Dr Ivan Tacey

The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Ivan's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

About Ivan

I am a socio-cultural anthropologist and multi-species ethnographer specialized in Southeast Asia. My research examines the relationships between humans and the environments they live in. For the last 15 years, I have worked with the Batek, hunter-gatherers who live in the some of the last remaining tropical forests of Malaysia. I am particularly interested in how the Batek have maintained extremely high levels of bio-diversity in the areas they live in and have managed to maintain culturally distinct lifeways despite being in close contact with other groups for thousands of years. I have previously lectured in anthropology and anthrozoology at the University of Exeter and anthropology, sociology and cultural studies at the University of Lyon in France.

I am currently completing two books. The first book 'Walking with Tigers', is an illustrated ethnography about the Bateks relationships with their forest environment. I am fortunate to be working on this book in collaboration with celebrated Devon-based artist John Hurford. The book is slated to be published in 2022 by the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns in Malaysia and is the culmination of a long-term project between myself and John. The project closely connected with my multi-media approach to teaching anthropology through ethnographic films, graphic novels, exhibitions, computer games, and interactive 3D simulations.

The second book is entitled 'Cosmic Entanglements – Shamanism and Cosmopolitics among the Batek of Malaysia' and examines how Batek environmental relations and religious forms are being reshaped in the 21st century. It is scheduled for publication with the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies in 2022.

My current research focuses on monstrosity, violence and global interconnectivity.

Would you like to do postgraduate research with me?

I currently supervise a number of MA students, and am very happy to supervise anyone interested in postgraduate research (MA or PhD) related to my expertise! For more info on the topics I work on, please click my research tabs... and do not hesitate to write me an email if you wish to discuss project ideas and funding opportunities!

Teaching

I have extensive experience lecturing in anthropology, sociology, criminology cultural studies and anthrozoology at universities in France and the UK. Prior to joining the University of Plymouth, I was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Exeter at the Exeter Anthrozoology as Symbiotic Ethics Working Group - an interdisciplinary group of academics whose research aimed to improve the lives of animals. At Exeter, I taught on the undergraduate Anthropology programme and the Masters programme in Anthrozoology. In France, I taught at the Université Lumière Lyon 2, the Université Jean Monnet, St Etienne and the Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3.

At the School of Society and Culture at the University of Plymouth, I currently lead the following modules: