Institute for Social and Environmental Research-Nepal Fulbari, Chitwan Improving Human Lives and Environmental Conditions

Introduction Established in 2001 to address complex challenges on key social and environmental issues facing Nepal through high quality scientific research. A non-profit, non-partisan, independent non- governmental research and development organization.

Introduction Goal To build social and environmental research capacity to improve human lives and environmental conditions through high quality scientific research, policy advocacy, and effective program interventions. To build social and environmental research capacity to improve human lives and environmental conditions through high quality scientific research, policy advocacy, and effective program interventions.

Approach A three-pronged, interlinked approach

To assess the influence of rapid changes in the ecological context on population processes, with a special emphasis on the process of family formation, urbanization, children's well-being, and population growth. To assess the influence of rapid changes in the ecological context on population processes, with a special emphasis on the process of family formation, urbanization, children's well-being, and population growth. To assess the influence of changing demographic parameters, particularly related to population growth, migration, and family formation, on the ecological context. To assess the influence of changing demographic parameters, particularly related to population growth, migration, and family formation, on the ecological context. Research Goals

To train Nepali social scientists in state-of-the-art social and environmental science research methods. To train Nepali social scientists in state-of-the-art social and environmental science research methods. To train social and environmental science students, scholars and researchers in developing context specific research methods. To train social and environmental science students, scholars and researchers in developing context specific research methods. Training Goals

Institutional Goals To create, strengthen and institutionalize technical capability and research infrastructure for social demographic and environmental research in Nepal. To create, strengthen and institutionalize technical capability and research infrastructure for social demographic and environmental research in Nepal. To develop strong institutional links with Universities and research organizations around the world that will be the basis for cooperative research and training programs. To develop strong institutional links with Universities and research organizations around the world that will be the basis for cooperative research and training programs.

Priority Areas 1. Population Dynamics 2. Population and Environmental Dynamics 3. Education and Empowerment 4. Livelihoods Support 5. Social Justice and Good Governance 6. Capacity Building

Research Programs Social Research Programs Environmental Research Programs

SOCIAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Research Ethics  ISER-N Respects Right to Individual Privacy and Freedom.  Participation in All Research Programs is Voluntary.  All Research Programs are Reviewed and Approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).  Respondent Confidentiality is Maintained in Every Step of Research Processes (Data Collection, Data Entry, and Analysis) with Highest Possible Standards.

2: Research Design Case Controlled Comparison

2: Research Design 2.1 Multilevel 2.2 Longitudinal Panel 2.3 Mixed Method Data Collection 2.4 Multi Mode Data Collection

Community Level Household Level Individual Level Multi-level

Longitudinal Panel Community Level Household Level Individual Level Time 1 Community Level Household Level Individual Level Time 2Time n

RESEARCH- METHODS MIXED METHODS: ARCHIVAL ETHNOGRAPHY COGNITIVE INTERVIEW FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW PURPOSIVE GROUP INTERVIEW INDIVIDUAL – SURVEY, CLINICAL GIS/GPS, REMOTE SENSING CAMARA TRAPING LABORATORY

RESEARCH- MODES MIXED MODES: VAST MAJOTIRY FACE TO FACE PAPER AND PENCIL BASED RECENTLY TELEPHONE GIS/GPS, REMOTE SENSING CAMARA TRAPING LABORATORY

Retrospective Panel Neighborhood History Calendar (NHC) Individual Interview with Life History Calendar (LHC) 1996 Neighborhood History Calendar Updates MEASUREMENT Demographic Events Registration 1997 … Neighborhood History Calendar Updates 2012 Household Census Agri. & Cons. Survey 1996 Household Agri. & Cons. Survey, 2000 & 2006 Household Agri. & Cons. Survey, 2012 Individual Interview with Life History Calendar (LHC) 2008 Individual Interview with Life History Calendar (LHC) 2012

Year NHC measure Distance to nearest school LHC measure School enrollment Example of Schooling

Social Research Programs Population Health  Elderly Health and Wellbeing (1998, 2007)  Armed Conflict, Family Change and Mental Health (2009)  HIV/AIDS and Later Life Health and Wellbeing (2009) Family Change and Fertility  Changing Social Context and Family Formation (1995, 2006, 2012)  Developmental Idealism (2003)  Marital Dynamics (2004)  Religion and Family Life (2007)  Menstruation and Education ( )  Ideational Influences on Family (2008)  Household Registry System (1997- ongoing)  Contraceptive Use Survey (1997-ongoing)

Social Research Programs Migration  Armed Conflict and Migration ( )  Migrants to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Values, Behaviors and Plans ( ) Population and Environmental Relationships  Household Agriculture and Consumption (1996, 2001, 2006)  Seasonal Agriculture ( )

On-going Social Research  Ideational Influences on Family  Migrants to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Values, Behaviors and Plans  Caste/Ethnicity influence on Group Participation  Household Registration System  Contraceptive Use Survey

MIGRATION International Destination 1360 Individuals in 41 countries 986 individuals in 51 districts Internal

S.N.Research Areas YearFunding AgencyAssociated UM Faculty Staff 1Chitwan Valley Family Study: Changing Social Context and Family Formation 1995, 2006 NICHDWilliam G. Axinn, Dirgha Ghimire, Susan A. Murphy, Arland Thornton 2Chitwan Valley Family Study: Ideational Influence on Marriage and Childbearing 2008 NICHDArland Thornton, William G. Axinn, Jennifer Barber, Dirgha Ghimire 3Reciprocal Relationships between Population and Environment 1996, 2001, 2006 NICHDWilliam G. Axinn, Jennifer Barber, Dirgha Ghimire 4Intergenerational Influences on Family Formation in a Changing Social Context 2007NICHDWilliam G. Axinn, Arland Thornton, Dirgha Ghimire, Jennifer Barber 5 Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) Collaborative Research and Training in Social Context, Population Processes, and Environmental Change 2007NSFWilliam G Axinn, Dirgha Ghimire 6Marital Processes, Husband-Wife Relationships and Fertility Limitation 2009NICHDDirgha Ghimire, William G. Axinn, Prem Bhandari 7Migrants to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Values, Behaviors, and Plans 2009 Center for International and Regional Studies of the Georgetown University of Foreign Service in Qatar Arland Thornton, Dirgha Ghimire Research Projects

S.N.Research Areas YearFunding AgencyAssociated UM Faculty Staff 8Innovative Methods for Obtaining Survey Data from Migrants 2010NICHDArland Thornton, Dirgha Ghimire, Prem Bhandari 9Elderly Health and Wellbeing1998, 2006 MiCDA, University of Michigan Amy Pienta, William Axinn, Dirgha Ghimire 10Armed Conflict, Family Change, and Mental Health 2009PSC and the Global Health Research and Training Initiatives, University of Michigan William G Axinn, Dirgha Ghimire 11HIV/AIDS and Later Life Health and Wellbeing 2009MiCDA, University of Michigan William G Axinn, Dirgha Ghimire 12Developmental Idealism Pilot Survey2003PSC Small Grant, University of Michigan Arland Thornton, Dirgha Ghimire 13Marital Dynamic2004PSC Small Grant, University of Michigan Dirgha Ghimire, William G. Axinn, Lynette Hoelter 14 Menstruation and Education 2006, 2008 Becker Center, University of Chicago Rebecca Thornton 15Tiger-Human Interaction Study2010Michigan State UniversityNeil Carter Research Projects Contd….

S.N.Research Areas YearFunding AgencyAssociated Faculty Staff 16Fuelwood Consumption Survey2009San Diego State UniversityAlex Zvoleff 17Ecosystem Services and Population Change 2010San Diego State University,Alex Zvoleff 18Impact of Mikania micrantha on Natural Forest 2011Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Binoj Shrestha, ISER-N 19Investigation of Indoor Solid Fuel and Kerosene Use as Tuberculosis Risk Factors 2012NICHDMichael Bates, Kirk Smith, Sharat K. Verma 20CNH: Feedbacks between Human Community Dynamics and Socio- ecological Vulnerability 2012NSFScott Yabiku, Dirgha Ghimire, Sharon Hall, Sean Murphy. Li Ann, Jennifer Glick, A. York 21Marital Relationship Dynamics2012PSC Small Grant, University of Michigan Dirgha Ghimire 22Documenting Distribution and Trends of Developmental Idealism in Nepali Textbooks 2012PSC Small Grant, University of Michigan Dirgha Ghimire, Arland Thornton 23Measurement of Remittance Use in a Remittance Dependent Economy 2012PSC Small Grant, University of Michigan Prem Bhandari, Dirgha Ghimire Research Projects Contd….

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Environmental Research Programs Study of Reciprocal Relation between Population and Environment

Environmental Research Programs Land Use Flora Diversity Groundwater Quality

1, Population and Environmental Research; The Reciprocal Relationship Between Population and Environment 1.1. Flora Research (1996, 2000, 2006) 1.2. Land Use Mapping (1996, 2000, 2006) 1.3. Household Consumption and Agriculture Survey (1996, 2000, 2006) 2, Partnership in International Research and Education 1.1. Tiger Human Interaction Study ( ) 1.1. Tiger Human Interaction Study ( ) 1.2. Ecosystem Services and Population Change (2009) 1.2. Ecosystem Services and Population Change (2009) 1.3. Mapping Wildlife Habitat in Chitwan (2011) 1.3. Mapping Wildlife Habitat in Chitwan (2011) 1.4. Climate change, vulnerability and adaption in Chitwan Valley (2011) 1.4. Climate change, vulnerability and adaption in Chitwan Valley (2011) 3, Invasion Ecology 3.1. Impact of Mikania micrantha invasion in Chitwan National Park (2011) 4. Others: 4.1. Arsenic Test in drinking water (2004), 4.2. Documentation of traditional knowledge on biodiversity (2003, 2007) and 4.2. Documentation of traditional knowledge on biodiversity (2003, 2007) and 4.3. Sagarmatha seed bank Feasibility study (2010) 4.3. Sagarmatha seed bank Feasibility study (2010)

Environmental Sample

On-going Environmental Research  Fuelwood Use Pattern and Biomass Availability  Community Forest Management System  Tiger human interaction in Chitwan  Recording Geographic location of Conflict incidents and prepare GIS map

Flora Research: Data Collection 1) Research plots (Total research plots – 265) a) Barandabhar Buffer Zone Forest - 62 a) Barandabhar Buffer Zone Forest - 62 b) Chitwan National Park (CNP) – 34 b) Chitwan National Park (CNP) – 34 c) Forest along the Narayani River – 21 c) Forest along the Narayani River – 21 d) Grassland in CNP – 10 d) Grassland in CNP – 10 d) Common Land – 138 d) Common Land – 138 2) Data a) Plot information b) Plant information

Land Use Change in Chitwan

Land Use Mapping: Data Collection 1) Finding the Neighborhood Location and Boundary Total Neighborhoods ) Data Collection  GPS Information of boundary points  Measure Distance and Bearing of Neighborhood boundary and  perimeter of all land use categories.

Land Use Mapping

38 Household Consumption and Agriculture Survey: Data Collection  Household Survey- 151 NBH (1996, 2000, 2006)  Study of  Agriculture, disease and pests  Animal Husbandry  Physical Facilities (Consumption)  Experience and perception on Environmental Change  Family Economics

Tiger-Human Interaction Survey (2009) 1) Camera Trapping of Tiger 2) Tiger Tolerance Survey 3) Community Forest Mapping and Survey Camera

Tiger-Human Interaction Study (2009) Chittal Bear with cubs Leopards Rhinoceros Tiger People carrying grass

Ecosystem Services and Population Change (2010)  Fuelwood Consumption Survey  Fuelwood use  Demand and  Supply  Forest Biomass Research  Tree species diversity  Demography and  Woody biomass estimation

Mapping Wildlife Habitat in Chitwan (2011)  Study of land cover change of wildlife habitat in Barandabhar Forest, Chitwan.  Objective: Produce a high-resolution land cover map Barandabar forest from the satellite imagery and Quantify land cover change (excluding urban/agricultural areas) from  Data collected from the 150 GPS points in Barandabhar Forest  Status: Data Collection completed and in the stage of analysis

Impact of Mikania micrantha invasion in Chitwan National Park (2011)  Funded by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and ISER-N  Objective: To study the impact of invasive plant Mikania micrantha in forest and grasslands of Chitwan National Park  Status: Data Collection completed and in the stage of analysis

DATA PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT

45 Data Collected Community Histories (1995, 2006) School Histories(1995, 2006) Health Histories (1995, 2006) Household Interview (1996, 2000, 2006) 8 Household Registry Interview (1997- to date) 18 Individual Interviews 7 Flora (1996, 2000, 2006) Camera Trapping

Data Processing  Data Collected from the Field are Checked by Research Supervisor  Development of Data Entry Protocols  Codebook Design  Each Research Instrument then Coded by an Independent Coder  User Friendly Data Entry Program Designed as to the Research Instrument

Data Processing  Each Interview is Entered Two to Three Times  Data Entry Program are Designed to Check Keying Discrepancies to Minimize Data Entry Errors  Internal and External Consistency Checking  Ready for Analysis

Data Release For Public  Strict Policy of Safeguarding Respondent’s Privacy and Confidentiality  Instrument Containing Identifying Information are Stored Separately and Safely in a Highly Secure (Locked) Room  Identifying Information is Carefully Removed from the Data  Data is Released to Public Worldwide through Different Outlets

Data Archive And Dissemination  Data are Archived and Disseminated through ISER-N Office at Fulbari, Chitwan and the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan xml xml xml

PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS ● Over 62 Scientific Articles Published in World Class Peer-reviewed Journals ● Over 50 Articles Published through Other Outlets and as Resource Manuals ● 12 PhD/MSc Dissertations/Theses from the US Universities ● Five Research Briefs/Policy Briefs ● Over 50 Presentations at National and International Conferences

DATA ACCESS/AVAILABILITY The Data is Available at Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan:

TRAINING

54 Nepali Students, Scholars and Research Staff Trained By Training Type Summer Institute Courses, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan 37 Long-term Academic Training12 Other Seminar and Workshops 4 12 of these 37 (32%) individuals completed PhD and MS in the United States

55 US Students and Post Doctoral Fellows Field Training in Nepal Students and Post Doctoral Fellows Undergraduate Students 8 Graduate Students 18 Post Doctoral Fellows/Junior Faculty 7

On Site Training Training, Workshop and Seminars Participants Data Users’ Workshops 73 Training on Survey Research Techniques 140 Seminars and Symposium 70 A Symposium on Social Science in the Public Interest: Building Foundation for New Nepal Trainers’ Training on General Interviewing Technique 2010 Data Users’ Workshop 2010 Participants

International Participation in Training Programs Nepal Pakistan (15) Bangaladesh (3) Japan (1) North America South America Africa AsiaEurope USA (28) England (1) Netherlands (2) Australia Country of participants Legend Capacity Building Programs…

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Human Resources

RESEARCH STAFF Study Manager 1 Research Associate1 Computing Manager 1 Research Supervisors3 Assistant Supervisors3 Team Leaders4 Interviewers31 Data Entry Staff6 Total50 ADMINSTRATIVE STAFF Executive Officer 1 Account Officer1 Logistic Assistant1 Supporting Staff5 Total8

Ethnically Diverse Research Staff

ISER-N Researchers  Dr. Dirgha Jibi GhimireExecutive Director, Ph.D. Sociology, the University of Michigan, USA  Dr. Prem Bahadur Bhandari Research Scientist, Ph.D. Rural Sociology and Demography, the Pennsylvania State University, USA  Dr. Dharma Raj Dangol Research Scientist, Ph.D. Natural Science, University of Vienna, Austria  Ms. Meeta S. Pradhan Assistant Research Scientist, currently a Ph.D. student of Social Demography, the University of Michigan

ISER-N Researchers…  Dr. Nabaraj Devkota, Research Scientist, Ph.D. Natural Resource Management, Massey University, New Zealand  Mr. Binoj Kumar Shrestha, Research Associate, M.Sc. Biodiversity and Environmental Management, Tribhuvan University, Nepal and University of Bergen, Norway  Dr. Humanath Bhandari Research Scientist, Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, University of Philippines at Los Banos, the Philippines  Mr. Ram Prasad Luitel, Program Advisor, M.S. Natural Resource Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand  Dr. Harish Chandra Neupane Medical Scientist, MBBS, MS, FICS  Dr. Chandra Prakash Sedai, Medical Scientist, MD, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

International Collaborators Dr. William G. Axinn, Professor, Department of Sociology, and Director, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan, USA Dr. Jennifer Barber, Professor, Department of Sociology, and Research Professor, Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan, USA Dr. Arland Thornton, Professor, Department of Sociology, and Research Professor, Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Dr. Lisa D. Pearce, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Dr. Emily Oster, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Business, The Becker Center, University of Chicago, USA

International Collaborators.. Dr. Rebecca Thornton, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA Dr. Scott T. Yabiku, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Arizona State University, USA Dr. Amy Pienta, Associate Research Scientist, ICPSR, University of Michigan, USA Dr. Jack Liu, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA Dr. Li An, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, San Diego State University, USA

Institutional Collaborations in Nepal  Nepal Bote Society, Madi, Chitwan  Sewange Village Chepang Women Group, Shaktikhor, Chitwan  Darai Utthan Samaj, Mangalpur, Chitwan  Tharu Janjagriti Youth Club, Bangai, Shardanagar  Kumal Society of Sisabas, Meghauli  Bhangerithan Child Development Society, Kabhreghat, Mangalpur  Mohana Secondary School, Mohana  Bachhauli Secondary School, Bachhauli  Bharatpur Secondary School, Bharatpur  Nepal Rashtriya Shamsher Adarsha Secondary School, Gaindakot

 Society for Environmental and Educational Development, Fulbari, Chitwan  Nepal Federation for Indigenous Nationalities, Kathmandu  Nepal Family Planning Association, Bharatpur  Ecological Services Center, Bharatpur  IUCN-the World Conservation Union, Kathmandu  Kathmandu University, Kavre, Dhulikhel, Kavre  Tribhuvan University, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan  District Developmental Committee, Bharatpur, Chitwan  District Education Office, Bharatpur, Chitwan Institutional Collaborations in Nepal…

 The University of Michigan  The Pennsylvania State University, USA  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA  The Becker Center, University of Chicago, USA  Michigan State University, USA  Arizona State University, USA  San Diego State University, USA Institutional Collaborations Abroad

Physical Infrastructure  Two-story office building with training hall, meeting hall, coding room, library, several office rooms  Guest house  Highly secure computing facility  Telephone survey facility  Back up energy supply and climate control equipment  5 field offices

Future Plans 1. Provide social science research expertise 2. Institutionalize and strengthen scientific and high quality social science research in Nepal 3. Support action research initiatives 4. Promote analytical discourse on evidence- based policy analysis and feedback

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