On the 30th June Indah Sartika Sari (MSc Student, University of Exeter), Kate Baker (Research Fellow, University of Exeter), Heather Koldewey (Senior Technical Advisor Zoological Society of London and Honorary Professor University of Exeter) and Mark Griffiths (Research Fellow, University of Newcastle) came together on Zoom to discuss the challenges of international field research and how international scientific collaborations can be improved, which will lead to better and more ethical practice in environmental and conservation research. The online workshop was part of the Exchange Symposium, a three-day online event celebrating the positive influence of community and public involvement on University of Exeter research.

In the video above Indah shares her insights into what it’s like to be a conservationist in Indonesia where researchers from the Global North (higher-income countries) visit countries in the Global South (lower-income countries) to conduct their field research. She discusses how it is still common for researchers to tell the local researchers what to do without discussing and learning from each other.

Local researchers and communities should be involved in every stage of the research from the project design, the fieldwork, the write up, and dissemination. However in reality, researchers from the Global North assume they know more and often don’t include the local researchers.

Global North researchers need to think;

• Who is this research for?

• Who does this research benefit?

  • You? To increase your journal publications and career progression?
  • Local communities?
  • Natural environment?

• What is the local culture? How can I value and respect these cultures?

We only had an hour to discuss this complex topic (so barely scratched the surface!) but we’re in the process of organising more workshops. If you are interested in learning more about this topic or contributing in some way, please get in contact k.baker2@exeter.ac.uk.