ISRF Newsletter – July 2024
Looking for a distraction from politics? Look no further! Below you'll find a Director's Note, recent Bulletin articles, upcoming events, Fellows news, and our competition schedule for this year.
Contents
Director’s Note
A Ghost Issue in the General Election
Christopher Newfield
ISRF have launched a full-scale study of UK university research funding that will be finished by the end of the calendar year. We’re motivated by our concern that British universities are increasingly unable to support research time and conditions for their academic staff, particularly outside of the science and engineering disciplines.
I’ve been unable to find commentators who think the probable incoming Labour government will rebuild the university system. Its funding problems are the structural effects of deliberate government policy choices after 2010. Yet no structural remedies are on offer, either in Labour pledges or in statements issued by higher education officials…
Conference: Migration and Democracy in a Time of Climate Crisis
7-9 October, Warsaw, Poland.
Our three topics for this year’s ISRF Conference have become trapped in a vicious cycle. Climate crisis increases migration, which has triggered anti-democratic backlash, which reduces international cooperation on climate, which allows the climate crisis to intensify. Each of these relationships is real, and each is rooted in myth. The ISRF invites papers on any of these three topics, or any combination of them. How can we interrupt this cycle and even reverse it? How can we treat underlying causes rather than addressing symptoms?
To enquire about attendance contact lars.cornelissen@isrf.org
Recent Bulletin Posts
“There Will Be a Time…”: Confronting the Colonial-Health-Climate Crisis through Participatory Action Research by and for Youth
In this Bulletin article, Levi Gahman, Shelda-Jane Smith, Filiberto Penados, Kadia Andrewin, Zoye Herrera, and The Youth for Justice Collective explore a brilliant piece of participatory action research undertaken with young people in Belize, working through the aftermaths of Empire and dreams of alternative futures.
After Time
In this article, Eva van Roekel explores the messiness and multiplicity of different cultural experiences of time in the face of climate disasters and a sense of impending apocalypse.
What the Betting Markets Tell Us about the Upcoming US and UK Elections
Anthropologist and ISRF Fellow Anthony Pickles explains how political gambling is a useful tool for understanding elections.
New Publication: Ek Khaale – Once Upon a Time
On this website, divided into nine chapters, ISRF Fellow Dr Greg Constantine offers a visual restoration of the history of the Rohingya. At present, four chapters have been published. The other five will be published over the course of July and August.
Podcast: Oil, Palestine & Climate Crisis (with Adam Hanieh)
In this podcast, ISRF Fellow Adam Hanieh explains how the history of Palestine is bound up with the oil economy and Western imperialism, and why Palestine and the climate crisis demand mutual solidarity.
Podcast: OBJECTHOOD #9 (with Nishat Awan)
As part of this podcast, ISRF Fellow Nishat Awan talks about unsettlement and geopolitical borders, especially in relation to Pakistan and her field work in Balochistan.
7th Mid-Career Fellowship (MCF7)
Closed on 28th March 2024
Scholars more than ten years post-PhD were eligible to apply for support to complete a one-year piece of original research. Award announcements are expected in the summer.
2nd First Book Grant (FBG2)
Launching on 2nd September 2024
Newly qualified post-docs (within three years of PhD award) are eligible to apply for support to convert their PhD thesis into a book.
11th Flexible Grants for Small Groups Competition (FG11)
Launching autumn 2024 (date to be confirmed)
Funding support for small groups (2-10 scholars) to complete a piece of research or undertake face-to-face joint group work.