GRAMNet events shine light on migration, war and resistance
Since 2011, the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMNet) has been a welcoming network for those seeking refuge, as well as supporting academics, artists, students, and filmmakers from all over the world.
In a special event in December, GRAMNet hosted Alison Mountz, Professor of Geography and Laurier Research Chair in Global Migration at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada who joined us to screen her documentary, "Safe Haven", and to give a masterclass on researching human migration. Professor Mountz’s work explores how people cross borders, access migration and asylum policies, survive detention, resist war, and create safe havens.
Documentary screening: Safe Haven
Professor Mountz joined us to screen the documentary "Safe Haven" that she made with filmmaker Lisa Molomot. "Safe Haven" weaves together powerful stories of U.S. war resisters who sought refuge in Canada during wars in Vietnam and Iraq. The film shows how Vietnam-era resisters participated in a movement to support the younger generation of US soldiers and exposes realities and myths of Canada as a space of refuge.
The screening, took place at the Gilmorehill Centre Theatre at the University of Glasgow, was well attended by members of the University and the wider public. A lively discussion followed the screening.
Further information is available on the film's dedicated website.
Postgraduate research masterclass: Researching Human Migration
Professor Mountz also gave a masterclass to postgraduate researchers from the University of Glasgow and beyond entitled "Researching Human Migration: the ethics and politics of doing international research, and creative possibilities for engaging the world through this work".
Professor Mountz led a discussion exploring ways of doing international research on human migration that are attentive and responsive to the specific political contexts in which migration occurs. We discussed how researchers can design research in ways that work toward social change and support people.
The ideas shared by Professor Mountz at the GRAMNet event raised many important issues and shows how GRAMNet offers a shared space to bring together researchers and practitioners, NGOs and policy makers working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Get involved
Are you working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers as a volunteer, professional or researcher, or are you contemplating doing so?
We welcome new members from any academic discipline or organisation with an interest in our work. As a network, GRAMNet consults on migration-related policy in the UK and internationally. The network is currently funded by the University of Glasgow, whose academic community has a wide range of expertise in relation to these areas.
Each year, GRAMNet organises a film and seminar series that runs from October to June.
To learn about future GRAMNet events, join our mailing list by emailing gramnet.enquiries@glasgow.ac.uk.
Professor Mountz's books & podcasts:
- Seeking Asylum: Human Smuggling and Bureaucracy at the Border (University of Minnesota, awarded the Meridian Book Prize)
- Boats, Borders, and Bases: Race, the Cold War, and the Rise of Migration Detention in the United States (University of California, co-authored with Dr. Jenna Loyd)
- The Death of Asylum: Hidden Geographies of the Enforcement Archipelago (Minnesota, awarded the Globe Book Award
- Displacements: Conversations on Migration (A Wilfrid Laurier University’s International Migration Research Centre podcast series)
