Date Time With research, communities should lead and academics follow Historically, research was done ‘on’ communities. A new generation of researchers seeks to reverse this harmful practice. They say the goals of a newer, more beneficial method – community-led research – will only be fulfilled when communities take the research reigns. Dr James Flexner (centre) undertaking community-led research in Vanuatu. Credit: Dr Flexner. There is an upside to arriving in Vanuatu with just a GPS, a notepad, and a few basic supplies. University of Sydney archaeologist Dr James Flexner learnt this when instead of delving into technical work, he met with local chiefs and elders who explained the local landscape of Williams Bay. “The result was ultimately probably richer and more interesting than if I had simply followed the orthodox approach to archaeological survey,” he said.