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Announcements, events, and other news from Spark

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July 4th 2024

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

Centre News

Discover the Dynamic Research Facilities at Spark

At Spark, we pride ourselves on providing state-of-the-art facilities that support and elevate the research experience. Whether you're conducting groundbreaking qualitative research, seeking collaborative workspaces, or need a secure data facility for your research, our facilities are designed to meet your diverse needs. Over the last year, we’ve made improvements to all of our research facilities, and invite you to explore the unique features and benefits of our CoLab, Qualitative Suite, and Secure Empirical Analysis Lab (SEAL), and see how they can enhance your research journey.

CoLab: A Hub for Collaboration and Innovation

The CoLab at Spark is a vibrant co-working space tailored to foster collaboration and innovation. Located in LR Wilson 5803, this facility is open to all graduate students and faculty members, offering a conducive environment for both independent work and group projects. This year, we added accessibility upgrades to the CoLab, including adjustable height desks. The CoLab features:

Open Workspaces: Designed for flexibility, these spaces allow for dynamic interactions and spontaneous brainstorming sessions.

Private Rooms: Ideal for focused work or confidential meetings, these rooms can be reserved as needed.

Coffee Bar and Conversation Area: Relax and recharge in our welcoming lounge area, perfect for informal discussions and networking.

Advanced Technology: Equipped with high-speed internet and modern office equipment to support all your research activities.

The CoLab is not just a place to work; it’s a community where ideas flourish and collaborations thrive.

Joining the CoLab is easy! During the summer, email us to schedule your visit, or in September, stop by any Tuesday or Thursday, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm to become a member.

Qualitative Suite: Elevate Your Qualitative Research

Our Qualitative Suite is specifically designed to support a wide range of qualitative research methods, from in-depth interviews to large focus groups. This facility offers:

Versatile Rooms: Two smaller rooms accommodate up to four participants each, while a larger room can host twelve seated or thirty standing participants. An attached viewing room is perfect for observation studies.

Cutting-Edge Technology: Featuring high-quality video and audio recording equipment, the suite ensures that every detail of your research is captured accurately. Recordings are delivered securely within five business days.

Optional Services: Enhance your research with our experienced facilitators and interviewers, transcription services, and data analysis support.

The Qualitative Suite is free for Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) faculty and graduate students until September 2024. Contact us now for an unparalleled opportunity to leverage this advanced research facility.

Secure Empirical Analysis Lab, or SEAL

SEAL is a secure data enclave, where researchers can store, access, analyze, and share qualitative or quantitative data. SEAL allows approved researchers to access research data – including sensitive personally identifying information, health data, and proprietary information – either in lab or remotely using SEAL secure servers on McMaster campus.

This year, we also finished upgrades to SEAL’s infrastructure that enable us to offer a new, lower cost access option for researchers who want to keep their data secure throughout the research process, but who do not need 3rd party vetting of research outputs. This option will be ideal for researchers who own their data, including those who may want to license access to their data to other researchers.

If you’re looking for a way to analyze or share data with collaborators that will ensure the data are stored securely throughout the research cycle, reach out to the SEAL Lab Manager, Lily Wang, to discuss your needs.

Why Choose Spark Facilities?

Accessibility: Our spaces are designed to be accessible, accommodating researchers with diverse needs.

Community: Join a vibrant community of scholars and researchers, fostering a culture of collaboration and support.

Innovation: Utilize cutting-edge technology and resources to drive your research forward.

Book Your Space Today

Ready to take advantage of Spark's dynamic research facilities or learn more about the possibilities? Contact us to discuss your needs and elevate your research experience. Visit our website for more details and to see how our facilities can support your academic journey.

At Spark, we are committed to providing the resources and environments that researchers need to conduct meaningful, impactful research. Discover the possibilities and make Spark your hub for research excellence.

For bookings and more information, please reach out to us at [email-masked].

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 contact us here.

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 [email-masked] 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: [email-masked] to be showcased in our following newsletter.

Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (SCDS) - Graduate Residency: Applications Open

The Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (SCDS) is at the forefront of empowering graduate students to explore digital scholarship through its Graduate Residency in Digital Scholarship. The program offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to advance their digital scholarship projects through expert consultation, research mentorship, skill sharing, comprehensive training opportunities, dynamic interdisciplinary collaboration, and a supportive digital scholarship community, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking to amplify their research impact and scholarly pursuits.

The residency has seen diverse representation from various programs across McMaster, including Global Health, Earth, Environment, and Society, Communication Studies and Media Arts, English and Cultural Studies, Medical Science, Engineering, Social Work, Neuroscience, and more!

Applications for the 2024-2025 residency cohort are now open until August 30, 2024.

Learn More about the Graduate Residency.

Text and Data Analysis at Constellate’s Text Analysis Pedagogy (TAP) Institute

McMaster researchers now have access to Constellate, a platform for learning and applying advanced methods of text analysis using JSTOR and other text data. Throughout July 2024, the Text Analysis Pedagogy (TAP) Institute offers a unique, open education program designed to help you further develop your text and data analysis skills and stay at the forefront of digital research and teaching support. You’ll learn everything from beginner programming classes in R and Python to specialized LLM (Large Language Model) classes. Learn advanced text analysis techniques, gain access to rich datasets, and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals dedicated to digital scholarship!

Register Here

Learning Cohort on Indigenous Data Sovereignty:

Fundamentals of OCAP® Training

The Fundamentals of OCAP® course introduces the importance of First Nations ownership, control, access, and possession of First Nations data. This online, self-guided course consists of six modules, each taking 30-50 minutes to complete, with participants having six months to finish. The 2024 Learning Cohort, facilitated by McMaster's AskResearch team, is an optional, asynchronous companion to the OCAP course. The course costs $500 before taxes, with a 30% discount for groups of 10 or more.

Looking to join a group? Contact Angela Di Nello at [email-masked]

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: [email-masked].

A round of applause for our esteemed faculty members who have been featured across various news outlets this month: Colin Mang, Peter Graefe, Don Abelson, Vass Bednar, Stephanie Ross, Marcus Evans, Brenda McPhail, Wayne Lewchuk, Mohammad Ferdosi, Carolyn Rosenthal, Elliot Goodell Ugalde, Paul Pujolas, Oliver Loertscher, and Paul Glavin. Highlights include appearances in The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, CBC Radio, CTV News Channel, and TVO Today. Catch all the stories here: Social Sciences in the News: June 2024. Great work, everyone!

Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship Academic Director Andrea Zeffiro is one of five McMaster researchers awarded the Inaugural Societal Impact Seed Grant. Dr. Zeffiro’s project will provoke mainstream cybersecurity frameworks that centre on a universal end-user and often overlook how cyber insecurities are shaped by intersecting identities of oppression and privilege. In partnership with the Sex Workers Action Program Hamilton (or SWAP), zines (do-it-yourself print and digital publications) will be co-created with sex workers in Hamilton to document contextual cybersecurity risks, threats, and mitigation strategies emerging from their intersectional experiences. The project aims to promote the security, health and well-being of individuals who undertake sex work as an economic activity. Read more here.

Thank you to the Faculty of Social Sciences Comms Team for spotlighting Spark's Qualitative Suite in their Q&A with our very own Michelle Dion. This discussion highlights the suite's innovative features and benefits, showcasing its value to researchers. Check out the full article to learn more about how the Qualitative Suite can enhance your research: Spotlight on Spark's Qualitative Suite. Join us in celebrating the fantastic work of the Comms team!

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Spark: a centre for social research innovation, McMaster University · 1280 Main St W · Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 · Canada