This issue of Anthropology Matters features an opening piece which presents the results of interviews with 16 PhD students concerning difficulties encountered during their fieldwork. The piece is both powerful and provocative, and will hopefully serve as an aid for thoughtful discussions in pre-fieldwork courses, post-fieldwork seminars, and departmental planning meetings. Anthropology Matters invited four academics to start the discussion by writing brief responses to Pollard’s account.

The identities that are attributed to us and the roles we are placed in during fieldwork matter - to the people we study, to us, and to the research process. In this issue of Anthropology Matters, 11 authors reflect on fieldwork identities. Their reflections can be grouped loosely into three categories: reflections concerning perceived inequalities, differences or power relations, e.g. related to race or wealth; reflections concerning people's assumptions about the fieldworker based on the familiarity of his or her appearance, e.g. related to gender or age; and reflections concerning the negotiation that surrounds the role of "participant observer."

This issue, Engaging Anthropology, is dedicated to the memory of Paul Hendrich, who died on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. We are deeply grieved, devastated, to lose you, Paul.

Anthropology Matters would like to thank Rachel Borgman from Shimer College, USA for her editioral assistance in preparing this edition of the journal.

The hard copy journal associated with the SOAS student-led research training seminar, E@TM, was the inspiration for the Anthropology Matters website. We are proud, therefore, to present the on-line launch issue of the (renamed) journal.

Challenging articles, they reflect the intention of this site: to facilitate the articulation of issues related to research and writing processes, which tend otherwize to remain the subject only of private reflection.

On-line, there is now the opportunity for lively engagement with issues raised. So, do take advantage of the discussion forum, to share your responses to any of the articles and encourage colleagues with related interests to contribute too.