Hello there!
My background is in Sociology and Anthropology and my research has explored questions around rural livelihoods, sustainable farming, agroecology, aquaculture, conservation management, the politics of identity, the global food system, and climate change. I have research and fieldwork experience in Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, and Vietnam, and I have taught university courses in Social Anthropology, Sustainable Development, Human Geography, Science Communication, and International Development. These experiences along with my love for art and technology have led me to pursue interdisciplinary research and wider collaborations with artists, museums, and filmmakers. I am an experienced ethnographer and have excellent knowledge in both qualitative and quantitative methods and data analysis. Most recently, I have expanded my expertise into community engagement and gamification for collaboration and impact.
Research Experience
Project Lead, Wellcome Trust-InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund, University of Edinburgh, (2025-present)
Project Manager and Researcher, UKRI-MRC, University of Edinburgh, (2024-present)
Postdoctoral Research Associate, UKRI-GCRF, Heriot-Watt University, (2022-2025) Deliver social science and community engagement expertise to multidisciplinary 3SIP2C Project. Understand the movement and effects of marine plastic waste on local communities and businesses; design surveys and innovative community engagement activities and training for farmers, students, and communities; analyse social science data; co-design and maintain project website and media material; provide project management support.
Research Co-Investigator, ESRC Impact Acceleration Grant, SOAS University of London, (2022-2023) Using climate heritage research to support and extend the work of Jamaica’s National 4-H Gardening Programme and primary school ancestral gardens; co-develop online teaching resources with teachers; establish a gardening network to disseminate climate resilience research and ancestral ecological knowledge.
Research Associate and Data Manager, UKRI AHRC, The University of Edinburgh, (2021-2022) Engage Afrodescendant and Indigenous youth from nineteen Caribbean countries in climate research by exploring food heritage, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience strategies; explore ‘platationocene’ and Afrodescendant foodways; design user workshops to bring youth voices about climate change to COP26; collaborate with researchers and partners in the UK, Jamaica, and Barbados.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, GCRF-CAHHS, The University of Edinburgh, (2020 – 2021) Research on rural development policy and application problems in sustainable commercial farming, tropical forest management, and rural economies in Melanesia and Southeast Asia; collaborate with strategic partners to disseminate findings and co-produce briefing papers and ethnographic film; accelerate impact through user workshops and knowledge exchange with academic partners in Papua New Guinea, Denmark, Germany, and the UK.
Visiting Researcher, National Museum of Papua New Guinea, (2015) Conducted museum ethnography and collection review of artefacts from East New Britain; worked closely with the conservation team to collate data on environmental risk and culture loss; contributed to gallery design and knowledge exchange workshops.
Visiting Researcher, Australian National Gallery, (2015) Conducted collection review of artefacts from East New Britain in collaboration with principal curator Dr Michael Gunn; archival research on artefact commission and acquisition; examined the papers and expedition diaries of Sir William Dargie.
Inna Yaneva-Toraman 