Ethnography Lab

ETHNOGRAPHY LAB

A Research Initiative to build an Intellectual Community

The Ethnography Lab is an initiative of the School of Liberal Arts and Design Studies – anchored under the Vidyashilp Research Centre – to facilitate conversations on ethnographic research. It provides both faculty and students a platform to collaborate on ethnographic research with stakeholders inside and outside the university. It is also an intellectual community and resource centre for a wide community of researchers engaged in ethnographic research methods.

OBJECTIVES

1. Promote ethnographic research methods and practice, within and outside the university.

2. Community engagement and public knowledge sharing.

3. Create a thriving intellectual community grounded in fieldwork, conversations and practice of ethnography.

MEMBERS

The Principal Investigator for the Ethnography Lab is Dr. Ranjana Raghunathan, who is an Assistant Professor at the School of Liberal Arts and Design Studies in Vidyashilp University.

THE COMPONENTS OF
THE ETHNOGRAPHY LAB

Research on Urban Neighbourhoods
Areas of any city or town are rich with historical and anthropological insights. The research on urban neighbourhoods aims to trace the social life and transformations of select neighbourhoods in diverse urban settings, by using ethnographic methods (field observation, interviews, oral histories). PhD and Post-doctorate research scholars are encouraged to apply to work on this research project, which aims to approach urban social life through diverse theoretical lenses, and experiences inflected by gender, class, or religion to name a few. This project is also a crucial pedagogical tool for the university undergraduate courses on research methods, community engagement, gender in India, and Indian cultures.

Events and Workshops

Dr. Ranjana Raghunathan conducted a professional development workshop for over 100 school educators representing various subject areas at SSRVM School. The session, titled “Ethnography as a Teaching and Learning Practice,” focused on the benefits of integrating ethnographic methods into classroom instruction and broader educational contexts, on 7th September 2023. When applied as a pedagogical approach, ethnography enriches classroom learning by adding depth and nuance, supporting lifelong learning. Rooted in classical principles such as active participation, observation, and attentive engagement with the world, this approach emphasizes experiential learning. The workshop examined strategies for guiding students to explore the world around them, fostering skills necessary for attentive and reflective engagement, rather than solely focusing on traditional knowledge delivery.
During the "Qualitative Research Methods for Health Sciences" workshop on July 4, 2025 , Dr. Ranjana conducted a session entitled “In Their World: Ethnography and In-Depth Inquiry,” which emphasized the application of ethnographic methods in health and mental health research. The session was both engaging and insightful, designed to promote a multidisciplinary approach for professionals in health and mental health fields.
The symposium on Urban Ethnography and Bangalore held on 12th and 13th December 2024, brought together scholars and practitioners to explore the layered social, cultural, and ecological realities of Bangalore through ethnographic perspectives. Keynote speaker Prof. Chandan Gowda highlighted the city’s understudied civic culture, shifting linguistic identities, and the complexities of migration, memory, and urban transformation. Discussions emphasized the importance of documenting overlooked histories—such as working class experiences, public health, and the evolution of Kannada activism—and the need for nuanced, locally rooted ethnographic approaches. Sessions showcased diverse methodologies, from sensory ethnography focused on smell and memory to participatory art mapping and long-term neighborhood studies. Presenters examined topics like food culture, cycling communities, gendered experiences, and the socio-material realities of Bangalore’s lakes. The symposium underscored the value of integrating sensory, ecological, and community-based research to reveal the city’s heterogeneity and ongoing transformation.

Teaching and Pedagogy

The university's foundational course on ethnography is anchored in the lab.
Dr.Ranjana Raghunathan collaborated with three undergraduate students to conduct ethnographic research in select neighbourhoods. The initial findings of this field collaboration was then translated into two guided field visit experiences for other undergraduate students. Students explored innovative research methods such as walking and sensory ethnography.
Dr.Ranjana Raghunathan has conducted a workshop entitled "Ethnography as a teaching practice" for high school teachers in Bangalore. It explored how an ethnographic sensibility can contribute to classroom pedagogy, enable integrating multiple subjects and promote critical & reflective thinking.