Phillip C. D. Immel: Navigating Post-Pandemic Fieldwork in China: Challenges, Adaptations, and Insights

The German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) would like to cordially invite you to the next event of the GIGA China Series, which will take place on
Monday, 22 July 2024 | 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (CEST)
GIGA, Neuer Jungfernstieg 21 (room 243), 20354 Hamburg, Germany, and online
We are honoured to have as our speaker
Philipp C. D. Immel (University of Würzburg)
who will share his insights with us on
“Navigating Post-Pandemic Fieldwork in China: Challenges, Adaptations, and Insights.”
The event will be moderated by
Askan Weidemann (GIGA).
Following an extended period of closure due to COVID-19 restrictions, the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in China has been reinstated. However, this reopening has been met with a degree of apprehension within the realm of Chinese Studies, as researchers are questioning the scope and nature of viable research. This presentation, predicated on fieldwork on social governance discourses in China conducted in Beijing from November 2023 to February 2024, offers an exploration of the potential dynamics of fieldwork in Beijing’s academia in the post-pandemic context. Key questions to be addressed include the transformation in the perceived sensitivity surrounding research topics, the implications of one’s status as a foreign researcher on fieldwork execution in China, and the challenges encountered during the research process. Furthermore, the presentation will offer some preliminary strategies to navigate these obstacles. The insights gleaned from this experience aim to provide guidance and preparation for scholars embarking on future fieldwork endeavors in China.
We look forward to an inspiring exchange with Philipp Immel, Askan Weidemann, and yourselves, our engaged audience from around the globe.
The event will be held in English.
Attendance
Join this event either on-site or online. Places on-site are limited. Please register for the event in advance. The registration is free of charge.