A paper by Dr Elizabeth Cory-Pearce, Dr Sadie King and Dr Mannie Sher.
We will be giving a seminar paper at the UCL Department of Anthropology Research Seminar ‘Anthropology in the Professional World’, on Wednesday 30 November at 6pm.
Our talk will explore the proposition that an ‘anthropological thread’ runs through the history of the our work as an organisation. Our starting point has been to delve into the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations’s archive at the Wellcome Library to pick up these ‘anthropological threads’ in the theoretical and applied work of past tasks. In time, we aim to bring these threads to light providing insight into the influence of anthropology on Tavistock ways of working. Beginning from the standpoint of our own biographies, we will be looking at some key historical figures and case studies that grapple with ‘the human element’ in, for example, calico textile mill productivity, shipping casualties and residential childcare, to offer you an anthropologically informed interpretation of Tavistock methods.
The seminar will be held on Wednesday 30th November at Daryll Forde Seminar Room from 6.00pm. All welcome.
Dr Elizabeth Cory-Pearce is a Researcher and Consultant who studied anthropology at UCL and Goldsmiths and conducted ethnography in New Zealand. Elizabeth works on a number of research and evaluation projects in the areas of health, education and capacity building.
Dr Sadie King is a Principal Researcher and Consultant who studied anthropology at UCL and conducted ethnography in West Africa. Sadie now leads the Tavistock Institute’s work stream on mental health and wellbeing, and works on a number of evaluation projects.
Dr Mannie Sher is a Principal Researcher and Consultant who studied anthropology in the 1960s as part of his training in psychology, and returned to it in the 1990s. Mannie has directed the Group Relations programme for many years, and conducts evaluation and organisational development and change consultancy work in a broad range of areas, including finance, health and social care, manufacturing and government.
Further information available on the UCL website.
