Earlier this year, Circle U. launched a call for projects focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I). CRIP ME was one of the three initiatives that have been selected for funding.
The project is launching a networking initiative that seeks to bring together scholars and students affected by disability and plural embodiments to collectively explore and advance inclusive, multimodal and experimental ethnographic research methodologies. Those interested in the topics are also welcome, but the CRIP ME team are looking to give space in particular to those affected and facing various challenges while doing research.
Over the course of an academic year, we want to foster a critical discussion around ethnographic methods, diversity and accessibility and build a community of scholars and students who engage with research through innovative, inclusive, and non-ableist approaches.
The aim is to build, collect and share tools and resources that challenge normative academic practices and support alternative ways of conducting research, learning, and knowledge dissemination.
A project in three parts
The project includes three networking parts:
- The online reading group that will meet monthly between October 2025 and April 2026.
- A series of hybrid guest lectures based at the Institute for European Ethnology at Humboldt-University Berlin.
- A workshop scheduled for May 2026.
How to take part
Please send an email to collectiveaccess.ifee@hu-berlin.de if you are interested in partaking in the reading group to gather ideas for shared reading.
Please also let us know if you would like us to consider particular accessibility needs for the online reading group. We will try our best to secure sign interpretation in case that is needed.
CRIP ME - Cripping Ethnographic Research Methods
This project, led by Prof. Alice von Bierberstein (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) in collaboration with the University of Vienna, aims to support networking among disabled researchers across and beyond Circle U. and to collectively explore and advance inclusive, multimodal, and experimental ethnographic research methodologies.
The project spans five phases, including a reading group, expert-led workshops open to students and scholars, and a research-based seminar for MA students. It will culminate in a digital open-access toolkit, preserving the innovative methods explored throughout and providing a long-term resource for inclusive research across disciplines.
