Impactful research on critical environmental and climate questions can be quantitative or qualitative as well as historical or contemporary, and can follow theoretical insights from historical sociology, economic theory, public opinion, and the region’s own unique experiences.
To be successful, scholars require detailed knowledge of a region to identify opportunities when they exist, and to be able to work in partnership with existing local networks by developing advanced language skills and deep cultural understanding.
Researchers with strong empirical training combined with a deep commitment to the region, including language skills, historical and cultural knowledge, and the ability to work with local collaborators will be critical to new research that centers Asian people and places in debates about environmental issues that directly affect them.
APSI supports Duke University’s Climate Commitment and believes the broad and sustained knowledge of scholars whose research focuses on the Asian region can make a significant contribution by capitalizing on two trends:
- Emerging as well as established scholars with strong methodological skill sets and rigorous training in mainstream social science are devoting increased attention to the study of environmental topics that directly affect the countries and people of Asia through their political, social and economic institutions.
- This same cohort has manifested a deepening knowledge of the cultures, histories and languages of the Asian countries in which they work.
These developments help address long-standing debates over the often atheoretical nature of area studies, the lack of region-specific context in broader research of environmental issues, and the perceived hegemony of quantitative cross-national research in the social sciences and qualitative focus of humanities.
Goals of the Environmental Futures in Asia Network
Promote high quality research from scholars conducting innovative cross-disciplinary work on climate change and environmental issues related to Asia.
The long-term view is to improve the quality of the work being done on these topics through critical yet constructive feedback
Develop partnerships with organizations in Asia, building a model that centers local knowledge while encouraging public-faced scholarship based on rigorous theoretical insights and methodological innovations.
We anticipate interest among many participants, including representatives from social foundations, nonprofit organizations, government administrators, and even trade groups, in sharing the word about this initiative with their home institutes and universities. Engaging with multiple stakeholders is crucial when developing platforms for cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Encourage emerging humanities and social science scholars who wish to develop and apply their disciplinary expertise to questions relevant to environmental topics as they relate to Asia.
Mentoring and sharing of approaches and data are essential if we are to sustain the growing wave of interest in these topics. To this end, the network will focus on ways to promote collaborative research that supports emerging scholars, particularly supporting young scholars’ placement at academic and research institutions around the world where they will be empowered to make additional contributions. Attendees will be encouraged to share ideas, seek and offer feedback on projects, discuss how to navigate scholarly and processional life, explore opportunities for collaboration, and engage in dialogue on environmental issues affecting the region, including how they will affect the political, economic, and social lives of current and future generations.
Facilitate the networking and relationship-building that are the basis of collaborative research.
In consultation with our local host, we will intentionally invite select individuals representing critical interests including natural scientists, social scientists, humanists, professionals, and policymakers who will be encouraged to share their own experiences and insights.
