Conference
Safe & Sound: Symposium on Social Safety in Fieldwork
- Date
- Thursday 13 February 2025
- Time
- Address
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Darwinweg 2
2333 CR Leiden
Afternoon Conference in Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden
The central theme of this symposium is, of course, "going into the field," which remains an essential part of research for many knowledge institutes and universities. The "Safe" in the title refers to being secure, but also to creating a safe environment. "Sound" means intact, free from harm, but also represents voice. During this afternoon, we aim to give a platform to the Safe & Sound voice.
Thankfully, there is increasing attention in both science and the media to issues of unwanted behavior and social safety. However, one underexposed topic in this discussion is fieldwork. Every year, in addition to staff members, many students, PhD candidates, and postdocs head into the field. They come from a wide range of disciplines and research areas, such as biology, geology, anthropology, medicine, and archaeology. For many, fieldwork is one of the main reasons they choose their program or research domain. It’s the chance to make discoveries in remote places where adventure awaits!
At the same time, fieldwork can present young, ambitious students and researchers with situations that are not always socially safe. When things go wrong, it deeply affects these enthusiastic students and scientists—sometimes to the extent that they abandon their studies or research altogether, and the impact lingers for years.