Recognizing power. Reclaiming safety.

Practical tools. Powerful boundaries. Safer fieldwork.

Integrity in research begins with safety and respect in the field.


We’re redefining fieldwork protocols to center consent, dignity, and accountability — because harm has no place in science.

Accountability hub with callouts: clearly stated expectations, transparent reporting systems, and shared commitment to safety.

Who We Are

A collective of researchers, educators, and students committed to building safer, more ethical fieldwork environments across disciplines.

What We Do

We provide free, customizable tools that help researchers prepare for fieldwork, establish team accountability, and access survivor-centered reporting and support resources.

Why It Matters

Research should never come at the expense of safety or dignity. Our mission is to make accountability, transparency, and consent standard practice — protecting both people and science.


Who This Helps & How You Can Use Our Site

The Golden Trowel Project™ offers practical tools and information for everyone involved in research — whether you’re preparing for your first field season or guiding a team in the field.

Who This Helps: 1. Students & Early-Career Researchers: Prepare safely, know your rights, and access confidential support. 2. Faculty & Supervisors: Build transparent, consent-based team protocols and accountability systems. 3. Institutions & Programs: Align policies with field safety best practices and provide clear reporting pathways.
How You Can Use Our Site: 1. Prepare: Create your safety plan and set expectations with your team. 2. Support: Find confidential, survivor-centered resources. 3. Report: Learn clear steps for documenting and reporting misconduct.

Prevalence of Fieldwork Harassment and Assault

A 2014 survey sampling >650 anthropologists revealed high frequencies of harassment and assault, and low frequencies of awareness of reporting procedures (Clancy et al., 2014: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102172).

Infographic summarizing findings of Clancy et al., 2014. 64% of participants experienced sexual harassment during fieldwork, 21% of participants experienced sexual assault during fieldwork, 20% were aware of reporting mechanisms prior to the survey.

Get Ready for the Field: Three Steps to Start Safely

Each template can be customized to your needs and downloaded for your records or shared with your team.

CLICK HERE Before You Go

Pre-Fieldwork Safety Checklist

Step-by-step setup that ties the plan and commitment together.

Preparing for Travel: Know Before You Go

Understanding local laws, cultural expectations, and support systems helps you make informed choices in the field. This section links to trusted resources on travel safety, recording laws, and international research preparation.

CLICK HERE for ESD Training

Self-Defense & Boundary Setting Training

Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) builds your skillset in how to expand your awareness, assess your options, recognize threatening behavior, assert boundaries, de-escalate heightened situations, escape to safety, and physically defend yourself.

CLICK HERE to Prepare for Travel

Prepare for Travel

Explore key safety and cultural guidance for your fieldwork destination — including local laws, recording regulations, LGBTQ+ rights, and cultural expectations & etiquette before you go.

CLICK HERE for Ethics Offices

Find Your Institution's Ethics Office

Ethics offices provide guidance, advocacy, and clarity when facing unethical or harmful behavior in academic spaces or during research. Learn what protections apply to you, who you can safely talk to, and how your institution can support you through next steps.

CLICK HERE for Embassy / Consulate

Find my Embassy / Consulate

Locate the embassy or consulate serving your fieldwork area, and learn how local offices can provide support, guidance, and emergency assistance while you’re abroad.


Survivor Support


Supporting You

Access survivor-centered resources focused on emotional support, recovery, and community care. This page highlights mental-health hotlines, trauma-informed care networks, and guidance on seeking help after an incident—because your safety and well-being come first.

TBTN:

Take Back the Night

National Sexual Assault Legal Hotline: Free Legal Assistance for Survivors Call 567-SHATTER (567-742-8837)


Hot Peach Pages:

International List of Sexual & Domestic Violence Agencies


interaction.org:

Handbook of International Centers for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Harassment


RAINN:

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network


ILGA World:

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association


Creating Change in Fieldwork

Help us understand the current state of fieldwork safety by participating in our anonymous survey.

The Fieldwork Misconduct Survey gathers community-driven, anonymous data on harassment and misconduct to update the only major prevalence study (Clancy et al., 2014).

Your participation helps highlight how much change is still needed—and why these resources matter. Together, we can use these data to drive accountability and create safer fieldwork environments. No names, emails, or identifying details are collected; results are stored and reported in aggregate.

We believe safety and accountability make better science. Explore our resources to build a field culture rooted in respect.