Welcome

Fieldwork is one of the most rewarding — and most challenging — parts of social science research. Whether you’re heading into the field for the first time or looking to sharpen your practice, Flourish in Fieldwork is a free, open educational resource designed to help researchers at every stage do fieldwork better.

Flourish in Fieldwork brings together expert voices from across the social sciences to cover the full arc of the fieldwork experience. Through short videos and accompanying learning resources, you’ll explore the history of fieldwork and its colonial legacies, how to conduct ethical and community-centred research, risk planning, team coordination, and how to adapt when things don’t go to plan. The course also addresses aspects of fieldwork that are too rarely discussed openly: positionality, identity in the field, and how to protect your mental health during and after fieldwork.

Flourish in Fieldwork is designed to be flexible. You can work through all topics in order for a comprehensive grounding in fieldwork practice, or dip in and out of individual topics that are most relevant to where you are right now. Whether you’re preparing for your first trip, navigating a challenge mid-field, or reflecting on an experience after you’ve come home, there’s something here for you.

Thanks for letting us come along on your journey!