Newsletter

Missed an edition of our monthly newsletter? Don't worry we've linked all out previous newsletters below in full!

April 2023
Researching with minoritised groups in military context.

For this month's theme, we've been chatting to the research team behind the Military Afterlives project (@MltryAfterlives on Twitter). The project aimed to understand how British veterans and their families have experienced the transition out of the military and back into civilian life. It used a narrative methodology which means that the research team were able to hear the stories of veterans and their families, told in their own words. Below, we share the reflections of three of the researchers.

Hannah West
(Chair of the Defence Research Network).

March 2023
Recruiting and Interviewing the Military Community

We have lots of top tips throughout the newsletter but one of the things we often hear is an anxiety from researchers without a military background about making the first step to reach out to possible military interviewees or conducting their first interview. We hope that we are able to continue to provide a space for you to find a community so that you are not alone in your research.

Hannah West
(Chair of the Defence Research Network).

February 2023
NATO

In searching for an image to accompany a newsletter with a NATO theme, I came across this photograph of the 1949 foundation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The more I have looked at it the more it has made me think about who we can see around the table, how they got to be the one in the chair and, importantly, who is not there. It is a strikingly white, male image, 'of its time' some might say but I think there is a lot we could learn if we were to really interrogate this founding moment. Over seventy years have elapsed since and, if nothing else, NATO remains high on the global news agenda, it's prominence coming and going over the decades. I hope the insightful commentaries from all those contributing to this newsletter trigger new reflection on NATO's history, challenges and relevance today.

Hannah West
(Chair of the Defence Research Network).

January 2023
Researcher Wellbeing

We  enjoyed exploring researcher wellbeing during January month and had such a warm and supportive conversation with everyone who joined us for our online event - so many practical tips came from this and the Twitter hour so check it all out in the newsletter.

In keeping with our theme, take care and reach out if we can support you in any way.

Thank you to Veronika Poniscjakova and Lucie Pebay for leading the theme this month.

December 2022: "Knowledge Exchange"

November 2022: "Life after a PhD"

October 2022: "Policing and Private Security Companies"

September 2022: "Qualitative Research"

July 2022: "Military Transformation"

June 2022: "Finishing a PhD"

May 2022: "Intelligence"

April 2022: "All Things Maritime"

March 2022: "Welfare of Veterans and Military Families"

February 2022: "Defence Engagement"

January 2022: "New Connections"

December 2021: "Remembrance"

November 2021: "Women, Peace, and Security"

October 2021: "Counterterrorism"

September 2021: "Back to School 📚"

August 2021: "Military Spouses"

July 2021: "Air and Space Power"

June 2021: "Military Bodies"

May 2021: "Military Children"

April 2021: "Conferences"

March 2021: "Counterinsurgency"

February 2021: "Memory and Memorialisation"

New Year Newsletter: "Hello 2021"

November 2020: "Veterans and Family Health & Wellbeing"

October 2020: "Ethics"

September 2020: "Back to School"

August 2020: "Women, Peace and Security"

July 2020: "War and Technology"

June 2020: "Books, Books, Books!"

May 2020: "What is the new normal?"

April 2020: "Living through lockdown"

March 2020: "State (of) Emergency"

February 2020: "Transitions"

January 2020: "Happy New Year!"

December 2019: "Welcome to the DRN"