A special encounter in the Bolivian Amazon

August 2, 2025

During our time in the Bolivian Amazon, we had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Dr. Ricardo Godoy, one of the anthropologists who has worked the longest with the Tsimane’ people. For decades, his research has provided invaluable insights into the social transformations experienced by Tsimane’ communities over the last three decades.

Spending time together was a truly special moment for our team. Listening to his reflections on the many changes he has witnessed offered us a rare long-term perspective, one that only comes from many years of careful ethnographic engagement. Dr. Godoy has recently published a book titled “Researching Well-Being in an Indigenous Amazon Community: A Detailed Survey of the Tsimane’ Over Time”, which draws on longitudinal research to examine how well-being, livelihoods, health, and economic inequality have evolved in Tsimane’ communities over the years.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share this moment in the field and to learn from his long experience working with the Tsimane’ people.

You can learn more about the book here:
https://www.routledge.com/Researching-Well-Being-in-an-Indigenous-Amazon-Community-A-Detailed-Survey-of-the-Tsimane-Over-Time/Godoy/p/book/9781032951287

The IEK-CHANGES project is an ERC Starting Grant funded by the European Union (IEK-CHANGES, 101117423) to Dr. Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

© 2026 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
All rights reserved

All Amazonian pictures by Joan de la Malla

Illustrations and logo design by Mar Cartró-Sabaté

El proyecto IEK-CHANGES es una beca «Starting Grant» del Consejo Europeo de Investigación (ERC) financiada por la Unión Europea (IEK-CHANGES, 101117423) y concedida al Dr. Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares.

No obstante, las opiniones y puntos de vista expresados son exclusivamente de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente los de la Unión Europea ni los de la Agencia Ejecutiva del Consejo Europeo de Investigación. Ni la Unión Europea ni la autoridad que concede la subvención se hacen responsables de los mismos.

© 2026 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Todos los derechos reservados

Todas las fotografías de la Amazonía son de Joan de la Malla

Ilustraciones y diseño del logotipo: Mar Cartró-Sabaté

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