Farzana was born and raised in Sari, a city in the northern part of Iran, by the Caspian Sea. The family had no prior academic background, but valued education highly, making Farzana and her siblings feeling a need to study at university. Being the youngest she says she had the privilege to escape many family responsibilities and could therefore be more individualistic in her choices of what to study.
The original plan was to study aeronautics, but failing to get accepted she got into mechanical engineering, thinking she would switch over later on during her studies.
As the engineering studies went on she became increasingly interested in environmental issues, and at one point she discovered an online course here at Lund University, "The Greening Economy – Lessons from Scandinavia. After that she applied to masters programmes here and eventually she started her PhD project in Research Policy at LUSEM's department of Business Administration.
After years of hard work you are now presenting your dissertation, what is it about?
"My research explores the underlying realities that shape and influence scholar-activist practices. I argue that we need to adopt a context-sensitive approach when studying scholar-activism. By conducting empirical research in Sweden and South Africa, I show that scholar-activist practices are not perceived or received in the same way across different universities, academic disciplines, or national contexts. For instance, the field of gender studies operates under very different norms and values than mechanical engineering. Likewise, distinct funding regimes and policy priorities can shape which research topics are valued at the national level. A country’s political and social movement history can also determine the extent to which intellectuals have space to engage in activism," says Farzana Bashiri.
She adds that she views her PhD work as a contribution to the broader and increasingly urgent debates on the role of universities and scholars in shaping the political direction of our societies.
What has it been like to be a PhD student at LUSEM ?
"I don’t have a background in any of the fields traditionally associated with this faculty, so I was surprised to find myself at LUSEM. However, this experience has shown me how research institutions are increasingly crossing disciplinary boundaries and creating space for scholars from diverse academic backgrounds. I must confess, it can feel lonely to be in a department where one doesn’t share many academic interests with colleagues. But I believe such environments more accurately reflect the diversity of the real world, as it is often easier to be trapped in academic bubbles. These environments can broaden our worldviews and enhance creativity in research. Everyone can benefit from this, especially when it is accompanied by a spirit of openness and curiosity," Farzana explains.
What are your plans after the dissertation, and do you have any advice for those just starting their PhD journey?
"For my near future, I would like to continue conducting research on the role of science, universities, and scholars in politics and social movements. Yet, the current employment landscape is not very promising for fields like mine. So, if there is a gap between my PhD and future research opportunities, I would like to use that time to reconnect with my family and life in Iran.
In my last words, if I want to share a few words with those who are just beginning their PhD journey, I would say: As much as you immerse yourself in your department and research group, try to reach beyond these boundaries too. Informal academic networks and communities can be invaluable sources of inspiration, especially if you want to pursue research that is unconventional, exploratory, or “activist” in some form. Connect with those whose work and academic ways of being inspire you, and let them motivate you to discover your own unique scholarly path," Farzana says in conclusion.