In this episode, we discuss the process of decolonising academic research and understanding the ways inequity manifests between researchers. We have:
- J’Anna-Mare Lue, lead author of the paper “Principles for increasing equity in WASH research: understanding barriers faced by LMIC WASH researchers”
https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/4/e010990 - Tamara Megaw, co-author of the Report “Authorship and recognition in knowledge production in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): A guidance note”
https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/UTS-ISF%20%282022%29%20Guidance%20Note%20on%20authorship%20and%20recognition%20in%20WASH_0.pdf - Linda Ndiweni, a water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) researcher and lecturer from the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe
Lais and the guests have a very honest conversation about what it entails to perform decolonial research within persisting colonial academic structures.
J’Anna-Mare Lue
After conducting research abroad as a Dornsife Global Development Scholar and iSTAR student, College of Engineering graduate J’Anna-Mare Lue changed her major, started a student organization, and joined a research group — with impacts felt at the World Vision International NGO and on the ground in Lesotho. She is a Ph.D researcher at the University of California, Berkeley studying Environmental Engineering. She is lead author of the groundbreaking paper “Principles for increasing equity in WASH research: understanding barriers faced by LMIC WASH researchers”
https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/4/e010990
Tamara Megaw
Tamara has 12 years’ experience working in international development practice, education, research and evaluation. She possesses strong practitioner experience in social development and bilateral aid projects of the Southeast Asia and Pacific region.
Tamara has worked on applied research projects at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) since October 2017 on the themes of effectiveness of international development programming, gender and social inclusion and climate change adaptation. At ISF Tamara has contributed her strengths in qualitative, participatory, co-designed research to a variety of gender-focused projects. Partners have included Act for Peace, Australian Pacific Climate Partnership, Australian Volunteers International, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Plan Australia, Plan Indonesia, Plan Asia-Pacific, WaterAid Timor-Leste, and World Vision Bangladesh.
Tamara’s research interests include development effectiveness, gender and sexual diversity, social inclusion, refugee protection, community economies, and climate change adaptation and resilience. She has a particular interest in working with disadvantaged communities and individuals, and supporting their advocacy efforts with evidence-based policy change. She desires to contribute research of social relevance for a more just and equitable world, and which pays explicit attention to decolonising knowledge production.
Linda Ndiweni
Linda Magwaro-Ndiweni is a data geek with a colourful history. She’s a housing expert, examining how conflicting policies affect access to housing, including considerations of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH). She is a research fellow in the Faculty of the Built Environment at the National University of Science and Technology and also lectures in the Department of Architecture as well as being a PhD candidate at the University of Zimbabwe She also runs a tech based information company called the Centre for Information Research and Publicity (CiRP).