“Spotlight on...” Doctoral Researchers’ Conference: Researching with the Global South?

How did you come up with the idea for the doctoral researcher conference?  

The conference idea was a collective endeavor from the beginning. We started brainstorming within our DP Colloquium. It soon became clear that we could align these ideas with the purpose of GIGA’s 60th Anniversary. We thus aimed at reflecting on “Working with the Global South” in relation to the regions and themes central to GIGA’s mission. We were happy to take on the role of the organising team and were grateful for the wonderful support from Adhiraaj Anand, Andrew Crawford, Cornelius Haritz, Hamid Talebian, and Julia Köbrich, who served as our panel and workshop co-coordinators, along with our session moderators and further GIGA staff. 

From there, we decided that the conference should feature a keynote by a distinguished speaker, four thematic panel discussions, and two interactive workshop formats. We specifically aimed to invite external experts to provide practical guidance on collaborative, inclusive, and equitable research methodologies, sharing their personal and professional insights from GIGA’s main areas of research.  

What were the standout moments or key highlights for you during the conference?   

Indi: For me, the highlight was the two workshops, where we discussed topics such as security, responsibility, and the power of words. We questioned terms like the “Global South” and “expert interviews” and explored alternatives. We also emphasized that ethics and security considerations go far beyond field research and should always include our research partners.  

Alina: I absolutely agree. For me, the workshop dynamics, next to the panels, further highlighted what I saw as most remarkable: the high level of expertise, commitment, and professionalism of all the early-career researchers, as well as their constructive approach to moving beyond binaries in dialogue. There was a genuine effort to find common ground and address challenges that are both local and global.  

Mira: I completely agree with Alina and Indi. What struck me most was how panels on themes distant from my own research still resonated deeply. This highlighted the value of engaging with perspectives beyond our own fields and revealed shared challenges across disciplines, echoing similar (structural) challenges, and obstacles. Despite the weightiness of these issues, the group of participants fostered a truly respectful, appreciative, and enthusiastic dynamic. It was a special experience that left a lasting sense of connection and ideas for future collaborations.  

What challenges did you encounter while organising the conference, and how did you overcome them?  

Our goal was to invite researchers from the four geographic areas on which the respective GIGA Regional Institutes focus. This proved challenging, as visa requirements, application times, security concerns, state repression, and complex travel logistics prevented some invitees from attending in Hamburg. However, those who did manage to attend demonstrated the essential value of including external experts in collective knowledge production and self-reflection.    

What were the main outcomes or results of the conference, and how do you think they will impact future events?  

It became evident that we need to continue working on dismantling power structures within research. This means involving collaboration partners from other countries at the very beginning of project development and co-authoring projects together. It also requires revising many of the funding guidelines, as they often hinder equitable collaborations. Following the conference, we created four working groups to continue discussions and foster collaboration in the areas that captured our attention during the event. Stay tuned for future initiatives!