The research fellow will be responsible for Work Package 2, conducting in-depth research on one or two case studies in East and/or Southeast Asia. The research may be historical, ethnographic, or a combination of the two. Possible research topics include the following:
- A study of the changing meanings attributed to sacred river dolphins in the region, such as the baiji dolphin in the Yangtze and/or the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong, which are historically associated with river deities
- An ethnographic study of Asian conservation initiatives centred on whales, dolphins, or other marine mammals, and the ways in which traditional notions of these animals as sacred or divine are employed today
- A historical study of beliefs in whales as the incarnation or expression of maritime deities, for instance Cá Ông in Vietnam or Ebisu in Japan, and the modern transformations of such ideas and related worship practices
- A study of the historical and contemporary significance of marine mammals in indigenous worship practices in the Asia-Pacific region, for instance among the Ainu, the Māori, or the people of Lembata
The research should result in a monograph and one (or more) journal article(s). In addition, the research fellow will co-edit a special issue of an international peer-reviewed journal or edited volume, together with the project leader.
For more information, see the job advertisement.