Calm amidst the chaos

By Aiden Leslie, Florida State University When I got to São Paulo to shoot my documentary Lane Splitting, I expected challenges. What I didn’t expect was how quickly the city would throw me into survival mode. Every day came with new surprises, new issues, and a lot of learning. It’s one thing to plan aContinue reading “Calm amidst the chaos”

Archives, Brixton, and Changes: Archival Research and Adjustments in London

By Kaysyn Jones, Florida State University At this point in my project, I have visited each of my primary archives— the Black Cultural Archives, the George Padmore Institute, and the London Archives— and scheduled my first interview with a writer from the British Black Arts Movement. Thus far, one of the biggest problems I’ve encounteredContinue reading “Archives, Brixton, and Changes: Archival Research and Adjustments in London”

The Transition from Application back to Academics

By Reagan Gibson, Florida State University As time continues to pass in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, I find myself in a constantly evolving situation where I move back and forth from my professional life and my academic career. In the past month, I have only been working at the archaeological site of Monereggi in Montelupo-Capraia,Continue reading “The Transition from Application back to Academics”

Update Three: Return of the Cuneiform

By Lee Garcia, Florida State University I’m back in the United States and so excited to announce that Akkadian has begun in earnest! Dr. Levenson and I were able to meet for the first time since our respective returns to the United States and iron out a game plan for what the rest of thisContinue reading “Update Three: Return of the Cuneiform”

Actually in Accra: My First Few Days + Butterflies

By Charlotte Stuart-Tilley, Florida State University After weeks of back and forth with the embassy, I finally made it to Accra! I had a long flight day and it took awhile to make it through immigration and customs at the airport, so my first time seeing Accra was at night. Staying in Accra is aContinue reading “Actually in Accra: My First Few Days + Butterflies”

How a Ukrainian Vendor’s ‘No’ in Riga Reshaped My Approach to Fieldwork

By Sophie Works, Florida State University Hello everyone! This is Sophie Works writing from the beginning of my third week in Riga, Latvia. In this post, I’ll be talking about some hurdles I have had to overcome and how they have influenced me and my research.  Sophie Works (left), Russian (Slavic) Studies and International AffairsContinue reading “How a Ukrainian Vendor’s ‘No’ in Riga Reshaped My Approach to Fieldwork”

Valencia y más

By Raven Watkins, Florida State University Hola! I am writing to you from Valencia, Spain where I will be living for the next month. I am excited to learn how to conduct forensic work in the field, and how to execute a stop-motion animation with my own creative direction. I also will be emphasizing theContinue reading “Valencia y más”

Developing Field Skills in Coral Reef Research

By Sofia Lara, Florida State University Since my last blog post, I’ve officially traveled to Bonaire and begun the fieldwork component of my IDEA Grant research. I’ve completed two dives so far, each one bringing me closer to understanding both the coral reef ecosystem I’m studying and myself as a growing scientist. Being in theContinue reading “Developing Field Skills in Coral Reef Research”

Updates on Tracing the Roots: Black Social and Ancestral Dance in Contemporary Paris

By Feyikemi Poitier, Florida State University In working on my documentary project focused on Black contemporary dance in Paris, I am eager to further develop a range of research and professional skills that support both academic inquiry and creative expression. Specifically, I aim to deepen my ability to synthesize multiple sources of information—from academic textsContinue reading “Updates on Tracing the Roots: Black Social and Ancestral Dance in Contemporary Paris”

Visa Chaos and Some Reflections on Ethnography

By Charlotte Stuart-Tilley, Florida State University In my last blog post, I introduced myself and my research, which I will complete in Accra, Ghana. I will be working with Fulbe people to understand how they conceptualize human rights, marginalization, and identity. My work thus far has mainly been about preparing to leave for Ghana, includingContinue reading “Visa Chaos and Some Reflections on Ethnography”