How do villagers react to the presence of foreign scientists, and how do the relationships evolve?
My studies often take me to new communities that may never have encountered western scientists before. Depending on the location and ethnic background there will be different challenges to surmount before work can begin. Superstition or fear of outside interference sometimes needs to be overcome. Generally though, the populations are welcoming and co-operative, and the longer we stay, the more we can achieve as the trust grows. Factors outside our control – such as tribal unrest, epidemics of Ebola, environmental disasters and elections – are harder to accommodate.
