"Tenir la main qui connaît le chemin sur cette terre" - Le Petit Prince*
Some people have their lives mapped out. I don't mean that everything works out for them (that'd be the subject for a whole other post) but that they know where are and where they want to be. And in some cases they've even worked out how to get there.
I'm not like that. When Maggie (my boss) asked me in my annual review where I wanted to be in five years time, I was a bit stumped. Of course I can look at my role now and think about things I'd like to be doing in the future but it's not like I actually plan any of this. I was not one of those kids who knew that they were going to be a doctor, a lawyer, an actor. I picked my undergraduate degree on a whim, based on something my chemistry teacher said. I fell into my PhD because it was offered to me on a plate and I couldn't think of any reason to say no. And I fell out of research because of a particular set of circumstances (which, because this is a reflective piece and not a rant I won't be going into!).
So do I need a hand to show me the way? The crux of it is that I like where I am. I may not have predicted I'd be where I am today but I certainly don't regret it. And who knows, if I'd have planned a particular route I may have ended up here anyway. Which I'd why my blog is named as it is, not because I think that all options are open to me but more that I don't think there's only one linear path through life. Which is a relief, because indecisiveness is one of my major flaws. If I had to think through the repercussions of every decision I made I'd probably still be stuck at the crossroads** on the beginning of the journey.
* Or at least the musical. I don't have the original book to hand to check whether it's in there.
** Those of you who are aficionados of Don McLean will realise that's a deliberate pun since the song my blog is named after is in fact Crossroads.
Monday, 29 April 2013
Monday, 22 April 2013
Research Encounter #7: Naomi Millner
As part of our Seeds of Change project, my colleague Martha and I went to pick the brain of Naomi Millner, a Lecturer in the School of Geographical Sciences, whose interests include migration and the political economy of seeds. But she also outlined her research around the idea of the commons:
What does the word commons mean to us, both now and in history? In the 1600s, the commons meant rural land and ways of farming together. But as the countryside became more enclosed, and industrialisation started to threaten the green spaces, the concept of commons took on a different meaning. Campaigns for preserving the commons focused on a romantic ideal of nature and how it could be a transformative force for social change. Today, the idea of a global commons is emerging as an alternative to capitalism – instead of organising the world according to private and economic interests, global movements are thinking about how we can govern common resources together. Linked to this is the idea of food sovereignty, which was set up as a counterpoint to food security. Food sovereignty suggests that hunger in the world isn’t mainly an issue of growing enough food and increasing productivity – it’s more a political question of control, access and rights to land. As such, the idea of the commons becomes a way to imagine how we could use and govern our environment and natural resources.
What does the word commons mean to us, both now and in history? In the 1600s, the commons meant rural land and ways of farming together. But as the countryside became more enclosed, and industrialisation started to threaten the green spaces, the concept of commons took on a different meaning. Campaigns for preserving the commons focused on a romantic ideal of nature and how it could be a transformative force for social change. Today, the idea of a global commons is emerging as an alternative to capitalism – instead of organising the world according to private and economic interests, global movements are thinking about how we can govern common resources together. Linked to this is the idea of food sovereignty, which was set up as a counterpoint to food security. Food sovereignty suggests that hunger in the world isn’t mainly an issue of growing enough food and increasing productivity – it’s more a political question of control, access and rights to land. As such, the idea of the commons becomes a way to imagine how we could use and govern our environment and natural resources.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
In praise of daydreaming
"If you've never stared off into the distance then your life is a shame" - Counting Crows (Mrs Potter's Lullaby)
I've always had a commute to work, whether it's a 15 minute walk or a two hour train journey. But rather than resent these periods of enforced idleness, I've come to appreciate and treasure them. I've knitted several items of clothing (not whilst walking obviously) and surfed countless webpages; I've even written the odd blog post. But the really valuable moments have been those when I've allowed my mind to drift off in any direction it chooses.
So what do I think about at those times? I'll admit a significant proportion of the time is taken up by practicalities, from shopping lists to what I need to do at work. But other times it's not so prosaic. Do I stare off into the distance in sadness at what hasn't been? In hoping for what might be? Or in constructing a whole different picture of life? (the answer to this is all three). In my head I can be whoever and wherever I want to be and traverse worlds far beyond my reality. As such, I do think it's a shame to be so caught up in the everyday that you don't have the chance to daydream. Which means that if you see me gazing out the window or lost in my own thoughts, don't feel you have to interrupt me. I may just be planning tonight's dinner. But equally I may be somewhere else entirely.
I've always had a commute to work, whether it's a 15 minute walk or a two hour train journey. But rather than resent these periods of enforced idleness, I've come to appreciate and treasure them. I've knitted several items of clothing (not whilst walking obviously) and surfed countless webpages; I've even written the odd blog post. But the really valuable moments have been those when I've allowed my mind to drift off in any direction it chooses.
So what do I think about at those times? I'll admit a significant proportion of the time is taken up by practicalities, from shopping lists to what I need to do at work. But other times it's not so prosaic. Do I stare off into the distance in sadness at what hasn't been? In hoping for what might be? Or in constructing a whole different picture of life? (the answer to this is all three). In my head I can be whoever and wherever I want to be and traverse worlds far beyond my reality. As such, I do think it's a shame to be so caught up in the everyday that you don't have the chance to daydream. Which means that if you see me gazing out the window or lost in my own thoughts, don't feel you have to interrupt me. I may just be planning tonight's dinner. But equally I may be somewhere else entirely.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Research Encounter #6: Mike O'Mahony
A colleague and I dropped in to visit Dr Mike O’Mahony, a Reader in the Department of History of Art. Amidst discussions around impact and the forthcoming REF, he managed to describe his research in the highly topical area of sport and visual culture.
You would have been hard pressed to have spent 2012 without coming across a sea of sporting images, primarily (in this country at least) of the Olympic Games in London. From the official branding and materials to the millions of photographs taken on people’s cameras and smartphones – these images form part of our culture and can contain a wealth of information. Research in this area takes place at the intersection of two disciplines - art history and the history of sport. Art history has tended to overlook sport as a subject because it often forms part of popular culture, rather than so-called high culture. Conversely, sports studies and the history of sport focus more on text rather than visual materials. But by looking at sporting images through the lens of an art historian, Mike hopes to uncover new facets of the representation of sport in culture and bring both disciplines together into a fruitful collaboration.
You would have been hard pressed to have spent 2012 without coming across a sea of sporting images, primarily (in this country at least) of the Olympic Games in London. From the official branding and materials to the millions of photographs taken on people’s cameras and smartphones – these images form part of our culture and can contain a wealth of information. Research in this area takes place at the intersection of two disciplines - art history and the history of sport. Art history has tended to overlook sport as a subject because it often forms part of popular culture, rather than so-called high culture. Conversely, sports studies and the history of sport focus more on text rather than visual materials. But by looking at sporting images through the lens of an art historian, Mike hopes to uncover new facets of the representation of sport in culture and bring both disciplines together into a fruitful collaboration.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Research Encounter #5: Leroy White
Leroy White is a Professor in the School of Economics, Finance and Management. He’s worked with our team for several years, in particular with evaluating our major public events – he, and his students, have taught me loads about the practical aspects of evaluation. But that’s only a small part of his interest, as he described to me.
Management Science uses mathematical and scientific techniques to understand why things work, and for whom. One of Leroy’s areas of research is the use of networks and graph theory to understand why people’s connections with each other matter. In an organisation, the really interesting aspect is not so much the formal structures but rather the informal connections that people create or destroy. By mapping these informalities and relating them to organisational outcomes, it is possible to get an insight into how organisations work. Another area is around co-production – a project of his looks at a children’s hospital which has different professionals working in the same space. Consultants, social workers, nurses and teachers all try to communicate with each other how best to deliver a service to a child with kidney problems. But two things hinder knowledge exchange: the hierarchy, and the jurisdiction of knowledge – legal things which prevent certain people talking to each other. Understanding this helps the organisation break through the boundaries that prevent the exchange of knowledge.
Management Science uses mathematical and scientific techniques to understand why things work, and for whom. One of Leroy’s areas of research is the use of networks and graph theory to understand why people’s connections with each other matter. In an organisation, the really interesting aspect is not so much the formal structures but rather the informal connections that people create or destroy. By mapping these informalities and relating them to organisational outcomes, it is possible to get an insight into how organisations work. Another area is around co-production – a project of his looks at a children’s hospital which has different professionals working in the same space. Consultants, social workers, nurses and teachers all try to communicate with each other how best to deliver a service to a child with kidney problems. But two things hinder knowledge exchange: the hierarchy, and the jurisdiction of knowledge – legal things which prevent certain people talking to each other. Understanding this helps the organisation break through the boundaries that prevent the exchange of knowledge.
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Connected Communities showcase
A post from the Know your Bristol blog on the recent Connected Communities showcase, including an embarrassing video of Pete and I doing our double act.
In March, the Know your Bristol team was invited to take part in the AHRC’s Connected Communities Showcase. This event featured many of the projects funded by the Connected Communities programme in the last few years and provided an opportunity for us to share our outcomes and impacts with other researchers and community organisations working in similar areas.
There were several talks and panel discussions over the course of the day. But the most interesting part was wandering round the stands and finding out what other projects had got up to. From creative research into community gardening to exploring the interwoven (pun intended) social histories and cultural practices of Scottish basket-weaving, the breadth of topics and partnerships was amazing. It was also interesting to see the different approaches to community mapping projects, with people utilising digital technologies such as QR codes and GPS tracking of walking routes through smartphones.
But the day was also a chance for us to show some of the wonderful material and stories that we have managed to obtain through Know your Bristol and how they are being used. As such we had a laptop on hand to show people the Know Your Place website and how the oral histories have helped enrich this burgeoning resource. We even got interviewed as part of the AHRC’s documenting of the day.
David Willetts, in his keynote speech, talked about how much he values research from the arts and humanities and his role as an advocate for them in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. But you only needed to look around you in the exhibition hall to see the importance of such projects and the effect that they have on both researchers and the communities involved.
In March, the Know your Bristol team was invited to take part in the AHRC’s Connected Communities Showcase. This event featured many of the projects funded by the Connected Communities programme in the last few years and provided an opportunity for us to share our outcomes and impacts with other researchers and community organisations working in similar areas.
But the day was also a chance for us to show some of the wonderful material and stories that we have managed to obtain through Know your Bristol and how they are being used. As such we had a laptop on hand to show people the Know Your Place website and how the oral histories have helped enrich this burgeoning resource. We even got interviewed as part of the AHRC’s documenting of the day.
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