Wednesday 20 June

We rubbed shoulders with a champion architect at a conference in the building Libeskind designed for London Metropolitan University.  Undoubtedly impressive, unfortunately it makes for a rather brutal learning environment.  Never mind, we were there to wrestle with ideas while enhancing our own social and cultural capital by engaging with other academics in the Leisure Studies diaspora.  Despite the growing number of research studies (contact us if you want our papers) there was a general concern for the lack of evidence.  For some this pointed to the need for precise indicators and rigorous data; for others it suggested critique and informed testimonies from the field.

Of course conferences are about communication.  One of our former external examiners was there.  She is deaf, but lip reads and it was not a helpful environment for her.  The podium which helped bring my notes within range of my failing eyesight obscured two of the more diminutive speakers from her view.  Coming back I asked Karl about a session he went to on social capital acquired through the leisure activities of deaf club members.  As we rattled through the underground tunnels towards Kings Cross I couldn't hear a word of his undoubtedly informative description.
 
Professor Jonathan Long and Dr Karl Spracklen
Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education