E-book call for contributions

Call for contributions (DRAFT)

We are looking for several types of contributions (anywhere from 500 to 5000 words) that explore the socio-cultural value of dried fish, especially from the transdisciplinary perspective. Contributions should be “exploratory”, in the sense that they may describe preliminary results, reflect on the research process, invite readers to contemplate, base on field notes or raw data, or convey the original works of research participants and collaborators. They can be written by individuals or a team of researchers, community partners, or dried fish actors themselves. Contributions should try to be creative and convey enthusiasm for interesting findings or observations, instead of presenting rigorous findings. In other words, non-conventional and experimental formats are encouraged.

Thematic sections and example contributions could include, but not limited to:

1. Long essays: preliminary findings from the field, personal reflections on the research and learning process, experimental ideas around emerging empirical and theoretical understandings (about 4,000-5,000 words)
2. Short pieces: Poetry, folk songs; dried fish recipes (see the note below on 'My Grandmother's Recipe') (500-1,000 words)
3. Life stories: photo essays, excerpts from field notes, interview transcripts or vignettes (500-1,000 words)
4. Comparative insights on themes that connect across two or more DFM countries (about 4,000-5,000 words)

Submission timelines:

In the first stage, please submit a synopsis/abstract of 100-200 words, by September 15, 2021. Final submission will be due on January 15, 2022. Each contribution should be accompanied by at least one high-resolution photograph or an illustration. Individual or co-authorship contributions, including with researcher partners beyond academia, are welcomed. There will be a minor review process and a grouping of submissions into thematic sections once they are received. The contributions will be compiled, edited and published as part of the TBTI E-book series, and can be reused later for peer-reviewed publications.

Proposed theme for the ebook and launch event: Sustainable gastronomy

The ebook will be formally released on 18 June, 2022 to coincide with global observance of Sustainable Gastronomy Day. Following the UN General Assembly's proclamation of Sustainable Gastronomy Day, we acknowledge that gastronomy is a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity of the world and affirm its vital contribution to agricultural development, food security, nutrition, sustainable food production and the conservation of biodiversity.

Building on our commitment to furthering research into the "social economy" of dried fish in South and Southeast Asia, we intend this ebook to celebrate the role of dried fish as one that is deeply "gastronomical" -- in the sense of being embedded in cultural life and foodways -- but also as vitally linked to sustainable development. We reaffirm the integrative and people-centred vision of sustainability captured by the 17 SDGs, encompassing economic, social, and environmental pillars.

Notes to include in the call for contributions

• Provide background on why we are doing this
• The book will be technically edited by TBTI Global and released as part of their ebook series
• We would like to encourage co-authorship with collaborators
• Launch event: The book will be completed beforehand, but will be officially launched with presentations from speakers, virtual buffet, musical presentation, etc.
• Volume 2 will be released on World Food Day 2022 (Oct 16).
• Technical requirements (image format resolution, etc.)
• even if published here, contributions can be reused for peer reviewed publication later
• style guide: Chicago Manual of Style, notes and bibliography. See DFM Guideline: Copyediting checklist (this will need to be updated as the checklist is currently for internal copy-editors, and some of the information is out of date)
• We especially encourage non-conventional and experimental formats, including:
  • photo essays, or an individual photograph with commentary
  • poetry and folk songs that mention dried fish
  • personal, reflexive essays (e.g., addressing the research and learning process)
  • fieldnotes, interview transcripts or vignettes
  • notes on an historical document or other primary source

Special thematic sections

We also will seek separate contributions from researchers / teams in the following sections:

• "My Grandmother's Recipe": Photographically document a dried fish recipe that you personally know; discuss how it is made, why it is important, what memories it evokes, etc. The section editors will prepare an essay reflecting on different food traditions and how we, as researchers, are part of what we study.
• Life stories: Share a transcript or extract from a field interview, prefaced with a paragraph or so contextualizing the interview and commenting on what we can learn from the contributor's experience. The section editors will prepare an essay reflecting on the contrasting experiences and types of value observed in different sites.