SNSF Keynote Highlight: Toward Transformative Evaluation and DEI
- INTERFACE
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
As the co-presidents of SEG The INTERFACE commission for Engaged Anthropologists Eda Elif Tibet together with Mike Poltorak had the honor of delivering keynotes at the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF hosted by the head of gender division jasmine lorenzini and Romaine Brunner whom also facilitated a great discussion with 50+ staff online and in person.
Highlights from Eda Elif Tibet's talk "Toward Transformative Evaluation: Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the Future of Swiss Research":
“Evaluation is not neutral. It shapes the future.”
A shift in the new CV format (2022): from counting publications to valuing achievements, societal impact, and diverse trajectories can be considered to be an epistemic shift aligned with DORA principles.
Why DEI matters in evaluation:
• Diversity → Who is at the table?
• Equity → What structures enable access?
• Inclusion → Who shapes the agenda?
Recognizing multimodal and multilingual knowledge outputs, co-creation with communities, and the often invisible labor of mentoring, caregiving, and networks are just as needed.
Drawing inspiration from the Interface commission’s Ascona Charter for Transformative Anthropology, I called for pluriversal frameworks: contextualized guidelines, epistemic freedom and radical inclusion, diversified reviewer panels, reflective feedback loops, and expanded notions of impact.
Evaluation is not just a mirror of past performance it is a map that legitimizes knowledge, shapes careers, and determines belonging. If designed with care, it can help us move toward a more just, inclusive, and pluralistic research ecosystem.
Highlights from Mike Poltorak's talk "Transforming Research Evaluation: Lessons from Pacific DEI in New Zealand for SNSF"
Key Highlights:
🔹 Architecture as DEI: Fale Pasifika at University of Auckland (2004) demonstrates how space can actively promote cultural inclusion and challenge Eurocentric academic norms
🔹 Targeted Investment Works: Health Research Council's multi-million dollar Māori & Pacific Health Research Emerging Leader Fellowships are building research capacity "for and with" communities, not just about them
🔹 Representation Matters: Pacific peoples = 8% of NZ population but historically underrepresented in academia. Scholars like Prof. Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, Prof. Albert Refiti and Prof. Sereana Naepi and many more are transforming institutional policies inspired by Pasifika values and for community benefit
🔹 Beyond Traditional Metrics: Pacific research methodologies (such as talanoa ) emphasizing respect, reciprocity, and relationality challenge current paradigms and enhance research validity through community co-design
🔹 🇹🇴 Personal Highlight-So moved to realise how much of the collaboration and talanoa process of the Healer and the Psychiatrist in Aotearoa (NZ) has benefited from Pasifika activism since the Dawn Raids in the 1970s and diverse DEI initiatives. I took a lot for granted. Can't wait to read: Professor Melani Anae- ‘The Platform-The Legacy of the Polynesian Panthers ‘ (2020)
The Challenge: Despite progress, Pacific scholars still face systemic barriers in career progression. Cultural service work remains undervalued in promotion decisions.
Swiss Relevance: How can SNSF expand evaluation criteria to better accommodate diverse epistemologies? What can Switzerland learn from NZ's Pacific research strategy for its own multicultural communities and to communicate the community and societal benefits of SNSF funded research?
We are grateful for the dialogue on fostering inclusive, innovative research ecosystems that value diverse ways of knowing, community benefit and recognize the severe future challenges of the triple planetary crisis.
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