Centre of Austronesian Studies

He is interested in the grammatical description of the Indigenous languages of Taiwan, the documentation of the Bunun language, the interaction between the structure of languages and the environments in which they are spoken, and the influence of bias and beliefs on our perception of language. In recent years, he has conducted research on the influence that the introduction of Christianity has had on the Indigenous languages of Taiwan.

After interning with marine research NGOs and taking postgraduate studies in marine science, she moved to the Philippines – at first working as an underwater photographer, and then moving on to work as a science officer for a marine conservation NGO. Here she worked closely with local communities to survey coastal areas to be established as marine protected areas. She then moved to the Maldives to work at a marine research centre, with projects such as sea turtle rehabilitation, coral propagation and aquaria.

She was based in Baa atoll, which boasts the largest aggregation of reef manta rays in the world, and here her obsession with manta rays began. She is hugely interested in utilising the knowledge of fisher communities to discover vital information about mobulid species in remote locations, to determine their status, habitat use and provide crucial data that will in turn improve their protection.

She has been dedicated to encourage the development of the language revitalisation and in charge of the compilation of teaching materials for indigenous languages for a long while. She is also the principle investigator of the project “Advisory Groups for the folklore of indigenous peoples” to implement the conservation of the intangible cultural assets.

She is fascinated by remote areas, such as the Arctic or Pacific Islands, as they are often less disturbed yet show how far anthropogenic impacts reach. Her research projects have taken her all over the world's oceans: from interning as a research assistant at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, looking at seabird breeding success in a warming climate, to co-organising a research expedition to Svalbard looking at marine debris in Arctic waters.

Last summer, she was responsible for microplastics and eDNA sampling for several research institutions and universities on board the TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition to map the risks microplastics pose to marine Arctic fauna. To continue this work, she successfully acquired a grant from the Swiss Polar Institute. Combining sailing and research has made her a competent sailor and has further allowed her to conduct research in remote areas challenging to access by other means.

His Master’s thesis analysed the efforts of Taiwan’s indigenous groups to negotiate self-government agreements based on the example of Canada’s First Nations peoples.

He is the author of Civil-Military Relations in Taiwan: Identity and Transformation (ISBN: 9781787564824), as well as producer and director of the short film Rendezvous With the Moon, which won the Bobwundaye Wild At Heart Award for efforts in documenting indigenous histories, at the 2005 Urban Nomad Film Festival.

He has been invited to speak at institutions such as SOAS London, UCLan, Academia Sinica Taipei, and others, to share his experiences and insights on the Taiwan cultural landscape and social movements.

Tobie’s current passion lies with the marginalised indigenous people of Taiwan, with whom he has forged deep connections. His primary subjects of interest are the post-colonial transitional justice process, the impact of environmental and climate change on indigenous people, and the Austronesian connection across the Pacific.

Futuru is also an ethnographic filmmaker and writer, who has produced several ethnographic films such as Amis Hip Hop (45 min, 2005), From New Guinea to Taipei (83 min, 2009), and The New Flood (51 min, 2010), Wings for Takasago Giyutai (65 min, 2017), and the books: The Anthropologist Germinating from the Rock Piles (Shiduei zhong faya de renleixuei jia) (Taipei: Yushanshe, 2009), From Dulan to New Guinea (Cung Dulan Dao Xinqineya) (Yushanse, 2011).

When not engaged with projects at UCLan, he has conducted climate change research in various parts of Asia, particularly focusing on levels of empowerment or resistance. Currently, he is researching the effects of climate change and ocean level rise on communities throughout Polynesia and the Pacific.

With a background in creative and visual arts, Bob has been raising awareness of the challenges and situations of people all over the world through film, art exhibitions, stories, workshops and events for audiences using innovative technologies and creative communication methods. Bob is also an early years researcher with various published materials.

He is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Climate Change Education with UCLan researching the use of innovative technologies, namely virtual reality, evaluating its use as a communication tool and to what extent this can positively engage participants.

She is currently pursuing her Ph.D.in Law at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle, USA. She is affiliated with the UW Taiwan Studies Program. Her research interests are Taiwan Studies, Indigenous Education, and Curriculum Design. Nikal has two daughters and she learns the Pangcah cultures and languages with them. She is the Young Scholar of the North America Taiwanese Professors' Association.

During and after writing his thesis he focussed on the Spanish settlements from the point of view of the indigenous peoples, in particular working out how to create histories from documents created by would-be colonisers. His research interests include the earliest voyages by the Spanish across the Pacific and the resulting first meetings between the Spanish and indigenous peoples of the Pacific. His focus until now has been on the 16^th and 17^th century, with relation to Taiwan and also the Philippines.