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Jobs

Research Intern (Part-time)

We have positions open for research interns with a background in either a social science or science degree, AND a strong interest and motivation to question, pursue, and find new approaches with an interdisciplinary approach. As a team, we blend theory and practice to address global and local questions around climate, ecology, environment, and social injustice, especially as it relates to asking how ecological degradation occurs, and what methods we have as interconnected societies to create the necessary social environments for socio-ecological renewal.

As an intern, you will assist the Soil Regeneration Project with its 2-year Collaborative Research Project with the National Parks Board, be part of shaping its community-led action research methodology, and help to build a set of key resources for use by the wider networks that the Soil Regeneration Project is part of. 

Action research is a well-established and continually shaping methodology first emerging through the contradictions of development work and anthropology. Research undertaken in one place, led by “experts”, to create value not in the area being researched but in the home of the funding country, was criticised. Action research evolved out of that to specify an iterative cycle of theory and praxis: reflection, action, reflection and action. 

The Soil Regeneration Project is our attempt at piloting a form of community-led action research work: one that specifies research that builds bottom-up and horizontal forms of organising, undertaken and led by communities working for their own benefit. This grounds theory and praxis in the vocabulary and practices of people, not institutions. 

What would you learn with us?

Your duties may include, and are not limited to:

1. Reading and synthesising materials shared by the team

3. Content creation for social media posts based on existing resources (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)

4. Independent research and presentation of findings to the team or in an organised session

5. Potentially drafting and writing about their readings for a publication platform

More information about this will be shared during an interview.

Time and period of commitment: Part-time Intern

  • Minimum 1 month, 2-3 months preferable
  • Approximately 10 hours a week, flexible working arrangement. 
  • Mostly remote work and team meetings once a week or as needed.
  • We have a small stipend to offer for this role.

Rolling applications!

Next start date: November / December

Apply if

  • You are motivated to see how action research can be used in working with diverse communities to create tools and languages that allow communities to be heard on their own terms
  • You want to translate the latest work, methods, and knowledge being generated in scientific and practitioner communities working with soil, for growers and gardeners based in Singapore and the region
  • You want to find and work with a small group of individuals to create a space for engaged, reflective praxis, that has a material and energetic impact on knowledge co-creation

About the Soil Regeneration Project:

The Soil Regeneration Project is shaping a community-led action research methodology, that focuses on bringing state-of-the-art understandings of urban transformation and agrarian change, with practical and critical action, to join theory and practice. It is part of the Foodscape Collective network and broader communities of individuals thinking about and working with land, media, community, and digital infrastructure to shape inclusive and circular food systems in Singapore and beyond. The Soil Regeneration Project team works flexibly to link individual roles in the team with ongoing work in partner organizations, with the opportunity to connect approaches and outputs across our platforms.

@soilregenerationproject

@foodscapepages

This role has a rolling application deadline. Statements of interest can be sent, together with a resume, to soilproject.asia@gmail.com and huiying.n@gmail.com with the Subject heading “Soil Regeneration Project: Research Intern”

Categories
Jobs Project Updates

Recruiting: Curriculum designer/writer

We’re hiring!

The Soil Regeneration Project/Spores team is seeking a passionate curriculum writer and designer (CD) to join our team. 

At the Soil Regeneration Project (https://soilregenerationproject.com/), we believe in the centrality of soil in biological as well as social systems and are dedicated to bringing this to light in academic, social and economic spaces. Within educational spaces, we aim to highlight the position of soil in climate change, ecology and sustainability conversations. One of the ways we are working towards shifting the current narrative towards the importance of soil is through our Soil Curriculum, a series of 10 lessons we have designed that consists of engaging activities and self reflective debrief discussions to reorient ourselves in relation to soil. 

We are in the fortunate position of piloting these 10 lessons with partners so that we may collect feedback and work towards refining the curriculum. To enable this, we are looking for a curriculum designer to join our team who will drive and advise us through this process by collating feedback from the pilot runs, rewriting lesson plans and other curricula related documents to present to educational institutions and the Ministry of Education. 

Requirements:

  • An individual who has experience and is familiar with curriculum development in the Ministry of Education;
  • Trained in curriculum design with experience in writing curricula for MoE accredited schools and/or other educational institutions in Singapore;
  • An innovative changemaker keen to be a part of how educational systems can evolve;
  • Passionate about education and ecology;
  • Keen to work in an inclusive and collaborative working environment with a diverse team.

Details:

  • Estimated time commitment of 4 hours/week with possible increase to 6 hours per week for a few weeks  following each run of the curriculum pilots (a total of 3 runs) as we process and incorporate the feedback into the curriculum. This will be broken down into a modular 3-session programme. The timeline is as follows:
    • First run: November and December 2021, preparation begins August 2021
    • Second run: January to May 2022
    • Third run: June to December 2022
  • Individual will be remunerated for their services
  • Opportunity to work with a team of individuals dedicated towards creating a shift in educational thinking
  • A current or historical connection to Singapore’s food system, water bodies or soils in the form of professional work or personal relation is considered a plus but not a requisite for applicants 

Much like the soils beneath our feet, we hope to mirror the diverse and inclusive characteristics of soil systems. With this in mind, we seek to cultivate a professional ethos as well as grow our team to compose a plurality of views, experiences and walks of life  

Those interested can email aditipunjsood@gmail.com and soileducation.asia@gmail.com with a resume detailing your curriculum designing experience as well as a paragraph sharing why you are keen to be a part of this work.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Our curriculum pilot is made possible as awardees of the SG Eco Fund, under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore.