dr. Ellen Bal

Regional and thematic specialisations:

• Key themes: Identity, ethnicity, indigenous peoples, migration, transnationalism, gender and sexuality. 
• Regions: South Asia (Bangladesh and India).

 Overview of recent research activities

Ellen Bal has engaged in ethnographic and historical research on various issues in Bangladesh, India, Surinam and the Netherlands. For a selection of projects see below:

 “Migration, livelihoods and SRHR: A triple case-study of young female migrants (YFMs) in Dhaka, Bangladesh” (2016-2018)

This was a collaborative project on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young rural-urban female migrants in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It looked at how the self-determination and sexual autonomy of young (unmarried) women living and working in the urban context are enhanced or obstructed through their migrant positions and income-generating activities. 

https://www.nwo.nl/en/research-and-results/research-projects/i/49/14349.html

 “Migration, development, and citizenship: Notions of belonging and civic engagement among Indian (knowledge-) Migrants in The Netherlands and Return Migrants in India” (2013-2015)

This NWO-funded research project started from the premise that the connection between migration and development is conditional and contingent on migrants’ notions of belonging and civic engagement in both the host and sending country. We tried to answer the following research questions: How do highly-skilled Indian migrants in the Netherlands and return-migrants in India define notions of belonging and civic engagement; how are these notions influenced by their personal (gendered) migration experiences (during and after migration), and how are they mediated by government policies and practices, and diaspora politics?  

Migration, Development and Citizenship

 Also see: Indian migration to the Netherlands, Country Report: Indian migration to the Netherlands. 2012, European University Institute.

2024 - 2025

• Organization and Anthropology
• Thesis supervision Bachelor and Master Anthropology

Recently completed projects 

Active8-Planet (https://active8-planet.eu/about/

In the Active8-Planet project, we researched and experimented with unconventional approaches towards teaching and learning that would empower and mobilize students towards future-oriented climate and sustainability actions and enhance university research and knowledge transformation in planet-centred interventions. 
Active8-Planet is an international project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, Knowledge Alliances for higher education.

PEOPLE: http://people-project.net/. At this project's core was the idea that understanding people should become an indispensable part of industrial development processes, as a means to achieve practical-based education as well as new categories of products, services, or business strategies that truly address people’s needs and lead to sustainable innovation.

No ancillary activities

Ancillary activities are updated daily