We're being studied.

[Elderberry]

The Swiss National Science Foundation, a government research agency, has granted more than $100,000 to academic scholars who are researching, of all things, Burning Man.

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/bur ... 303629002/

[Sham]

For a lot less money, these academics could buy a ticket and jump on a plane to study Burning Man.

[Captain Goddammit]

Exactly. All that money, and they’re going to be way off base like every other study.

[Ratty]

Not necessarily.

[Meat Hunter]

Some of you might wish to cut the academics a little slack. Who knows, some of their published research just might cause some positive change around the world.

Could it be that one (or more) of the academics will use their grant money to purchase a ticket, air fare, and other support supplies & equipment that we all need to attend the event?

Just my two (very small & insignificant) cents.

[Ratty]

Before you get 'off the rails' about being studied, search a bit on the Burning Man site about the census team. We are studied around the world. https://journal.burningman.org/2017/02/ ... this-year/ This is just one of dozens of pages about gathering information at the burn. Yes, the researchers are burners.

https://iash.uq.edu.au/profile/427/dr-graham-st-john

https://journal.burningman.org/2014/02/ ... -diaspora/

Meet the man https://www.burningprogeny.org/project-team

[Traveller in Time]

. . .
https://iash.uq.edu.au/profile/427/dr-graham-st-john
. . .

Can it be, that a significant part of the population of BRC comes to study and learn the experience of Burning Man ?

As evidenced by official Regional Events currently staged in over 60 locations in 16 countries, this colossal cultural experiment, and its founding principles, has migrated from San Francisco to the world.

Seems "dr-graham-st-john" visits many if not all. Assuming he also participates as that is the best way to understand Culture.

[XPTom]

Few decades ago a federally funded study "conclusively" proved nitrates and nitrites in cured meats were a health hazard. Detractors of the study said it only proved laboratory mice shouldn't eat 300 pounds of bacon a day. I thought "wow... lucky lab mice". If the Swiss will pay me in bacon (or chocolate) I'll gladly volunteer to be their lab mouse.

[Canoe]

... Could it be that one (or more) of the academics will use their grant money to purchase a ticket, air fare, and other support supplies & equipment that we all need to attend the event? ...

They'd probably get in trouble for that, given that they're supposed to be studying
Most of the 85 regional events and groups are in Europe. ... By surveying and interviewing European Burners, sociologists and anthropologists hope to find out how Burning Man's principles are manifesting beyond the boundaries of Black Rock City.

So, sociologists for the younger Burners and anthropologists for us older Burners?
(just kidding)

[Meat Hunter]

Before a researcher might "...hope to find out how Burning Man's principles are manifesting beyond the boundaries of Black Rock City"; might it be a good idea for them to first attend the event on the playa to establish a base line?

Also, might they also wish to spend a little of the grant money to attend a number of regional events in the US to be able to make a comparison?

[Canoe]

True, but from what's been published European researchers are very familiar with the 10 principles, how they have already propagated through some European regionals and how the The Ten resonate with many European values. They have a credible starting point from prior research, with many regional events in Europe to assess (85 ish if I recall correctly?).

The thing about quality research, is that you can rely upon it, and you don't have to reinvent the wheel.