4 Jul 2012

The Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation and International Association of Ladakh Studies Research Workshop


On Friday, 22ndJune 2012 Dr Sonam Wangchok, Secretary of the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation and of International Association of Ladakh Studies (IALS) hosted a workshop at Lonpo House Lecture Hall, Leh Palace for Ladakhi youth who are interested in undertaking research in Ladakh. The aim of the workshop was to introduce potential students to the various research methods and research projects currently taking place in Ladakh, and to discuss how the IALS can assist young Ladakhi researchers in supporting and publicising their work. Ph.D Fellows and Anthropologist Elizabeth Lane Williams-Oerberg (Aarhus University, Denmark) and Andrea Butcher (University of Aberdeen, Scotland) presented their research projects and discussed the experience of preparing for research in Ladakh. Following the presentations the floor was opened to questions and a discussion regarding what assistance aspiring researchers need to get started with their projects, where to find information about previous and current research, and who to contact for assistance. The following bullet points are the recommendations for assistance the students requested:

Ø  IALS/HCHF to showcase all the different research in Ladakh and who is working on what.
Ø  Directory of researchers and their topics or specialities
Ø  Create a library or catalogue of bibliographies for previous research in Ladakh, organised by discipline.
Ø  Partnerships between Foreign and Ladakhi students
Ø  Directory of Ladakhi students willing to work as interpreters.
Ø  Notice board for Ph.D and research opportunities outside India.
Ø  Electronic access to academic journals. (Digital Himalaya and other websites can be accessed on the IALS website.)
Ø  Awareness workshops to be held in other parts of Ladakh and Zangskar to give awareness to Ladakhi youth of the IALS and research opportunities.
Ø  IALS or research forum Facebook page.
Ø  Recruit students returning from university to give advice about research for young Ladakhis
Ø  Organise a pool of educated research students to act as tourist guides and give information for tourists.
Ø  Send research to others in similar fields and obtain feedback.
Ø  Encourage young researchers to publish essays in Ladakh Studies journal.
Ø  Organise a two-day workshop to introduce students to research methods
Ø  Have a dedicated student webpage on the IALS website for information on research protects, opportunities, publications, and seminars.
Answering the points Dr Sonam Wangchok introduced the restarting of IALS blog (http://ladakhstudies.blogspot.co.uk/) and encouraged research students to see IALS website (www.ladakhstudies.org) and HCHF website (www.heritagehimalaya.org) for resources and latest information related to researches, books and events. At the same time he strongly supports the idea of awareness workshops in other parts of Ladakh.

Elizabeth Lane Williams-Oerberg advised of electronic sources of data already available for students, Digital Himalaya (www.digitalhimalaya) and facebook group “books on ladakh and more... " 


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