About Us
A collective of faculty and students exploring the social world—not as stuffy researchers, but as everyday people with questions.
Who We Are
We are SIRL – Sociology in Real Life, a collective of curious minds — students, researchers, and everyday people — united by a desire to explore the social world around us. We don’t just study sociology as an academic discipline; we live it, question it, and make it accessible. We believe that the patterns and stories of everyday life — our greetings, interactions, inequalities, and communities — reveal profound truths about who we are and how we relate.
What We Do
At SIRL, we transform sociological research into stories, data-driven insights, and interactive experiences. Through our “Research,” “Data Lab,” and “Stories” sections, we offer:
- In-depth research on social norms, inequality, identity, and societal change.
- Interactive data tools — charts, visualizations, and custom analyses — that allow anyone to explore social phenomena for themselves.
- Narrative stories and reflections that put research into everyday context, connecting data with real human experiences.
Our aim is to make sociology engaging, relatable, and usable — whether you’re a student, teacher, activist, or simply a curious citizen.
Why It Matters
Because social dynamics shape our lives in ways we often take for granted. By asking questions like “Why do we greet each other this way?” or “What impact do social policies have on inequality?”, SIRL empowers people to understand — and challenge — the status quo. We believe that knowledge should not be locked behind academic jargon or paywalls. Instead, it should be shared openly, explored visually, and discussed collectively. Through collaboration, storytelling, and open data, we hope to foster empathy, awareness, and informed action — one insight at a time.
