Field Research

Safely working and conducting research outdoors, off-campus, and abroad.

Behavioral First Response Skills for the Field

Curt Davidson
2023

Foundational elements from Alpenglow’s Mental and Behavioral Health Promotion Model for behavioral first response in the field.

Speaker: Dr. Curt Davidson, Alpenglow Education, University of Wyoming

Video Materials Got Feedback? 05/03/23 Recording Presentation...

Off-Road Driving: Lessons Learned & Precautions

Breezy Jackson
Steven Devanzo
Brett Pickering
Geoff Davis
2023

Panel discussion on lessons learned & precautions to take during off-road driving.

Panelists:

Breezy Jackson, Director, Yosemite & Sequoia Field Stations, University of California Merced

Geoff Davis, Network & Systems Engineer, Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California San Diego

Steven Devanzo, Operations Manager, White Mountain Research Center, University of California Los Angeles

Brett Pickering, Boating Safety Officer, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of...

Creating, Enforcing, and Promoting a Safe Fieldwork Culture for Diverse Researchers

Monique Pipkin
Amelia-Juliette Demery
2021

Learn strategies aimed at protecting diverse researchers. As a result of identity prejudice, certain individuals are more vulnerable to conflict and violence when they are in the field. It is paramount that all fieldworkers be informed of the risks some colleagues may face, so that they can define best practice together.

Speaker(s):

Monique Avery Pipkin and Amelia-Juliette Demery
Cornell University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Video Materials Got Feedback?...

Boundary-setting, Bystander Intervention, and Personal Safety in the Field

Heather Spaulding
2022

Where do you draw the line? Learn about a leader’s role in personal safety, boundaries, and bystander intervention. Topics include: harassment and violence, working in public spaces, bystander intervention strategies, and setting and maintaining boundaries.

Speaker: Heather Spaulding, UC Davis, EH&S

Video Materials Got Feedback? 02/26/22 Recording...

LGBTQ+ and Safety During Fieldwork

Ronnie Bailey-Steinitz
2022

Out and About? Risks and other challenges of fieldwork for LGBTQIA+ scientists.

Learn about the risks the general risks associated with fieldwork and the added challenges for queer fieldworkers.

Speaker: Ronnie Bailey-Steinitz, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Anthropology

Video Materials Got Feedback? 02/26/22 Recording...

Preventing Sexual Harassment & Assault in the Field Sciences

Melissa Cronin
Roxanne Beltran
Erika Zavaleta
2020

This workshop presents unique risks posed by fieldwork and offers a suite of evidencebased tools for field researchers, instructors, and students to prevent, intervene in, and respond to sexual harassment and assault. Through a series of practical interve ntion scenarios, this workshop guides participants on how to be an active and engaged bystander, how to report incidents, and how to plan field settings to minimize risk. Armed with these tools, participants can play a role in ensuring that field settings are safer, more equitable, and more welcoming for the next generation of field...

De-Escalation Workshop

Joffe Emergency Services
2025

Speaker: Joffe Emergency Services, 3/6/2025

Best Practices Video

Training covers:

Phases of Acting Out Behavior

Types of Awareness

Recognizing Signs of Escalation

Maintaining Situational Awareness

Roles & Responsibilities

Additional...

Addressing Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Psychological Safety in the Field

UC Field Research Safety & EH&S
2025

This session, hosted by the VCRO at UC Berkeley aimed to advance the campus's commitments to prevent and address sexual harassment and sexual violence in field research, to foster a culture that prioritizes consent and respect, and to engage all members of the university community in creating a healthy environment where violence in any form is not tolerated. Panelists reviewed violence prevention strategies, support resources and reporting, and explored the related topic of psychological safety in the field.Speakers: Led by Sara Souza...

Practical Use of Risk Assessment Tools in the Field

2025

Speaker(s): Abbey Dias, Assistant Diving and Boating Safety Officer, UC Davis

Abbey Dias is an Assistant Diving and Boating Safety Officer for UC Davis based in Bodega Bay, California. Her experience as a student-turned-instructor of scientific diving and boating has allowed her to hone the skills and tools needed to successfully lead and train a variety of teams conducting global research. Abbey will use her most recent experience working on a research team in Antarctica to demonstrate implementation of risk assessment through productive...

Safety Differently

2025

Speaker(s):

Steve Smith, Experiential Consulting, Risk Management for Outdoor Programs

Video (3/9/24)