Mindful to the Field: A Workshop for Researchers Who Want to Navigate Fieldwork with Clarity, Resilience, and Support

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Abstract

Are you preparing to navigate the complexities of field research? Whether you're a first-time researcher, a seasoned academic, or a practitioner, this workshop is designed to equip you with the tools and strategies to approach sensitive topics, manage unforeseen challenges, and maintaining your well-being during intense fieldwork. Universities and other research institutes are increasingly confronted with burned-out and traumatized researchers. Receiving the right training will help to navigate these challenges.
This workshop is not another traditional lecture where you passively absorb information, or a rigid methodology class that tells you how research should be done. This workshop is an interactive, research-informed experience where you will: engage in guided self-reflection and group discussions, explore how your personal experiences shape your research, and create practical tools to sustain yourself in the field. Through this workshop, you’ll become a more confident, self-aware, and resilient researcher. Someone who understands that fieldwork isn’t just about collecting data, but about navigating the human experience of research with integrity and self-trust. Gain practical skills, ethical insights, and strategies to enhance your fieldwork while prioritizing your mental well-being.
Everyone is welcome to join this workshop. You don't need to prepare anything, just bring your notebook and some curiosity. If you have any questions, please email ellen@fieldresearchcoaching.com.

Subtopic

• Topic 8: Methodologies in Criminology / Advances in Teaching Methods

Chairs

• Ellen Van Damme, Field Research Coaching | ULB | KU Leuven

• Michelle Lyttle Storrod, Widener University

Discussants

• James Henry John Rischbieth, KU Leuven

• Emilia Ziosi, University of Oxford

• Aurore Vanliefde De Keyser, KU Leuven

• Margaux Coquet, National Institute of Criminalistic and Criminology