We are delighted to report on Friday’s much-anticipated #hNL24 Phenomenology of Practice workshop in Cardiff with Professor Cathy Adams. It was an enriching and thought-provoking experience for the wide range of participants from various backgrounds and stages of scholarship and professional practice. Enthusiastically sharing her extensive expertise and passion for phenomenological inquiry, Cathy guided the group through the philosophical underpinnings of van Manen’s Phenomenology of Practice, drawing from the works of influential thinkers like Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, and Heidegger. Her nuanced explanations elucidated core phenomenological concepts such as the phenomenological attitude, the phenomenological reduction, and a wondering attentiveness to lived experience.

With clarity and wisdom, Cathy demonstrated phenomenological research techniques like developing phenomenological research questions, gathering rich lived experience descriptions through interviewing, and reflecting on the data to uncover experiential meanings and structures. The interactive activities allowed participants to practice these methods hands-on.

The diverse perspectives and experiences represented by attendees from fields like health sciences, education, philosophy, and more enabled engaging discussions. The day was awash with open exchange and an atmosphere of curiosity and respect for the complexities of human experiences.

Overall, this workshop provided participants with philosophical depth and practical phenomenological methodologies to pursue insightful qualitative inquiries into the meanings of lived experiences across disciplines. Mike and I are so very grateful for the support of the Network Learning Consortium, and for the ongoing contribution of Cathy, hanfod.NL’s Phenomenologist in Residence, who has invested so heartily of her time during her sabbatical period in the UK.

We look forward to continuing our journey together at NLC24 in Malta this week.

Felicity and Mike, handfod.NL