Travel Guidelines

One of the most important phases of fieldwork and international research is planning and preparation before you leave. Field activities can be for just a day or for an extended length of time and may take you to the local, international, urban, or rural environment where many hazards may be present. Planning can help you mitigate potential risks. EH&S has created a draft Field and International Research Safety Plan to help with fieldwork and international research planning, including site hazards and risks analysis and preparing a mitigation plan.  

Travel Safety and Security Plan 
Planning a successful field research trip will take time, effort, organizing, and review. It is recommended that researchers start planning at least 6 - 12 months in advance of their planned travel dates. The first step to take when planning to travel for research is to review the university travel policy and to abide by the travel requirements including registering your trip. Harvard Global Support Services (GSS) is available to provide tools and guidance on international research operations. Travel Tools and checklists are available through the GSS website: https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/travel/pre-departure-support/forms-checklists, and more advice about travel safety can be found here.  

Safety and Security, and Best Practices While in the Field 
Fieldwork presents unique challenges that can increase the likelihood of discrimination and harassment, including but not limited to, challenging physical conditions, social isolation, and limited communication methods. FAS Science Division is committed to promoting a learning and working environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect. Harassing, coercive, or disruptive acts can be forms of misconduct that undermine the effectiveness of our research and lead to the impairment of people toward whom such behavior is directed. All relationships among persons involved in fieldwork must be professional. Everyone involved in fieldwork must refrain from and discourage discrimination and harassment of any type. Training to reinforce these principles is available through the 1) Fieldwork Safety and Security workshop the Science Division offers twice per year, and 2) Title IX training mandatory for faculty and students and emphasizes key elements of Nondiscrimination; Bystander Intervention; Allyship; Privilege; Cultural Competency; and Anti-Harassment in the context of trainees’ research. These trainings are available at https://trainingportal.harvard.edu 

Data Security While Traveling 
Bringing personal laptops or mobile devices when traveling increases the possibility of data and identity theft, especially in countries deemed to be high risk. If you are traveling for university business, you may be eligible to loan a device from HUIT for the duration of your trip. Please note this is a pilot program limited to faculty members in the FAS Division of Sciences, with a plan that this service will be extended to a broader population in the future. Faculty who need laptops or mobile devices for their trip should submit the request here: https://huit.harvard.edu/international-travel-loaner-devices. Download the Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) instruction and security checklist for travelers here.