Researcher well-being in the fields of extremism, terrorism and political violence

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to violent images and extremist rhetoric has the potential to undermine researcher well-being and in the worst cases may lead to trauma and lasting psychological harm. Increasingly, researchers are reflecting on the negative impacts of interacting with violent and extremist content and contexts. This roundtable will provide an opportunity for researchers to discuss the range of issues implicated in carrying out research on extremism, terrorism and political violence, including the impact of this type of work on researchers and students; how the risks associated with researching extremism and terrorism have changed; methods of managing and supporting researcher well-being; and the role of institutions in addressing these issues. There will also be the opportunity to discuss the research needed in order to understand the impact of undertaking scholarship on extremism and terrorism and identify evidence-based methods of mitigating the harms that can result. The roundtable will be made up of experts with experience of working on extremism, terrorism and political violence, and will represent an opportunity to meaningfully engage with the challenges and sensitivities of work in this area.