As a member of this team my takeaways from this fabulous experience are:

• Multi-national/ interdisciplinary research teams provide a powerful crucible to share ideas, culture and expertise. They empower research advancement, ringing new understanding to global challenges such as DRR;

• Local knowledge has a significant contribution to make to DRR. Our work reveals it is not sufficiently harnessed in research or policy-practice approaches. Local communities need to be further empowered to be partners in developing resilience;

• Environmental and societal challenges in the Indian Himalaya, are not a new phenomenon, so we must better learn from the past, to better equip mountain communities for the apparently increasing occurrence of cascading disaster impacts.

Undertaking this field research in an international collaboration between GBP-NIHE and Bath Spa University was a really exciting and demanding challenge for both staff and students alike. To be able to work in partnership with, and learn from, GBP-NIHE faculty and postgraduate students was a privilege for the UK-based staff, students and graduates. It enabled us to understand and apply research practices developed in a previous collaborative research project by UK and Indian colleagues to a new location, as well as to inform teaching pedagogy and future collaborative research projects.

From a personal perspective, I will always be grateful to have been provided the opportunity to undertake research in the Indian Himalayan region, see new landscapes at an altitude I had never imagined I would go to, meet new collaborators who are so knowledgeable about the area, and, most importantly, be so warmly welcomed into the local communities through the village workshops. Whilst the data is yet to be fully analysed from our pilot study, recording and documenting the local community’s knowledge and experiences will no doubt help our collective understanding of historical hazards and community resilience strategies, and to provide a platform on which local knowledge can formally contribute and enhance the DRR policy planning within our ever-changing environments

I would also like to acknowledge and thank our financial sponsors including the UK Turing Scheme and the Royal Commonwealth Society (Bath branch).

I found travelling by road in India an exciting, sometimes alarming and educational experience. Describing the connectivity of fellow road users whether human or non-human as a ‘system’*, in itself, is an accurate reflection of these relationships. Observing the intermingling of drivers and bike riders somehow manoeuvring around pedestrians and animals including cows, goats and dogs who share the road with equal rights and dignity is a miracle of understanding, cooperation and coordination. The use of the vehicle horn is the accepted method of communication on the busy roads informing place and awareness and animals also seem to react to this. Drivers and riders have an inbuilt spatial awareness where the tiniest of spaces is used to pass and avoid connecting with fellow humans and animals.

This trip has been filled with unforgettable moments. Getting a chance to visit the villages on the banks of the Dhauliganga river and having the opportunity to incorporate the rich knowledge of the people embedded in this dynamic landscape into our research has been very valuable. The day we spent in Kosa village was especially memorable. It was a rainy day in the mountains, and we were all quite cold. After the village meeting, the generous people of Kosa insisted that we should have a hot meal before our journey back to Joshimath. Sitting underneath the shelter in front of the school building, looking up at the highest peaks of the mountains disappearing into the clouds above us while eating steaming hot kapa was a moment I will cherish for a long time.

Both people and place were inspiring. Getting to immerse in traditional Indian culture as well as witness Nanda Devi and the snowy mountain peaks. Combined, it made for a truly unique once in a lifetime experience. Every village member was happy and welcoming, being cooked for and celebrating with each other reminded me the importance of community belonging, and how these traditional ways of life are so valuable to protect.

This experience reminded me of the importance of education and the empowerment of girls. It highlighted the transformative impact that education can have on individuals and their communities. Visiting Joshimath and its remote villages is a journey that reaffirmed our commitment to understanding and working with local communities, and a reminder that field visits has the potential to make a lasting impact not only on research but also on mind.

Working with the team from Bath Spa University for my first field visit to Joshimath, a remote high-altitude village in Uttarakhand, was a truly magical experience. This educational expedition promised to be a unique and enriching journey. For me, it was an opportunity to not only explore the pristine natural environment but also to connect with the resilient local communities of Joshimath who call this high-altitude region their home. This field visit provided a remarkable chance to learn from the local people, fostering a sense of mutual learning and cooperation. Observing the work of the Bath Spa University team, from tour preparation to data collection, was truly enchanting. It was a transformative experience that allowed me to delve into the high-altitude region and the community of Joshimath, gaining a deeper understanding of their unique challenges. This expedition not only enriched my academic knowledge but also left a lasting impact on my heart.

It’s hard to focus on a single event to summarize the experience of an incredible trip, and this is certainly true of my time working alongside colleagues from Bath Spa University and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment in Uttarakhand. However, one day stands out for me: day three of our village data collection spent in Kosa. It encapsulated the varied and spectacular scenery on our long drives up the Dhauliganga valley as well as the change in climate that accompanied the increasing altitude. Nearby peaks appeared momentarily through low clouds, creating an atmosphere later enhanced by a cold wind and rain. It was a privilege to conduct research in such a location, and we left well fed and on a high which was only topped by the moon rising over snow-capped mountains in the distance on our drive back to Joshimath.