Dr. D. Kyle Latinis
Research Fellow
Dr. D. Kyle Latinis currently researches the Historical Ecology of Southeast Asia. Historical Ecology is an approach combining ethnographic (mostly traditional cultural practices), historic, environmental, and archaeological data. Research also addresses internal and external socio-economic factors and resource exploitation.
Dr. Latinis oversees projects and field training in Southeast Asia, having over 25 years of experience in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Current projects inclusive of NSC Field Schools include settlement and ecology at Koh Ker (10thcentury Angkorian capital), Cambodia; Phnom Kulen (8th/9thcentury Hindu/Saivite Banteay Palace site and adjacent Buddhist Sema Stone sites – Peam Kre and Don Meas), Cambodia; the late 12thcentury Tonle Snguot Angkorian hospital site at the northern gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia; the Kanam Rock Art Site in the Cardamom mountains, Cambodia – a site noted for depicting unique panels with elephants, elephant riders, and deer among other animals; and chief designer of the upcoming (2018+) NSC Field School at the 11th-15thcentury Majapahit Era sites at Mount Penanggunan, Trawas, East Java, Indonesia. Dr. Latinis’ earlier work focused on protohistoric sites in east Indonesia; economics and value-chains; and subsistence system evolution in Greater Near Oceania with specific attention to arboreal based economies. He has worked on numerous projects throughout the region including several in Singapore.
The Field School is an interdisciplinary international research and training initiative for East Asia Summit (EAS) participants and partners. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. Anthropology, archaeology, art history, environmental studies, ecology, economics, ethics, regional partnership, capacity building, education, and research design, implementation, and management are central topics. It is truly interdisciplinary and offers a revolutionary approach to holistic research design and implementation, networking, experiential learning, local stakeholder inclusion, and multi-tiered skills and management training.
Dr. Latinis earned a PhD at the National University of Singapore (2008) and a PhD in Ecological Anthropology at the University of Hawaii (1999). He recently spent four years (18 months in Afghanistan) as a Senior Social Scientist and Director for a US Department of Defense capability working with international partners to enhance intercultural understanding and cooperation through applied multi-disciplinary social science and humanities research. Cultural heritage, identity, intercultural dynamics, and local stakeholder inclusion and empowerment were key themes. Previously, Dr. Latinis was Dean of all Graduate Studies (7 Colleges/Faculties) and Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Cambodia as well as a Researcher/Lecturer at the National University of Singapore. Other areas of expertise include applied multi-disciplinary research, research design, and enhancing cross-cultural competencies.
