Spark Connections: August 4, 2022
Read our bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University. In this newsletter, we highlight centre news, upcoming events, and updated resources for researchers. To subscribe to our mailing list, please email talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca.
Aug 04, 2022
Spark's Annual Open House - Save the Date
Mark your calendars! Spark: a centre for social research innovation is hosting it's annual open house event on September 23rd 2022 at 10:30am - 2:30 pm ET in the Spark space/Co-Lab on the 5th floor of L.R. Wilson Hall at McMaster University.
Stop in to learn about Spark, research methods, network with other researchers and for games/fun activities. We will be offering a light lunch and snacks. There will also be a door raffle and prizes.
Have we sparked your interest? We hope you will stop in for some fun, informative sessions and networking. We can't wait to welcome you back into our space and share all that we have been working on.
Full agenda for the Open House coming soon!
Meet the new member of Spark's Marketing Team, Nusrat Mir!
Please join us in welcoming Nusrat Mir. Nusrat will be working with Spark this summer on the Marketing/Comms team, starting with helping to caption our archived videos.
Nusrat completed a Bachelor of Arts in Labour Studies and Sociology. She is also an Accessibility Program Assistant at the AccessMac Program which advances accessibility and disability inclusion at McMaster. Welcome to the team!
After another year of engaging seminars, Spark will be taking a break from Spark Talks during the summer months (May-Aug).
With excitement for Spark Talks return in Fall 2022, we will feature some of our favourite talks from this year in a weekly social media campaign on Twitter @Spark_McMaster. Join us on twitter every Friday at 10:30am during the summer for #SparkResearchReplay!
Check out the latest #SparkResearchReplay videos below:
Looking to pool software licences?
Now you can! Fill out this form and we will reach out if we can match you with others looking to pool licences.
We are also attempting a pilot in fall term allowing for virtual desktop access to several licenses for major Qualitative Data Analysis software, and will be seeking volunteers to test out the viability of this option. FSS faculty, please email talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca if you're interested in participating.
Research Conversations
We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to all McMaster researchers (students, staff and faculty) on every social research topic imaginable. If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.
Qualtrics Licences
If you are an FSS researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/Gn2KvYgdebjo8d2W8.
Brighter Spark Applied Research
Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any social research method. Our cost-recovery services include methods and software training, custom research, state-of-the-art facilities, and taking on elements of your project to support its completion.
For a full list of Brighter Spark Applied Research's services, visit: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/brighter-spark
Critical Global Health: Summer Workshop Series
Critical Global Health is hosting a "summer workshop" series led by Ph.D. students across McMaster University, University of Guelph, and Western University. This series aims to interrogate and critically re-think certain approaches and methodologies used within health research. Each event will be an hour-long and online via Zoom. All sessions are free!
- August 5th @ 7 PM - Aisha Barkhad - The epidemic potential of vector-borne infectious diseases in a changing climate: Rethinking vector control and prevention efforts using a health equity lens
- August 12th @ 7 PM - Lulwama Mulalu - The world is on fire, now what? The psycho- emotional labour of marginalised voices in Western academic institutions.
- August 17th @ 7 PM - Erika Campbell - Population Control is Unacceptable: Understanding Eugenics, White Supremacy, and Genocide in so called Canada
Back to Mac: Getting Research Ready
August 11th at 8:30-9:45am (Online event, Event URL sent via registration email)Hosted by: McMaster University Library, Ariel Stables-Kennedy
Whether you're starting your first year at Mac or you are coming to campus after a year of learning remotely, everyone is welcome to attend this orientation session, where you'll connect with peers and learn how to access various resources to support your success as a student.
Learn more and register here: https://libcal.mcmaster.ca/event/3676860
Data Matters : Data Science Course Series
A week-long series of one and two-day courses aimed at students and professionals in business, research and government. Data Matters gives students the chance to learn about a wide range of topics in data science, analytics, visualization, curation and more from expert instructors. Registration is now open, reserve your spot now!Data Matters will be held virtually via zoom on August 8th-12th 2022
Learn more and register here
Toronto Public Library - On Civil Society Series
Kaitlyn Tiffany: "Everything I need I Get From You"August 24th 2022 at 12:00 PM
Hosted by: Vass Bednar
Journalist and author Kaitlyn Tiffany shares her new book Everything I Need I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It with host Vass Bednar and discusses how fangirls, in their ingenuity and collaboration, created the social internet we know today.
Learn more about the event and register here
Faculty of Social Sciences- Hiring Managing Director for Digital Society Lab
The Managing Director will lead all operations for the Digital Society Lab, including:- Providing essential ongoing expertise
- Providing support and leadership in operational strategy project management
- Identifying and attracting funding
- Other tasks with the ultimate goal of fostering novel and meaningful contributions to the study of digital societies.
Learn more and apply by August 10th 2022 here
Kudos to Suzanne Mills (Labour Studies) who was featured in the Brighter World article "Queer and trans workers disproportionately represented in precarious work, research says". Susanne discusses how many 2SLGBTQ+ people end up staying in jobs where they are underemployed or in unsafe working conditions because they are afraid of losing a supportive employer or facing discrimination elsewhere.
Read the full article here
Shout-out to Michael Veall (Economics) who was quoted in the CBC News article "Cement shortages are putting pressure on Canada's construction industry"
Read the full article here
Congratulations to Sage Hartmann (Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Student) who is a recipient of the President's Award of Excellence in Student Leadership. This award celebrates the contributions of McMaster undergraduate students in their fourth year who have played a significant role in enhancing the intellectual, social, or cultural fabric of the McMaster community through outstanding leadership.
Read more about Sage and the award here
Kudos to Jim Dunn (Health, Aging and Society) who was featured in The Hamilton Spectator article "You need an income of nearly $180,000 to buy a home in Hamilton".
Read the full Hamilton Spectator article here
Website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spark-a-centre-for-social-research-innovation/about/
Email: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca
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