Alka Patel, American researcher hosted at Aix-Marseille University

Transcription

This was really the first opportunity to think that maybe I could work and teach and have another research team in France. My name is Alka Patel, I do research on architecture and the history of architecture. In South Asia, it means the Indian subcontinent, but it also includes Afghanistan to Bangladesh and also Sri Lanka. I have known for a long time, that there are problems for research, especially for travel. For example, it was practically impossible to travel to Cuba and also to Iran. This is a really significant obstacle. The most interesting thing to me is the connections between architectural traditions, across the regions of Eurasia, meaning the Iranian world, of course, along with India. We need to go to the regions with architectural remains to document and study them but it was always difficult, and for all researchers working on the Islamic world, for example, it is practically impossible.
There is always a contrast between the scientific world in the United States and in France. I would say that currently, it's also about broadening horizons for my students who have very recently completed their PhD. It offers them new opportunities. Now, they are seriously looking at post-docs and other contracts here in Europe, and especially in France. Of course, for my career, it's an opportunity to strengthen ties with colleagues here in France. French research is done in a completely different spirit. Projects are more collaborative. We always think in terms of a team, and I appreciate the spirit of community. It had been a long time since I had much light, I mean, and I didn't have much optimism in the United States. I was fortunate to have done a lot of research, to have had opportunities, and I still recognize them. But it wasn't a bright future. And if I see broader horizons, that's a positive thing.