POSTPONED - ArtsModules: Fieldwork Advice

This panel will explore challenges and risks for undertaking fieldwork in a contemporary environment and provide guidance on important considerations preparing for field research in complex and difficult situations. Topics for discussion will include:

• Building Graduate Researcher ability to adjust effectively to new environments, and to evaluate changing safety and security contexts;
• Exploring issues related to cumulative stress and critical incident stress management, which may arise in the course of carrying out their research;
• Supporting Graduate Researcher mental health and personal wellbeing when conducting field research, particularly in difficult field research contexts.

Register for this online event by using the book now button on this page. We are gathering questions for this event. What would you like to ask our panelists about conducting research fieldwork? Send your questions through to us at arts-studentprograms@unimelb.edu.au.

Panelists

Brett Baker is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Linguistics (SOLL) and has been researching Australian Indigenous languages for the past twenty five years, most recently using methods from psycholinguistics and language processing. His training was mostly at the University of Sydney, with an important year-long stint as a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Since the early 90's he's carried out fieldwork on Indigenous languages around the southern Arnhem Land region of northern Australia, in particular Ngalakgan and Wubuy (Nunggubuyu).

Rachael Diprose is the Director - International and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS). She teaches in the Master of Development Studies program, supports collaborations and partnerships with Indonesian universities, government and civil society organisations for SSPS and has convened the University's Indonesia Forum over multiple years. Formerly of the University of Oxford, Department of International Development, Rachael continues to collaborate in research, teaching, publications, public engagement and other initiatives with colleagues at Melbourne, SOAS, the London School of Economics, Oxford, Leiden, York, ANU, Gothenburg, the University of Gadjah Mada, the University of Indonesia, and elsewhere.

James Stratford is a Teaching Specialist in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies (SHAPS) , whose teaching and research interests span the ancient and modern worlds. He completed his Masters and PhD in Classical Studies at the University of Melbourne, looking at the psychology of the hero in Homeric epic poetry. As a multidisciplinary and comparative researcher, James explores epic through the cinematic, psychological, and political lenses. James has also worked on excavations in Syria and Israel , excavating at both Bronze Age and Hellenistic sites. He has taught at the University of Melbourne since 2000, with a particular focus on Ancient Greek and Roman literature and history. James has also taught post-graduate-level research methods to prepare researchers aiming to work in complex and hostile environments and since 2017 has taught on cultural engagement through travel in the School of Languages and Linguistics. James also holds a Masters in Strategic Affairs from the Australian National University and has been active working with US and Australian foreign policy think tanks including ASPI and the CSIS. James has also worked extensively in the area of higher education and equity, both in research at La Trobe University and as a management consultant with RDS Partners.