, looking at visual and material aspects of the archive and how this helps us to understand everyday life. More info in thread & link: findaphd.com/phds/project/w…

Get in touch with me via email if you have further questions (more info in the link).

Some degree of flexibility for the student to select the aspects of everyday life they might explore, e.g. looking at how visual and material dimensions figure in people's accounts of their home life, or intimate relationships, or experiences of nature, etc.

@linwright17 Ahah whoops! Glad it tasted good though 😋

Stuffed paratha, my version on the right. Well that went well then🥴tasted great

Want to hone your creative methods skills? Come and join the @morgancentre Summer School to learn about facet methodology, mobile, mapping and elicitation methods and how to write up. Annual @methodsMcr summer school. new.express.adobe.com/webpage/G8e2nf…

More information on the Melbourne project here: findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/12…

@Ash_Barnwell is the primary supervisor on the @unimelbsoc project 'What are Our Secrets Now?' exploring secondary data analysis of focus groups and using this to elicit new data with young people about sexuality and openness today. You'll spend 12m in Manchester in the middle.

There are two PhD scholarships available to work with me and @Ash_Barnwell on secrecy and sexuality, exploring secondary data analysis and social change. One based in Melbourne and one in Manchester, with funding for 3.5 years, and a 12m stay at the alt institution. See below...

@HsBalas07 @Ash_Barnwell @unimelbsoc @morgancentre Ahhh thanks Hari!

@Ash_Barnwell @AndyBalmer @unimelbsoc @morgancentre What a great project! The secrets course was definitely my favourite within Manchester sociology.

Come and do a PhD with me and @AndyBalmer on 'What are our secrets now?' Scholarship starts 2025 for project across @unimelbsoc Melbourne and @morgancentre Manchester. More info in link: findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/12…

I have a new paper out in @SocresOnline . Woohoo. It explores the shenanigans that go on during meditation retreats - from quiet naughtiness, truancy, bad thoughts, gossip, grumpiness, note-passing, rebellions ... all the way to coordinated strike-action and coup d'etats.

I'm turning 40 this week. I'm celebrating my big gay life with a big gay fundraiser for LGBT Foundation in Manchester. facebook.com/donate/3761894… LGBTF support queer folks in all sorts of ways and if you know me, I hope you'll consider chipping in a small amount if you're able. 🏳️‍🌈