Towards a background independent approach to M theory

Work in progress is described which aims to construct a background independent formulation of M theory by extending results about background independent states and observables from quantum general relativity and supergravity to string theory. A list of principles for such a theory is proposed which is drawn from results of both string theory and background independent approaches to quantum gravity. Progress is reported on a background independent membrane field theory and on a realization of the holographic principle based on finite surfaces.