The research is finished, written up and submitted, ready to have an impact at an international level. But all along the problem has been how it can impact at a local level. My Indonesian is improving, but it would be a long time before I could personally present the research back to the community. My research team haven’t been paid for the last two months, so I can’t really expect them to do it either. The one forum that seemed appropriate with the time and resources I have left was a seminar of local NGOs, government staff and health workers held earlier this week. Working with the one member of my team who still turns up at the office I wrote a presentation, but now I wonder why I bother.
I’ve been to seminars here before, I should have known how it would go, but my naivety, my optimism about the importance of the research (and probably my fortnight in Bali) made me think that this time it would be different. But of course it wasn’t.
The seminar started an hour late (more or less early in Indonesian terms). Following the welcome & introductions the head of the region was first to speak. Now the general rule seems to be that the head of the region has to talk for twice as long as anyone who has spoken before him, so in this case he rambled on for about an hour. This puts us two hours behind schedule before the presentations have even begun. It was therefore an hour into the lunch break before my colleague was called up to present, and was requested to reduce our already slim presentation into 10 minutes.
At the best of times, the audience at these sorts of events is fickle. It is perfectly acceptable during presentations to wander in and out of the room, hold private (or even large group) discussions, and make or receive phone calls, oh, and if you are male you can (and should) smoke. So in the pre (or more accurately, during) lunch slot, it is fair to say that the audience was less than attentive.
So, on the whole, I think my research will have a limited impact at a local level. Maybe that is my fault; maybe it is a cultural difference. But to be honest, (and I know this may induce some angry comments) I’ve done the job I came here to do, and I think I have done it well. Now it is up to those who live & work here permanently to utilise the research and impact at a level I just cannot reach.
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1 comment:
Whitters, going back many moons to the 'impact' blog, the point is that you have 'done your job', and that job is providing the 'horses' with a good-quality and relaible (given the constraints of any project)idea where their 'water' might be (even leading some to it) - it is not and can not be 'making then drink it'.
We, taking into account that we are neither elected officials nor dictators who can impose our will, cannot force our audiance to listen, to act on or to react to our endevours - our cause and our one bankable 'reward' must therefore always be remaining true to our professional selves and the people who are the subjects of our research and to meeting our research objectives.
As such, this is what you have done - you have given the 'impact' thing your best shot - who really knows what the 'real' and ultimately varied audiance will make of your work - the point is that you have acheived many personal and professional goals, not least the provision, in very challenging research circumstances, of what was asked of you.
You want to change policy? You want to make decisions for people? Then run for public office (or similar), otherwise old chap this is your (our) endless research destiny.
dt
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