Presentation short abstract

Our research explores the role and politics of care in rural lives and landscapes in Nepal, as well as in our research practices. In this session we reflect on the relationships and insights that emerge between these, to contribute methodologically and conceptually to emotional political ecologies.

Presentation long abstract

Our research explores the role and politics of care in rural lives and landscapes in Nepal, as well as in our research practices. In this session we reflect on the relationships and insights that emerge between these, to contribute methodologically and conceptually to emotional political ecologies. Grounded in feminist and emotional political ecologies, in ethics of care scholarship, and in critical work by participatory geographers, we explore ‘moments that matter’ in which emotions are centred, paid attention to, and learnt from. We will share such ‘moments that matter’ from our research in Nepal, including those that feature the gifting of beans, the preparing of vegetables, village shopping sprees, being with our own families and being invited into others, reminiscing and remembering, and care by our colleagues. Engaging with the relationality of emotions in our research allows us to consider their role both in rural lives and landscapes, and in research practices. We argue that centring emotions and a politics of care can help political ecologists to contribute to more just rural futures, and to more caring research that stands against extractive and colonial knowledge practices.