Field Research Office
dr. erin bayne has agreed to take on a second three-year term as the field research office director. see his message below:
"As I begin my second term as Director of the Field Research Office, I’m proud of the meaningful strides we’ve made together in transforming our field safety culture. In just a few short years, we’ve shifted how safety is understood and practiced across disciplines—and that momentum is something we must continue to build on. Looking ahead, one of my key goals is to streamline the administrative side of fieldwork—making paperwork and procedural requirements more efficient and less time-consuming, without compromising on quality or compliance. I’m also committed to expanding our skills training offerings, ensuring they are more tailored to the diverse and global nature of field research happening today. Finally, I want to support those who may not fit the traditional image of fieldwork, by helping them—and others—better understand the value, process, and importance of safe, well-planned research in all its forms."
Field Research Office
The Field Research Office (FRO) helps to facilitate safe off-campus research activities, including all types of field, archival, library or other research, as well as field trips and field schools carried out nationally or internationally. We provide advice and offer the following services:
- Information on field operations and/or safety plans to ensure compliance with U of A policy and OHS legislation.
- Information on mitigation or control of hazards.
- Equipment rentals at cost-recovery (e.g., satellite communication devices, AEDs and medical first aid kits).
- Connections to other field researchers within the U of A community.
Field Research Activities Committee
The Field Research Activities Committee (FRAC) is made up of faculty members who specialize in field research, safety technicians, senior management within Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and other units. The committee provides a channel of communication between field researchers and senior administration, and works towards solutions on issues identified by the U of A’s field research community.
Field SKILLS DAY | MAY 8, 2025
The first-ever Field Skills Day event went ahead despite a bit of rain and wind gusts on May 8, 2025. Useful skills were learned by field researchers such as changing a tire, strapping down ATVs, identifying small scary things (ticks, wasps, toxic plants), deploying bear spray, transporting dangerous goods, filling a jerry can, communicating with satellite devices, navigating with a compass, tying knots, setting up a tent, to name a few. One added impromptu skill was demonstrated: learning how to stop traffic to let goslings cross Saskatchewan Drive. Students from other Edmonton educational institutions participated, making this a collaborative event. We want to thank the instructors and volunteers who gave their time to make the event happen. The participants took away resource sheets developed by instructors for the skills they learned during the event:
Field Researcher's Toolkit
- Pre-Planning page that explains all the necessary steps including the Central Field Activities Plan Registry
- Field Research FAQs
- Field Reseach Safety Training
- Field Activity Safety Plan (FASP) Template - "NEW"
- Field Activities Plan Addendum
- Human-Participant Research Field Activities Plan (H-FAP) Template
- Daily Field Safety Log Books
- Equipment Request Form
- Insurance Information for Field Researchers