The Ethnographic Impact Lab is involved in state-of-the-art anthropological research
We work with our diverse and broad network of researchers, practitioners and societal partners on a wide variety of topics, ranging from research on sustainability, mining and more. Our great researchers highlight stories and experiences that are at the core of our society, but are also often overlooked. Together, we create impact with humanity in mind.
Eva van Roekel's ethnographic research explores how Venezuelans' crisis-driven activities, such as resource extraction, smuggling, and cryptocurrency trading, impact social and environmental justice and connect to global crime and supply chains.
Infra-demos is an anthropological project studying the relationships between infrastructures and innovative socio-technological participation within infrastructural gaps, aiming to foster social resilience and shape transformative policies.
The EU-funded HAPPY Project promotes collaboration between higher education institutions in Europe and Bhutan, implementing innovative qualitative research methods in the Social Sciences and Humanities to raise awareness, update curricula, and enhance academic skills in qualitative teaching and research.
Active8-Planet, an international project co-funded by the EU under the Erasmus+ Programme, empowers students to use unconventional approaches to sustainability, emphasizing a people and planet-centered mindset to make a significant impact with their master theses.
When plans for a coal mine near Kenya's Mui Basin emerged, several NGOs arrived to assist the local population, prompting anthropologist Maaike Matelski to research how such events impact communities and how NGOs can prioritize local interests; her findings, published as science comics, recommend NGO cooperation, recognition of diverse community opinions, effective information dissemination, and support for alternative income sources.
Anthropologist Giulia Sinatti, representing VU Amsterdam in a six-year NWO and Aidsfonds-funded project, leads a team of social scientists researching how transnational collaborations in biomedical research can shape the quest for a global, equitable HIV cure, working with various research groups and stakeholders to develop safe, acceptable, and affordable solutions.
The Gold Matters project explores the potential for transformative sustainability in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM), which supports millions in low and lower-middle-income countries and can contribute to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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