Navigating a Place to Stand in Cross-Cultural Research

Speakers: Dr Rosie Gibson (IAS Surrey Fellow) and Dr Jonathan Skinner

In today's globalised world, acknowledging and integrating diverse cultural perspectives into research methodologies is paramount for fostering inclusivity and understanding. This seminar will facilitate a dialogue on the principles of cross-culturalism and its application in research contexts. Visiting scholar, Rosie Gibson (Massey University, New Zealand) and local scholar, Jonathan Skinner (University of Surrey Uk) will provide case studies and interactive discussions regarding their insights into the practical implementation of cross-cultural research principles. Examples include the importance of building authentic relationships with indigenous populations, integration of appropriate customs and protocols into research processes, navigating ethical considerations relevant to specific populations, as well as the incorporation of indigenous knowledge.

By fostering a deeper understanding of cultural worldviews and methodologies, this seminar aims to support the development of more inclusive and culturally responsive research approaches that honour the diversity of knowledge systems and ways of knowing. Broader implications for research practice will be highlighted including the fostering of meaningful collaborations, enhancing knowledge exchange, and contributing to decolonising methodologies within academia and beyond.

This seminar is designed for researchers, academics, and practitioners across disciplines who are interested in incorporating cross-cultural perspectives into their research practices.

Speaker Biographies

Visiting scholar, Dr Rosie Gibson, draws on her experiences as a European academic engaging in over a decade of gerontological sleep research in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a tūāiwi (foreign) researcher; it is vital to recognise the unique position, experiences, and knowledge of Māori as the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand whilst also navigating a sense of “tūrangawaewae” – a place to stand.

Dr Rosie Gibson is a Senior Lecturer at Massey University, Massey University, New Zealand where she is affiliated with the Health and Ageing Research Team and Seep/Wake Research Centre. She is Vice President of the NZ Association of Gerontology. Rosie’s research focuses on sleep across the lifespan and sleep as a social and cultural construct. She has a particular focus on representing and supporting sleep with ageing, dementia, and informal caregiving within the unique populations of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Dr Jonathan Skinner is currently Reader in the Anthropology of Events, University of Surrey. He has undertaken fieldwork in the Eastern Caribbean on the island of Montserrat (carnival and festival tourism and trauma, colonial relations and disaster recovery) and in the US/UK (social dancing, arts health, contested heritage and St Patrick's Day). He recently applied his work on festivals and carnival to support sustainable lobster fishing practices in Sainte Luce, Madagascar (2019). Jonathan was awarded The Sociological Review Fellowship (1998/9), and has held Visiting Fellowships at the University of Oxford (2002/3), California State University - Sacramento (2007, and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2013).

Organiser: Professor Robert Meadows, Department of Sociology

Photo by Callum Parker on Unsplash