This interview is translated by UiOGPT
- Which research project are you currently working on the most?
Interdisciplinarity fascinates me. Currently, I am working on three such projects. It all started with the Norwegian Research Council-funded flagship project "Global Moments in the Levant". The project dealt with different peoples' handling of trend-setting events through 10,000 years. The interesting thing about the new projects is that the themes in each of them have become increasingly relevant as a result of the recent years’ geopolitical developments.
The first one is titled "Merging Seas". It takes its starting point in the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the impact the connection of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea had on people, trade, and maritime life. As part of this, I am also involved in "Constructing the Ocean", a project led by a group of researchers at Aarhus University. Here I focus on studies of the Ismaili Muslim Dawoodi Bohras network’s transoceanic connections between Mumbai, Dubai, Zanzibar, and Cairo. I am particularly looking at the development of Dawoodi women's religious expressions in encounters with local women's networks after the sea journey from Mumbai to Cairo.
The second project is called "Feeling the Heat". This is a collaboration with the department of history, IKOS (Institute for Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages), and the Finnish Institute in Beirut. We are particularly looking into climate-related challenges or threats against nature and society. We want to understand how children, women, and men in the Middle East deal with these threats and act to protect the natural environment and society in the face of constant upheavals in the form of unrest, uprisings, and war.
The third project, "Picking up the Pieces", is based on a long-term collaboration with historians about humanitarian efforts in the Middle East. Currently, we are particularly processing the background of, the consequences of, and the historical-political implications in the region from the last couple of hundred years of mass displacement of population groups and genocide.
- What do you want to find out?
The Middle East, a region that borders the Mediterranean and has roots in both Africa and Asia, has fundamentally affected and continues to affect our part of the world. It is interesting to examine how formal borders between nations or groups affect individuals, especially how such sharp distinctions are understood if we change the viewpoint. It is exciting to explore the implications of seeing the world from a different perspective.
- Why is this important?
It is important because I work with a great interdisplinary team of researchers. Our aims to contribute to a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the Middle East, by highlighting the active agency of individuals and communities in shaping their own lives and relationships. By acknowledging the diverse perspectives and experiences of peoples in the region, we hope to provide a more nuanced and inclusive portrayal that captures the complexities and aspirations of the region.
- Who do you collaborate with?
I have the pleasure of collaborating with a number of excellent researchers at universities and research institutions in the Nordic countries and Southern Europe, as well as in the USA and the Middle East. At the University of Oslo, we have established an interdisciplinary research group "Yalla" – in the Middle East the word "yalla" has a number of meanings, such as haste and anticipation of movement, but also excitement, hope, and resilience. The group includes colleagues from the historical institute as well as from IKOS.
- What do you look for when choosing collaborators?
Contributors who can bring an expanded horizon combined with core knowledge are important. It is stimulating to be able to look at issues from different perspectives. Generosity, warmth, and humor are constructive elements for releasing creativity.
What other research projects are you involved in?
I have participated in or led a number of projects throughout my career, but one of the most meaningful projects I have worked on is with Professor of History Inger Marie Okkenhaug at Volda University College. We have collaborated on research design, fieldwork, writing, and publishing together. Many years ago, we discussed exploring the biographies of traveling and local women who have made their mark in the Middle East through their work. Currently, Professor Inger Marie Okkenhaug is leading a project focused on the biographies of women, and I am fortunate to be involved.
- What do you find most interesting about being a researcher?
The possibility to follow my curiosity and share the experiences with others through collegiate interactions, teaching, and publishing. The opportunity to spend time on fieldwork, observe, and talk at length with people who are willing to share their life experiences with me. And the unexpected surprises. Things are often not what they seem. Being in a job where there is always something new to learn is simply fantastic. What a privilege!
- What is the most common question you get about your work?
Is it safe? To that, my response is that it is a region with its share of challenges. But then again the Middle East is not a country, it is a vast and multifaceted region consisting of numerous countries with diverse cultures, histories, and geopolitical dynamics. A place that with beautiful nature, knowledgeable and hospitable people with fantastic humor. Yalla!