Benjamin D. NeimarkVisiting Assistant Professor
Office:338 Gladfelter Hall Telephone: 215 204 2185 email: bneimark@temple.edu
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Areas of Expertise: Political ecology, natural resource extraction, uneven development, environmental justice, conservation policy, Africa/Madagascar. |
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Education: Ph.D., Rutgers University, Geography, 2009. |
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Research: My recent research focuses on the political economy of biological prospecting on the island nation of Madagascar. Bioprospecting involves search for, and commercialization of, useful natural compounds for new pharmaceutical and industrial products. I examine three case studies of drug discovery and development and analyze the politics of access to valuable genetic and biological resources used in bioprospecting. This research involved 14 months of intensive ethnographic field surveys and participant observation carried out in 2005 and 2006. These were implemented in multiple rural sites in northern town of Antsiranana, the central region of Bealanana, and the southern regions of Anosy and Androy. It included interviews with scientists in laboratories and state institutions and non-governmental organizations in the capital of Antananarivo. Also in Madagascar, I have investigated strategies to improve small-scale agriculture using innovative agroforestry methods, and traditional agricultural systems. These systems can have a major effect on farmers' adoption of new livelihood alternatives. In my Master's research, I developed techniques to improve the direction and speed of domestication of threatened Malagasy forest and fruit species, in order to increase food security and provide added income. |
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Selected publications:
Neimark, B. 2010 “Subverting regulatory protection of ‘natural commodities:’ The Prunus africana in Madagascar,” Development and Change 41(5) 929-954.
Neimark, B. and R. Schroeder 2009 “Hotspot discourse in Africa: Making space for bioprospecting in Madagascar,” African Geographical Review 28: 43-70.
Neimark, B. (accepted pending revisions) “Searching for that ‘Eureka’ moment: The importance of conducting detailed field-research and post-field analysis,” Fieldwork in an African setting: An edited collection of advice, reflections and stories of research on the continent, African Geographical Review.
Neimark, B. 2009 “Models of benefit sharing natural products: Opportunities and challenges in ensuring ethical natural product discovery," In: Simon, J. and H., Juliani (eds.), African Natural Plant Products: New Discoveries and Challenges in Chemistry and Quality. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.
Neimark, B. (revise and resubmit) “At the ‘Pharm’ Gate: Overcoming the barriers of rosy periwinkle production in southern Madagascar,” Journal of Peasant Studies.
Neimark, B. (under review) “Industrializing nature, knowledge, and labour: A case study of bioprospecting in Madagascar,” Geoforum.
Neimark, B. (in preparation) “Biofuel battlegrounds: property rights, land deals, and alternative energy production in Madagascar,” Proposed submission: February 2011, Environment and Planning A.
Neimark, B. (in preparation) “Global goods: Third World nature and its importance for the bioprospecting industry,” Proposed submission: April 2011, The Professional Geographer.
Selected conference presentations:
2010 “Poverty, rural development, and hotspot discourse in Africa: Making space for bioprospecting in Madagascar” Paper presented for the international conference, Voices from Madagascar’s Forests: Improving Representation and Rights for Malagasy Forest Peoples, University of East Anglia, Norwich, June.
2010 “Defining the 'Good': Industrializing Natural Products Drug Discovery in Madagascar” Paper presented for the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Panel title: Global Goods: Toward Ethnographies of Ethical Commodities, Washington, DC, April.
2009 “Climate change, social vulnerability, and hazards: The science behind the stories.” Introductory Presentation for the Temple University Environmental Law Society Teach-In on Climate Change, Philadelphia, PA, October.
2009 "Ethical bioprospecting in a Malagasy hotspot?” Paper presented for the Global Goods: Changing Perspectives on Trade, Human Rights and the Environment, Co-organizer, New Brunswick, NJ, April.
2009 “Making Markets, Maintaining Morality,” Panel chair for the Global Goods: Changing Perspectives on Trade, Human Rights and the Environment, Co-organizer, New Brunswick, NJ, April.
2009 “The proliferation of biodiversity hotspots and the politics of ‘enframing’” Paper presented for the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Panel title: Conservation, Materiality, and Practice, Las Vegas, April.
2008 “Eden articulated: The co-evolution of hotpot science and bioprospecting in Madagascar,” Paper presented for the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Panel title: Advancing Environmentality. Boston, April.
2007 "Environmental Rights in Madagascar," Panel organizer African Studies Association, Annual Meeting New York, October.
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