AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE to all researchers conducting fieldwork in FIRE-AFFECTED AREAS. I cannot overstate the importance of engaging with local communities! A thread (I don’t have many followers so please retweet to help spread this message #wildoz). 1/x

First, some context. I’m a local of Mallacoota, which was badly affected by the bushfires last summer. The sentiment that I am about to express is shared by many in this community, so it is likely shared by communities all over Australia. 2/x

We've lived in these parts for decades. We care deeply for our local environment – it is our sanctuary, our haven. We know it intimately. We know its secrets (well, some!), its habits, its moods. We may not all have qualifications, but we are knowledgeable people. We care! 3/x

Since the fires, the local area has seen many visiting researchers & groups. And we ask ourselves and each other - Who are these people? What are they doing? What are they finding? And then the people leave again. And we are left wondering. But we really want to know! 4/x

When so many people & groups swan in and out of the local area, making changes or “doing stuff” without a word, we are left in the dark. But we notice. We feel ignored, forgotten, disregarded. We feel disheartened, disconnected, even resentful. 5/x

Visiting researchers - you may feel that your fieldwork is fun, interesting, exciting. You may feel passionate about what you do. You may feel sad at what you see but you feel a sense of purpose and therefore go home (hopefully) satisfied after your stint “in the field”. 6/x

But for us locals, this isn’t “in the field”. We don’t go home at the end of the stint – we ARE home. This environment is a part of us. We've lived & breathed it for most of our lives. We feel protectiveness toward the land and live the pain of its recent destruction DAILY. 7/x

But you can help us – all it takes is a little community engagement. So, what form can this take? Many communities have a local newsletter or newspaper. Before starting your work, you could submit a letter describing who you are and what general research you plan to conduct 8/x

You could introduce yourself on the community social media pages or on a community noticeboard, or contact the local school to see if they would like you to give a talk. You might even learn some crucial info that will help your study. Don’t underestimate local knowledge! 9/x

After your stint, you could hold a simple presentation with a slideshow and some Q&A or submit another letter with basic findings and a few pictures. It doesn’t have to be much. If you’re worried about data confidentiality, I’m sure you can find a solution! 10/x

This will make the community feel valued, included, & considered. It will help us reconnect with the environment. This is a crucial stage in community recovery following the trauma of the fires. Please remember that we are still recovering. 11/x

Yes, it's more work for you. But take a moment to consider how much work we've volunteered to care for these environments over the last few decades – long before these bushfires! So please, next time you’re in the field, engage with the local community. It will really help! 12/x

IMPORTANT NOTE! I’m speaking as a non-indigenous Australian. The connections I speak of and feel have been built after only a few decades. That’s NOTHING compared to the connections to these lands built over MILLENNIA by First Nations Peoples. 13/x

We all need to educate ourselves on these issues and amplify the voices of First Nations Peoples. A place to start: https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally. 14/14

As I write this, I feel acutely aware that a similar sentiment and message must be infinitely more important for First Nations communities, and not just in fire-affected areas, but everywhere, all the time! 13.5/14 (I accidentally cut this 2nd-last tweet out of the thread!)