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Thursday November 16, 2023

Bi-weekly news from Spark: a centre for social research innovation at McMaster University

Centre News

CoLab: The Heart of Our Community

Last month at the CoLab, Spark's co-working space for research teams and graduate students, our collective workspace was buzzing with the spirit of camaraderie and mutual support. A highlight of the month was a touching gesture by Lynn Holland, Spark's amazing Office Administrator, who baked a delightful cake to bid farewell to Gayathri Krishna as she left Hamilton to embark on her dissertation fieldwork in India. The sweet treat was not just a farewell gift, but a symbol of the care and attention we give to each other here at CoLab.

It’s these moments of personal connection that transform our workspace from a mere physical location into a community. We're committed to not just sharing Spark's resources, but also fostering friendships and collaborations that extend beyond these walls. 

Use of the CoLab is free for McMaster faculty members, graduate students and research staff.  To join, stop by our suite, LR Wilson 5803, any weekday between 10-4 and we'll get you set up.  

Upcoming Events

Save the Date for Our Fall Lineup of Spark Talks 

As the season shifts, so does our dedication to elevating discourse in social sciences. We're well into our Fall lineup of Spark Talks, curated to fuel your intellectual curiosity and foster collaborative inquiry. These seminars promise not just knowledge but a communal exploration of crucial research topics that matter now.

Friday, November 17th, 10:30 am - 11:20 am
Speaker: Andrea DaViera
Topic: "Using Multinomial Logistic Regression to identify bias in Predictive Policing Algorithms"
DaViera excavates inherent biases in predictive policing through the lens of multinomial logistic regression.
đź”— Register Now

Friday, November 24th, 10:30 am - 11:20 am
Speaker: Knut Sundell
Topic: "What Social Work practices are most effective - working with imperfect evidence"
Sundell scrutinizes the efficacy of social work practices, even when rooted in flawed or incomplete data.
đź”— Register Now

Friday, December 1, 10:30 am - 11:20 am
Speaker: Josh Seim
Topic: "Participant Observation, Observant Participation, and Hybrid Ethnography"
Seim offers a nuanced comparison between traditional and modern ethnographic methodologies, advocating for a hybrid approach.
đź”— Register Now 

If your schedule doesn't align, worry not. Each Spark Talk is recorded and featured on our MacVideo channel, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to engage with the cutting-edge dialogues that Spark has to offer. We look forward to igniting stimulating conversations with you this Fall.

 
Register Now

Resources for Researchers

Research Conversations

We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to any researcher (students, staff, faculty or community) on every social research topic imaginable.  If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.   

Request a research conversation here
Qualtrics Licenses
If you are an Faculty of Social Sciences researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form

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.

Methods Demonstrations
Faculty in Social Sciences may request demonstrations, short trainings, or code-along sessions from Spark staff for Research Methods or Professional Skills courses.  We're happy to discuss any needs and have already developed trainings for Literature Review, Interviewing, Survey Development, Focus Groups, Data Visualization.  Email us at talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca to discuss if there's a fit for your course.   
CoLab
Research on research innovation (yes, it's very meta) points to a simple truth.  Being in the same physical space and able to informally interact significantly increases cross-disciplinary collaboration and discovery.  The Spark CoLab aims to be such a space.  It is a free, open co-working space for graduate students, research staff and faculty.  You can learn more on our website or stop by from 9 am - Noon or 1 pm - 4pm on Tuesday or Thursday for a tour and orientation. 

SEAL

Some data is critical to addressing major research questions, but is also profoundly sensitive and must be secured.  SEAL is a high security data repository that allows approved researchers worldwide to access highly sensitive data securely.  Data owners can use it to engage researchers in using their datasets and researchers can access data that otherwise would not be available to them.   

Learn more about SEAL at: https://seal.mcmaster.ca/
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

Spark Collaboration
Help us profile your research, publications, job ads, opportunities, and upcoming events by sending them to: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca to be showcased in our following newsletter. 

Contracts and intellectual property rights in translational R&D 

Balancing private innovation incentives, including patents with public access to the fruits of innovation continues to be challenging. IP rights restrict public access by reserving monopoly control to the rightsholder, requiring those wishing to access the technology to contract with those rightsholders. In this paper, we argue that these contracts which underpin the translational R&D process are an under-explored potential means by which a policy balance within the IP system can be achieved. IP safeguards can, and should, be more widely incorporated into those contracts, to preserve the interests of the public, especially where public funds and resources have spearheaded the innovation process. Greater attention to the contractual terms throughout the translational development chain is a necessary and practically realisable way to achieve this fair balance. Key stakeholders in the translational research chain can make important changes to policies and practices for contracting, in order to enhance the wider public interest.

Date: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m. EST
Virtual event on Zoom
Register here
Contracts and intellectual property rights in translational R&D 

Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship: Digital Scholarship Workshops

November 22: Introduction to Making and Sharing Maps with ArcGIS Pro
November 23: Building JavaScript Websites 3: Easy Steps to AODA Compliance (including Optional Set-up Session) - Limited Seats Remaining, Register Now!
November 29: Depositing & Sharing Data Online with McMaster Dataverse

MIHE Seminar Series:  Dr. Roshanak Mehdipanah

The legacy of housing policies and their influence on determinants of health in the US, presented by Dr. Roshanak Mehdipanah, Associate Professor in the Department of Health
Behavior and Health Education in the School of Public Health, University of Michigan

Date: Tuesday, November 21
Time: 11:30am ET
Format: Zoom

Register here.

Labour Studies Speaker Series: Dr. Jim Naylor

Jim Naylor is the author of The New Democracy: Challenging the Social Order in Industrial Ontario, 1914-1925 and The Fate of Labour Socialism: The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future. Most

recently he was an editor of For a Better World: The Winnipeg General Strike and the Workers’ Revolt.

Date: November 22
Time: 3pm EST
Location: Zoom
More Info and Registration here.

50th Anniversary of Halfbreed- Maria Campbell Live

Join us for a special evening to pay tribute to Maria Campbell and her profound landmark 1973 memoir, Halfbreed.

Maria will be joined on stage by fellow scholars; Dr. Winona Wheeler, Dr. Brenda Macdougall, Professor Judy Anderson and Dr. Kim Anderson as they discuss the impacts of Campbell’s work. This event promises a night of heartfelt conversations, powerful storytelling, and captivating performances. Don't miss this chance to honour the 50th anniversary of this groundbreaking work and the impact it has had on Indigenous literature and culture.

Date: Friday November 17, 2023
Time: 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: McMaster University L.R. Wilson Hall - Waller Lobby and LRW Concert Hall (Main Floor), 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8
Hosted by: Indigenous Studies Department, English and Cultural Studies & McMaster Library.

Cost: Free - Get your free ticket here.

The hosts will begin receiving guests in the Waller Lobby at 5:00pm for culturally inspired hors d’oeuvres with theatre seating beginning at 5:30pm. Tickets will be required upon entry.

McMaster: New Faculty Workshop Series 

These workshops expose faculty to McMaster's various management and support structures and involve guest speakers from across campus to present critical topics for career success. Each peer-to-peer workshop format provides an excellent opportunity to hear from reputable faculty and/or senior leaders on aspects of the academy to help junior faculty develop their intellectual pursuits and campus community connections.

All workshops will be held from 3:00pm - 5:00pm in the West Room at the Faculty/University Club (Alumni Memorial Hall). You also have the option of registering to attend the event remotely.

New Faculty Workshop: Grants & Funding Landscape
Date: Thursday, November 23
Register here
 
New Faculty Workshop: Graduate Supervision
Date: Thursday, December 14 
Register here

For more information, visit the Faculty Leadership and Development Resource Hub. 

MacPherson: Universal Design for Learning Workshop Series

Join us for a workshop series on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in honour of the United Nations’ International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
 
Gain a robust introduction to CAST’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines through a series of online workshops exploring their application through a range of teaching functions. The workshops will be participatory and collaborative, with a focus on developing strategies you can implement in your courses.
 
Attend as many or as few workshops as you like!
 
An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Monday, December 4, 10:00am – 12:00pm
 
UDL in Assessment Design
Monday, December 4, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
 
UDL in Course Content Creation, Curation & Presentation
Tuesday, December 5, 10:00am – 12:00pm
 
UDL in the Avenue Course Shell
Tuesday, December 5, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
 
UDL in Course Design
Wednesday, December 6, 10:00am – 12:00pm
 
Register Here

MacPherson: Registration for 2023 Innovations in Education Conference now open

Are you a risk-taker who loves to embrace a new challenge? Do you want to learn from others and build connections within the teaching and learning community?

Then join us on December 7 and 8 for the 2023 Innovations in Education Conference.

Our theme this year is focused on "taking risks and embracing challenge." Participants will have the opportunity to explore how new and unique approaches, outside-the-box thinking, and taking risks can enhance the student learning experience and build connections within the education community. Through a variety of presentations, roundtable conversations, panel discussions and poster sessions, the conference will foster a dynamic exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices among educators, researchers, administrators, and other stakeholders in the field of teaching and learning.

Dates: Thursday, December 7 (in-person) & Friday, December 8 (online)
Cost: $75 for attendees | $50 for presenters | $25 for students

Learn more here.

Digital Citizen Initiative Funding Opportunity 

Recently, Minister Pascale St-Onge announced a $7 million call for proposals through the Digital Citizen Initiative (DCI). The DCI aims to aid civil society groups and researchers in producing evidence-based resources to support Canadians in staying safe and informed online. The call for funding confirms that universities and post secondary institutions are able to apply for this funding. The Program is offering successful applicants up to $380,000 per approved project, the Program may award up to $1,000,000 in funding for some projects with budgets of over $1,000,000.

Projects must start in the 2023-2024 fiscal year and all funds received from this call for proposals must be spent by March 31, 2025.

More details can be found here.  

Kudos
Let's celebrate the achievements of colleagues, friends, and those doing important social research with the potential to spark a brighter world. We welcome recommendations for kudos features (including for yourself)! Please send any features you would like us to mention by emailing us at: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca.
Starting us off, a big kudos to Jevan Cherniwchan for being named inaugural Spencer Family Professor of Economics. Six decades of McMaster Economics community packed into the University Club on September 18th to welcome the newest faculty member, and honour the family who made it possible.
Read more here.
Next up, a shout out to Melissa Dunham for being appointed as an Instructional Assistant for Anthropology.
And another shout out to Sue Nepal, who became the new Field and Alumni Relations Manager for Social Work this month.
Here's to the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI), which has created a much-needed guide for researchers whose work engages with Indigenous Peoples and communities. The MIRI Indigenous Research Primer emphasizes the need for meaningful, respectful and ethical collaboration at every step of the way in all research, and offers guidance to ensure this need is met.
Read the full story here. 
And finally, a resounding kudos to MIRI director Savage Bear and Professor and keynote speaker Bonnie Freeman . The research day, co-hosted by the McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI), the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge, the Indigenous Studies Department, Indigenous Student Services, the FEAST Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research, University Advancement, and the Indigenous Health Movement, brought together scholars from across campus to showcase Indigenous research.

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Spark: a centre for social research innovation

Website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spark-a-centre-for-social-research-innovation/about/  
Email: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca
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