His area of research is Race and Ethnic relations with an emphasis on the struggle for self-definition in minority cultures. Funk has had four assignments in Palestine which took him to At-Twani on the edge of the Negev Desert and Hebron, a flashpoint in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. In Palestine he worked alongside Palestinian, Israeli and International peace activists committed to non-violent direct action in the interests of peace with justice. Johann is a member of Amnesty International and the Canadian Palestine Association.