Fireside Writing Chats: Crafting Worlds Through Ethnography and Nonfiction | Session 3

Speaker: Judith Scheele 

Judith Scheele is Directrice d’études at the Écoles des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. She obtained her DPhil from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at All Souls. We will be talking about her 2025 book, Shifting Sands: A Human History of the Sahara.

These gatherings offer an intimate look at the craft behind ethnography and other nonfiction books rooted in deep, sustained research. Some of the most thoughtful voices share their work, reflecting on why and how they write, exploring the blurred lines between scholarship, art, and public engagement. We bring together a vibrant, supportive community of writers dedicated to writing that engages the world - and helps imagine a more just and liveable one. 

Facilitated by Professor Alpa Shah (School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography and Fellow of All Souls College) and Dr Maxim Bolt (Oxford Department of International Development and Fellow of St Anne’s College).