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March 14th 2024

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

Centre News

McMaster's Community-Engaged Research celebration

Date: March 28th 2024
Time: 12:30 – 4:30 PM
Location: One James St. North

Spark: a centre for social research innovation, is excited to be actively involved in the upcoming Community-Engaged Research Celebration hosted by The Office of Community Engagement (OCE). Throughout the day, Spark will be offering rapid research consultation at our booth. Thinking about, or currently doing community-based research? Stop by and we would be happy to chat about it! We look forward to celebrating and learning more about the important work happening in our community. 

This event is open to McMaster students, staff, and faculty and to community partners and members. 

*Light refreshments will be provided, parking available underground and on street

Please use this form to indicate your interest in participating and attending CER Day. If you have any questions, please reach out to Shahad Al-Saqqar at alsaqqss@mcmaster.ca .
Upcoming Events

Save the Date: Full Winter Schedule of Spark Talks


As always, all Spark Talks will be on a Friday from 10:30 to 11:30AM EST and will be accessible via Zoom. However, if you feel like joining us in person, you can visit us at L.R. Wilson Hall, where you can network and connect with members of our team directly and treat yourself to some refreshments!

March 15th: Jessica Hardin

Topic: "Doing-Duo: A Collaborative and Feminist Method as Praxis"
In this talk, Hardin will introduce her duo-ethnographic work with a group of friends and colleagues who part of a collaborative group, Nutrire CoLab. She will introduce some of the fundamental intellectual outlines of the method and walk through the steps for transforming duo from a pair model to a group model. Ultimately, this method is a transformative one that allows for the exploration of difference in a trusting way.
Register Now

March 22nd: Sara Buckingham

Topic: "Empowering Indigenous Research-Action Partnerships"
 Come learn about the power of partnerships to foster empowering research and action! Although universities should catalyze empowerment, frequently they instead marginalize the cultures of Indigenous students. We will talk about how partnerships between Alaska Native Elders, students, staff, and faculty led to the creation of a unique “counterspace” in a public university to address cultural marginalization. Not only did the space support Alaska Native students’ identity development, well-being, and sense of community, it also functioned as an empowering setting, leading to ripple effects beyond it. We will describe the project and reflect on lessons learned.
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 Collaborations
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. 

Society & Impact Luncheon: Evidence to Action: Addressing Housing Needs in Canada

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Great Hall, AMH
Registration link here

Dr. Sukhvinder Obhi, Associate Vice-President, Research (Society & Impact), invites you to McMaster’s first Society & Impact Luncheon. This series explores how academic researchers and community partners can work together to advance meaningful social change. Join us on March 21 to discuss how research has been and can be mobilized in communities to tackle Canada’s housing crisis. A light lunch will be provided.

Panelists: Dr. Jim Dunn (Professor, Health, Aging & Society), Angela Burden (General Manager, Healthy and Safe Communities, City of Hamilton) and Justin (Lewis Director, Housing Secretariat, City of Hamilton)
Moderated by: Cynthia Belaskie (Managing Director, Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative)

EdTech Inc., Revisited

Date: Friday, March 22, 2024.
Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship / online via Zoom (hybrid event)
Registration link: [u.mcmaster.ca/edtechinc]u.mcmaster.ca/edtechinc

Join Dr. Tanner Mirrlees for a talk on the rise of the EdTech industry. Using a political economy of communication framework, Mirrlees presents an overview of the EdTech industry and probes the forces and relations underpinning the digitization, commercialization, platformization, automation, and globalization of higher education. Offering a counterpoint to techno-deterministic and techno-optimistic narratives about EdTech, Mirrlees considers the ethical and social dimensions of the EdTech industry’s impact on teacher labor, student learning, and the public education sector as a whole. 

For more information and to register for these events, visit Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship website.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) SSHRC Connection Grant Application Open: May 1 2024

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is accepting applications for the Connection Grants competition. SSHRC has established the following deadlines for Connection Grant competitions: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.

Application Process: If you intend to submit an application, please contact Amanda Graveline, Senior Advisor, Development, ROADS, at gravelia@mcmaster.ca as soon as possible.

The initial draft of the application and letters of support are due to the Research Office for Administration, Development and Support (ROADS),by 9 am on April 10, 2024. Please note, applications received after this time may not receive a full review. The final draft, and a completed and signed Application Approval Form, are due to ROADS by 9 am April 24, 2024 for final administrative review. ROADS will submit the application to SSHRC by 4:30 pm on May 1, 2024.

Additional information regarding the Connection Grants Program can be found on the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) website at: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/connection_grants-subventions_connexion-eng.aspx 

The McMaster Undergraduate Research Awards (USRAs)

The McMaster Undergraduate Research Awards (USRAs) are supported by the Office of the Vice-President, Research, and the Faculty of Social Sciences. They are designed to cultivate and support research partnerships between undergraduate students and faculty members. USRAs are valued at $7,500, and there are up to 18 awarded annually.

Next round of applications due: April 1, 2024.

To learn more about the USRA awards and to download the application, please visit:https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/student-advising-support/undergraduate-student-research-awards/

Completed USRA applications are to be submitted electronically by the faculty supervisor by 4 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2024 to Chris Hollins (hollinc@mcmaster.ca). Applications submitted after 4:00 p.m. on the due date and incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the joint responsibility of the student and supervisor to ensure that applications are complete, and that all information is accurate.

CityLAB Hamilton - Winter 2024 Project Showcase

Date: Friday, April 5th 
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: 58 Jackson St
Registration link here

The CityLAB Project Showcase serves as a platform to spotlight innovative projects that directly tackle the pressing challenges confronting the Hamilton community. It is an opportunity for collaboration between City Staff, students, and faculty from our Post-Secondary Partners. This year's showcase promises to be an engaging event, featuring more than 20 projects co-created by City staff, students and faculty. In addition to presenting infographics and short videos of their findings, student groups will take turns presenting their work and answering questions from the audience. This year's projects span from fostering a sense of belonging among newcomers to enhancing access to perinatal mental health services, and initiatives aimed at inspiring youth riders on the HSR.
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.

Kudos to Arthur Sweetman and Boris Kralj (Economics) who were featured in the CBC News article "With Ontario's senior population about to spike, report predicts big demand for home care". Read it here. 

Shoutout to Brenda McPhail (Public Policy Digital Society) who weighs in on the potential harms of technology in the CBC the current "Airports want to scan your face to make travelling easier. Privacy experts caution it's not ready for takeoff". Learn more here

Congrats to Peter Graefe (Political Science) who was featured in the Global News Article "Will daylight saving time become permanent? Why making the change is tough". Read the full article here.

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Spark: a centre for social research innovation

Website: https://spark.mcmaster.ca/
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Email: talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca
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