After the students identify a material they would like to investigate, it is important to gain access to the field of research. Examples of starting points can include local production places where the material is being used or processed, associations working to promote the material, environmental activists and researchers publishing on the topic. It is advisable to share with the students, that not every actor will be excited talk to them and to start by establishing a broad point of contact, reaching out to multiple stakeholders and formulating their requests in a careful way, particularly if contacting industry professionals who profit from the usage of the material.  

The instructor shall introduce the students to the consent agreements, clarifying what legal implications their research could have and introducing clean practices of data collection such as field reports, protocols and audiovisual recordings.