Inspiration comes in many forms, but few things are as motivating and heartening as taking time to discuss a text with colleagues. In academic life, where we often find ourselves working alone, reading groups are an easy way to join a community.

After moving to Bristol as a visitor of the Centre for Sociodigital Futures, I participated in two reading groups. One was on “Time, Temporalities and Sociodigital Futures”, co-hosted by Dale Southerton and Keri Facer, and the other one was on “Sociodigital Theories and Concepts”, organised and facilitated by Susan Halford and David Evans.

On the days when reading groups took place, the Centre was busier than usual; the smell of coffee was already in the stairwell, and gathering for informal meetings before and after was lovely. These groups gave me an excellent reason to meet others and explore new texts.

Here are some of the ways reading groups have benefitted me and shaped my reading...