I am struggling with the same constraints, although Macao doesn't have new COVID cases for months, and we only had up now 45; no deaths, all cured. Nonetheless, all fieldwork that my students were doing related to heritage research has stopped. I have asked for the cooperation of my colleagues from drama and video-cinema. They have created a kind of live theater that combined with videos tried to mobilize students to simulate their fieldwork. It helps training some observation metholodogies, taking notes, selecting ideas for discussion, but cannot naturally substitite the fieldwork "surprises".

I am struggling with the same constraints, although Macao doesn't have new COVID cases for months, and we only had up now 45; no deaths, all cured. Nonetheless, all fieldwork that my students were doing related to heritage research has stopped. I have asked for the cooperation of my colleagues from drama and video-cinema. They have created a kind of live theater that combined with videos tried to mobilize students to simulate their fieldwork. It helps training some observation metholodogies, taking notes, selecting ideas for discussion, but cannot naturally substitite the fieldwork "surprises".

This situation is very difficult for researchers conducting in-depth interviews. There is a lot of fear of contagion. I try to conduct the interviews through social networks, but obviously, it is not the same ... I hope that this tremendous pandemic will end soon.

It is really very challenging to do "on site" study these times, how about interviewing personnel who are there via, on line if they can get access to the needed information.

It is so challenging to rethink the way we do fieldwork. I'm trying to do the same for my research proposal and have found this crowd-sourced document so helpful:

Lupton, D. (editor) (2020) Doing fieldwork in a pandemic (crowd-sourced document). Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1clGjGABB2h2qbduTgfqribHmog9B6P0NvMgVuiHZCl8/edit?ts=5e88ae0a#

As for bringing fieldwork closer for students, you may want to think about some sort of autoethnographic project possibly even about the Covid-19 experience; how is the students' everyday life impacted by this new reality? They could do particpant observation while buying groceries for example or during zoom classes; they could interview fellow students, friends, and family;they can think about how they've started to use the physical architecture of their homes differently etc. Good luck!

Many academic institutions responded to the Covid-19 pandemic with some combination of international travel bans, domestic travel restrictions, and halts to research with human subjects. In response, social scientists have been busy sharing interim strategies for remote research, from interviews via Zoom to gathering diary entries kept by participants. Academic institutions’ decision-making over whether and when research should resume should be informed by up-to-date scientific and public health understandings of the pandemic, including its uncertainties. When it comes to resuming field research in the social sciences, this decision-making process must extend to include relevant disciplinary and regional experts. Such consultation might take the form of a light and flexible process in which networks of faculty members from relevant social science disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, political science, linguistics, economics, and public health, consider brief proposals to resume field research projects on a case-by-case basis. Humanities expertise may also be relevant, as may local academics at the site of research, NGOs, and government agencies. The purpose of these expert networks would be to ensure that the necessary process of deliberation over field conditions takes place, not to decide whether or not research is possible.

Conducting ethnography in the light of covid can be quite difficult for the researchers. With social distancing norms and the sceptism with human contact, the researcher being a stranger and being a potential carrier would obliterate research. Therefore, it is better to keep your fieldwork stalled temporarily or to conduct research through audio and video devices with consent of the participant seems the only way about.

Fieldwork in rural areas in my region ( Southern Europe, namely Spain or Portugal; also in Morocco...) is not deeply affected by the pandemia as locals usually keep a distance with "outsiders", weather is mild, activities are to be carried out in open air and these regions are not crowded... so that most of the year ( march to november), we can stay close enough...

Time is an issue ( always). Rythms adapted to our "partners" is a must.

Living there is easy... at a slower pace... As It should be, I Guess.

Take care!

Conducting field work during this pandemic is as difficult as it is challenging. Collecting information through interview schedules , case studies is far remote. On line/ virtual data is not possible always depending on the availability of internet facility .Getting information through social workers even does not fulfill the purpose as per requirement. It is advisable to go for research in and around our own environment by staying safe.

Wishing for a quick end to this pandemic.

Carolina Forgit-Knerr invokes some interesting possibilities with her post - how feasible is it for students to virtually explore each other's neighbourhoods using each other as native informants? This virtual activity might invoke ethnographic seeing for both informants and fieldworkers. Many more possibilities here as opposed to view a documentary film.

There is nothing I can do to continue with my ethnographic work in Germany. I cannot visit the refugees. Besides we are on lockdown. It is a waiting game. Good luck everyone.

There is nothing I can do to continue with my ethnographic work in Germany. I cannot visit the refugees. Besides we are on lockdown. It is a waiting game. Good luck everyone.