Key Ideas
My blog is all over the place so far, but themes poke through the clouds here and there. It’s clear I’m still interested in students’ experience of the college journey. Coming into the program, I would’ve guaranteed this would be my focus, and while it’s definitely still a contender, I don’t find myself burning with a desire to lean into what is my area of greatest expertise. There is no doubt I’m also quite fascinated by the “behind the scenes” thoughts, feelings, and emotions that make up the human experience and fuel creativity. This theme is most evident in my (October 4th post) fascination with Night Science. No matter what topic I settle on, there will be a mention of Night Science. There will also likely be a nod to Emancipatory Catastrophism, the other idea that jumped off the page and grabbed me during my studies this semester. I wrote about this in my blog post on October 1st and come back to it quite often- it was at the forefront of my mind during the Mental Health in the Anthropocene intensive, two full days of considering how the actual end of the world is impacting our minds in the present. My December 1st post, though the shortest and least academic, references the clarity I felt when I allowed myself do some Night Science by spending a few days on a farm. At some point when petting a goat or gazing at the loch, I thought,
"What type of research would be a once in a lifetime experience? Do whatever that is."
Key Methods
Welcome to the weakest and least developed portion of my research project. I wrote about my uncertainty surrounding which research methods I’ll choose on October 25th. The added layer of complexity is now related to what my methods will need to be if I partner with one of the organizations from the fair. I still stick by and feel strongly about every word in that blog from the 25th. I will look to my supervisor to help guide or nudge me into gaining a better understanding of which method(s) will best serve my work. Admittedly, I need to take more time researching various methods, as I think part of my uncertainty is rooted in my ignorance of methods available to me, rather than being torn between one approach over another.
Uncertainty
My blog is filled with quite a bit of wayfaring. There are many disconnected ideas and sparks of interest, but no clear tie to one area of research. I feel closer to deciding on a way forward than I have at any other point in the semester. I’m curious as to if or how I’ll tie what I’ve written about to date into potential work with an EFI partner, but I’m at peace with that. Dr. Lamb put my mind at ease during a supervision meeting when he cautioned against thinking of research as a linear process with ideas that neatly align with due dates. This guidance freed me to poke around areas of interest and take the pressure off myself to force project into reality before I was ready.
Choose Today
Shortly after the goat getaway, I attended the Partner Fair, which I had zero expectation of providing a foundation for my research- as life will often have it, I left with the clearest vision yet for my research. One partner opportunity is with Female Founders Lounge, which listed the following:
1. Lack of data on female founders in Scotland, especially remote areas 2. Would like to provide tangible resources for business growth 3. Would like to do more activity beyond Edinburgh in remote & rural areas of Scotland
This project fits me so well it feels like I almost HAVE to pursue it. Recently, I’ve mentioned this Founders Lounge to my closest people and every single time the response is, “My goodness that is SO you.” Why? I majored in entrepreneurship as an undergraduate, I have a passion for supporting entrepreneurs in rural areas (and selfishly want the opportunity to visit remote parts of Scotland), I founded an organization myself, which has been a lesson in how not to do many things when you set up shop, and I’m a trained business/success/executive coach, by trade. This checks the “once in a lifetime” research box.
The fair also uncovered the opportunity to take a shot at teaming up with a fantasy research partner, via asking the EFI to reach out to an organization on my behalf. I am an avid Aston Villa supporter and have joked ever since I applied to EFI that maybe I’d research Villa and combine my true passions of sport and academia. Now, maybe this isn’t as harebrained as I had thought. I’m really interested in Villa’s efforts to engage the LGBTQ+ supporter community and their Aston Villa Foundation work.
Both of these research ideas are still big picture and need supervisor support to help me whittle them down into focused and mature research questions, but, if I’m putting money on what my work will end up being about, I’d bet it will be one of these two.
Next Steps
I need to apply to work with the Founders Lounge and I need to take my shot at securing Villa as a partner.
I need to start working out what methods would be appropriate for partner work and draft research questions I want to explore for both organizations.
I want my supervisor to assign me readings and give me concrete resources I can go dig into on my own. I hope they help me uncover my blind spots and help me to “know what I don’t even know I don’t know.” I also hope they inspire me to go be weird, even at the risk of failing. As someone who has played it safe throughout my academic career to get “A’s” and never take big risks, I’d like to attempt something that has a real shot of spectacularly failing.
