Curio Research Quarterly Vol. 10
Hello again! Has it been 3-months already? I've been saying that it feels like everything has happened yesterday and forever ago all at once. It's been stressful for everyone.
Business
Work
The last 3-months have been rough. I won't deny it. Work came to screeching halt mid-March, and I'm only just starting to field proposals and inquiries about my availability again.
I'm one of the finalists for a project contract with an environmental nonprofit, but I won't know about that until maybe the end of the month, and I'm a strictly first come first serve operation. I have to take the opportunity in front of me. So if you have immediate needs, I'm probably available.
Leadership
I was surprised to learn I was nominated to the national board of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association. (I didn't submit myself. I swear. I don't even know who put me forward.) Voting is happening right now, and I'll know the results after August 7th.
In other news, I'm still co-chair of the QRCA's Pacific Northwest chapter, and I think we've been doing great work organizing social events and professional development opportunities. Our most recent seminar was on facilitating innovation workshops, and I can't wait for a chance to apply what I learned. We're looking into scheduling a workshop on cultural bias and allyship in the fall. Stay tuned if you're interested.
Public Speaking
I co-presented online on the subject of making research inclusive to people with disabilities with accessibility expert, Glenda Sims, on July 14th. We had a great Q&A session after where Glenda was able to handle the stickier questions I couldn't answer. I'm so glad she was able to present with me.
I was interviewed for THAT Conference's live interview series in preparation for their online conference next month. We talked a lot about how small businesses and agencies can find ways to approach or procure research in affordable ways.
I'm also speaking virtually at a Meetup on UX and product design based in Munich on online qualitative research tools. Just because we're stuck at home, doesn't mean we can't get great insights. Get in touch if you want to know more.
Carleton University has asked me to speak about inclusive research as part of its Collaborative Learning of Usability Experiences (CLUE) program in early August.
Dscout, an online diary study and remote research platform, is planning a one-day remote conference on the democratization of research on August 26th. While other people will be covering qualitative and logistics, I'll be covering how UX professionals can apply their skills towards great survey design for quality data acquisition. I know that sounds as thrilling as watching paint dry, but quantitative skills are hard-earned and useful for researchers to know. I typically find them underappreciated.
I also have been invited to speak at the User-Centered Design Gathering, based out of the UK, in October. It's nice to be in-demand.
Publications
Dscout also featured me on their People Nerds blog. I was very flattered considering some of the other research and UX professionals they featured in the past.
I also published a series of blog posts on doing accessible research. I wrote the series specifically to supplement the talk I gave on July 14th, but I hope people will find it a useful reference for years to come.
Personal
Travel
Since the province I live in is seeing manageable COVID-19 infection rates, we've moved up to stage 3. This development means we can meet outdoors in small groups, go to restaurants and movies provided they can still meet social distancing guidelines, and travel within the province.
My husband and I took advantage of this by renting a tiny cabin in a remote area called Earl's Cove. We hiked, relaxed, swam in a nearby lake, cooked outside, and made s'mores at the campfire. It wasn't like our usual adventures, but it was a welcome respite from feeling trapped in our homes and the immediate area.
Media
Black lives matter. Brown lives matter. Indigenous lives matter. I do my best not to be racist, but I am learning this is no longer enough. I need to be actively anti-racist. It's not enough to passively work on myself. I have to make demonstrable efforts to change the world around me that entrenches racial, ableist, and class privilege and allows discrimination to thrive.
I will be reading more non-white authors and watching more shows with racially diverse casts made by non-white producers, writers, and directors. So far, I consumed and can recommend:
'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates
'White Girls' by Hilton Als
'The Autobiography of Malcolm X' by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
'I Am Not Your Negro' a documentary on James Baldwin and his thoughts on Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers (available on iTunes)
'13th' a documentary on American prisons by Ava DuVernay (available on Netflix)
'When They See Us' a dramatic mini-series by Ava DuVernay on the tragedy of the Central Park 5 (available on Netflix)
'There's Something in the Water' a documentary by Ellen Page about how industrial pollution disproportionately affects disenfranchised communities of color (available on Netflix)
'Crip Camp' a documentary about a forward-thinking summer camp in the '60s that gave people with disabilities the room to be their independent selves (available on Netflix)
'House Rules' a podcast episode from This American Life on the history of redlining
Giving Back
I haven't been able to make many donations this year. My goal is to donate to charities who work at the intersection of environmental and social justice. 1% for the Planet even provided a handy guide to help.
Thanks for sticking with me. Yeah, things haven't been great, but I'm sure things will get better, and I'll be back to my old routine of working hard, helping my clients, and assisting my community.
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