This April, Boise State faculty, staff and students are sharing what research and creative activity at the university means to them.Â
Rebecca Som Castellano is the director of the Human-Environment Systems program within the School of the Environment and a professor of sociology. Her current work focuses on understanding social responses to the changing agriculture and food system, farmworker well-being and the experiences of farmers from refugee backgrounds in the Treasure Valley.
Q: What is your favorite memory related to research and/or creative activity at Boise State?
A: I love this question, as it brings to mind a lot of fond memories from throughout my time at Boise State. Three things that come to mind are driving in the car (many times) throughout rural Idaho on our way to or from an interview for participant observation with my collaborator Lisa Meierotto. Those drives gave us wonderful time to get to know each other, and think together about our work. During drives back to Boise we would be able to talk through and process what we had learned that day.
Another favorite memory is from this past summer when I got to introduce one of my current PhD students Gwénaëlle d’Aumale, with my own PhD advisor. It was fun to see two people who have meant a lot to me in my own journey as a researcher and mentor get to know one another. Finally, there have been lots of meaningful moments during data collection, where I have gotten to learn something that felt important, and then work to share that nugget of information with the world. Sometimes this involves sharing the experiences and perspectives of people who are forgotten or left behind.
Q: What motivates you to explore new ideas or create something original?
A: I am usually motivated by an observation about the world around me – how are things changing (particularly in socio-environmental systems)? Who is benefitting from those changes, and who is getting left behind? In my work I always strive to move academic knowledge forward, and also to inform change makers.
Q: Research and Creative Activity are impossible in a vacuum. Is there anyone you would like to thank for supporting, mentoring, inspiring, or otherwise shaping your work?
A: I have a lot of people to thank for supporting, mentoring, inspiring and shaping my work, including the amazing faculty and students I have gotten to work with (including Lisa Meierotto, Jodi Brandt, Jill Moroney, Gwénaëlle d’Aumale, Sarah Halperin, Vicken Hillis, Jen Schneider, Kelly Hopping, Alice Mwamba, Maci Mattravers and many others). I have also been very fortunate to work with dedicated community partners, who have played a key role in shaping my research. When I came to Boise State I had the good fortune to participate in the Interdisciplinary Faculty Mentoring program, and was matched with Jacky O’Connor – she played a really important role in shaping and supporting my research, particularly in my early years here.