Please tell me a bit about yourself and your research
I am Anupam Kamal Sen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland with a grant from the Kone Foundations in 2022. My doctoral research is aimed at exploring the role given to humans as a form of waste in contemporary dystopian fiction and film. The main objectives of my research are i) to analyze the concept of ‘wasted human’ through the application of cultural and political theories informed by environmental justice and ethical sensibilities, ii) to propose a new ontology of ‘waste’ and ‘life’, and iii) to highlight the unique possibilities of dystopian literature and film in understanding the precarious conditions under which multiple forms of lives suffer. From that perspective, the research areas I am interested in cover biopolitics, environmental ethics, the process of borderization, and precarious mobility. Prior to my doctoral studies, I completed an MA in English Language and Culture from the University of Eastern Finland. And before coming to UEF for studies, I completed a BA and MA in English from the University of Chittagong and then worked for three years as a university lecturer in Bangladesh, my home country.
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Why did you apply for the exchange week at Tallinn University?
I applied for the exchange week because I discovered that my research project intersects with some broad themes of the mobility initiative facilitated by the Euro-Asian Border Lab Project. For example, the theoretical trajectories of my research allow for discussions on frontierization in relation to disposability, the intricate relationship between violence and globalization in manufacturing humans- as-waste qua bare lives, and above all the rampant crisis of precarious mobility in constituting topographies of cruelty around the globe. Apart from that, another motivating factor behind my application was the opportunity to present my research to a diverse audience whose disciplines are not necessarily the same as mine. That said, I would consider these two factors as the ultimate catalysts. In addition, Tallinn University is the flagship university of Estonia, so I wanted to experience its academic environment.
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What did you do during your exchange?
This research visit was invigorating in many ways. The most beneficial aspect was receiving valuable critical feedback from scholars in various fields and disciplines on the paper I presented in the research seminar. It was 45 minutes of presentation followed by another 45 minutes of Q&A session, which was extremely productive and the most engaging one. I also had a one-and-a-half-hour teaching session where I discussed the significance of humanities in today’s world with a new batch of undergraduate students who began their studies in humanities. Their participation was undoubtedly the highlight of the session. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet several other doctoral researchers at Tallinn University who work in diverse fields. I learned about their research interests and found common themes with my own research project. Lastly, I spent quality time in the university library, explored the city, especially its oldest part, and found two excellent bookstores with a considerable collection of English books.
What kind of support did you get from Tallinn University and the Border Lab project?
I want to express my gratitude for the amazing support I received from Tallinn University during my research visit. First, I would like to thank Tanya Escudero for her excellent planning of the activities, arranging a PhD room for me during my stay, and introducing me to her colleagues and other doctoral researchers. I also want to mention Professor Julia Kuznetski for organizing the research seminar and giving me the opportunity to present my research paper to the research group of Humanities. Finally, I must thank Ksenia Shmydkaya for her help and suggestions in preparing the teaching session for the BA-level students. I also received immense support from Alicja Fajfer of the Border Lab Project, particularly from the very beginning when my application became successful. Overall, this successful one-week research trip would not have been possible without the support and assistance from both parties.
How did the exchange benefit your studies?
The exchange provided an excellent opportunity to meet people working in different networks and establish connectivity. Besides, the valuable feedback that I received from the Tallinn University-based researchers immensely benefitted me in applying the powerfully critical insights to my own research. Overall, this research visit has had a profound impact on my personal academic and research experience.