Weeks 1 and 2: Where I want to be, Leanne Fischler
You’ve all met me, by now, but welcome to my blog series as part of my part-time PG journey in Data, Inequality and Society!
Why I’m here
My job involves installing energy monitors into vulnerable peoples’ homes on the Orkney islands. This remote archipelago, where I grew up and live, has the highest rate of fuel poverty in Scotland; and these devices help people to identify and lower the kWh cost of their everyday habits.
Unfortunately, our participants aren’t aware of the downside of collecting this data: that they’re not the only ones who want to make use of it. From advertisers to surveillance corporations, deeply personal data is being used all around us; often contributing to ever increasing inequality. In the last years, I’ve become fascinated by the world of data. In choosing to study this course, I aim to study how data can radically shape our future—for worse, or for better.
How I got here
My undergraduate degree was in design; a subject I chose with the hope that I could make a career re-imagining better versions of today for those in need. I then worked at design studio Superflux, where I learned to critically analyse current technological trajectories and build (sometimes hopeful, often critical) future worlds that could help shape decision making today. Most of the studio’s work, however, did not reach far beyond art galleries and the creative world. To better tackle the inequality I see around me every day, I made the challenging decision to leave the creative industry; beginning a job at charity Community Energy Scotland part time and applying for this course.
2022-08 Superflux’s ‘Refuge for Resurgence’ on show at The Barbican’s exhibition ‘Our Time on Earth’
What am I already good at? What do I want to get better at?
I’m hoping to supplement my creativity with applied skills and theoretical knowledge that will allow me to work with the real people impacted by the negative applications of big data, whilst building high level conclusions that can be implemented at scale.
I carried out a quick exercise to assess my skill and knowledge (below). I used colours to rate my estimated skill level on each activity from one to five . This map has shown me which areas I’m already fairly confident in (of course, there’s always so much more to learn!) and which areas I can really focus my efforts to improve across these two years.
Where I want to be
The energy monitor data we are gathering is intended to be part of a large-scale, data-for-good project: it will feed into a prototype of a future energy system that empowers the isles to better balance energy demand against renewable generation. Though the project isn’t perfect, I see it as inspiration to the ways we can use data today and tomorrow to create a better world. To tackle the Wicked Problems of today we need different kinds of thinkers and I hope that this course will give me the opportunity to learn the skills, methodologies and ways of thinking to be a part of solving these issues.
Wow very interesting work you do Leanne – thank you so much for sharing. I have no idea if there are similar programs here in Canada but I am going to look into it. I really appreciate the way you are reflecting on data collection and its implications for the vulnerable groups you are serving. Too often I think we are glazing over privacy agreements and just blindly agreeing to whatever parameters about data sharing are written there because we so badly want the services, whether it be the program you describe, Instagram, or executing a search for a book online. I am really looking forward to getting to know you better through our classes and blogs. I can’t wait to see the results of your project!
Darcie, thanks so much for your kind reply. I totally agree with you, and hope we’ll have time to talk more about these topics together soon.