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Finding that ‘Eureka’ moment: the importance of conducting detailed field-research in Africa

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Finding that ‘Eureka’ moment: the importance of conducting detailed field-research in Africa. / Neimark, Benjamin.
In: African Geographical Review, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2012, p. 76-79.

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Neimark B. Finding that ‘Eureka’ moment: the importance of conducting detailed field-research in Africa. African Geographical Review. 2012;31(1):76-79. doi: 10.1080/19376812.2012.679467

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@article{9fb2d3772d194fe4817132120dccd6ae,
title = "Finding that {\textquoteleft}Eureka{\textquoteright} moment: the importance of conducting detailed field-research in Africa",
abstract = "In 2005–2006, I conducted 14 months of fieldwork on the political economy of bio-prospecting in Madagascar. I was in the deep south of Madagascar investigating the industrial production of the prized medicinal plant, rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). The goal of my research was to examine how foreign pharmaceutical companies gain and maintain access to the plant and if Malagasy benefited from the trade. During that time I had the unusual opportunity to observe a sacrificial ram ceremony. In the moment, the sacrifice seemed irrelevant to my work. It was quick and before I knew it, it was over and the local periwinkle collectors were getting back to the hustle and bustle of market day. It did not seem very significant to any of them, so I let it pass as well. However, after a full review of my data back home, I realized that the sacrifice was one in a series of {\textquoteleft}mechanisms of access{\textquoteright} that companies will employ to overcome the social barriers to production and continue the flow of periwinkle out of the area. Drawing on my own experiences in Madagascar, I describe the importance of keeping detailed field notes to the success of the overall research project.",
keywords = "fieldwork, bio\-prospecting , political ecology , Madagascar , Africa",
author = "Benjamin Neimark",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1080/19376812.2012.679467",
language = "English",
volume = "31",
pages = "76--79",
journal = "African Geographical Review",
issn = "2163-2642",
publisher = "African Speciality Group of the Association of American Geographers",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Finding that ‘Eureka’ moment

T2 - the importance of conducting detailed field-research in Africa

AU - Neimark, Benjamin

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - In 2005–2006, I conducted 14 months of fieldwork on the political economy of bio-prospecting in Madagascar. I was in the deep south of Madagascar investigating the industrial production of the prized medicinal plant, rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). The goal of my research was to examine how foreign pharmaceutical companies gain and maintain access to the plant and if Malagasy benefited from the trade. During that time I had the unusual opportunity to observe a sacrificial ram ceremony. In the moment, the sacrifice seemed irrelevant to my work. It was quick and before I knew it, it was over and the local periwinkle collectors were getting back to the hustle and bustle of market day. It did not seem very significant to any of them, so I let it pass as well. However, after a full review of my data back home, I realized that the sacrifice was one in a series of ‘mechanisms of access’ that companies will employ to overcome the social barriers to production and continue the flow of periwinkle out of the area. Drawing on my own experiences in Madagascar, I describe the importance of keeping detailed field notes to the success of the overall research project.

AB - In 2005–2006, I conducted 14 months of fieldwork on the political economy of bio-prospecting in Madagascar. I was in the deep south of Madagascar investigating the industrial production of the prized medicinal plant, rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). The goal of my research was to examine how foreign pharmaceutical companies gain and maintain access to the plant and if Malagasy benefited from the trade. During that time I had the unusual opportunity to observe a sacrificial ram ceremony. In the moment, the sacrifice seemed irrelevant to my work. It was quick and before I knew it, it was over and the local periwinkle collectors were getting back to the hustle and bustle of market day. It did not seem very significant to any of them, so I let it pass as well. However, after a full review of my data back home, I realized that the sacrifice was one in a series of ‘mechanisms of access’ that companies will employ to overcome the social barriers to production and continue the flow of periwinkle out of the area. Drawing on my own experiences in Madagascar, I describe the importance of keeping detailed field notes to the success of the overall research project.

KW - fieldwork

KW - bio\-prospecting

KW - political ecology

KW - Madagascar

KW - Africa

U2 - 10.1080/19376812.2012.679467

DO - 10.1080/19376812.2012.679467

M3 - Journal article

VL - 31

SP - 76

EP - 79

JO - African Geographical Review

JF - African Geographical Review

SN - 2163-2642

IS - 1

ER -