Part 1: Unorgodox (Unorthodox Event Organisation)!
Innovation Research Associate (InRA) is a new and expanding type of dRTP role aimed at producing impactful mathematical sciences research. In contrast to the traditional academic pathway, the InRA roles centre interdisciplinarity and cross-sector collaboration, meaning communicating effectively with both mathematicians and non-mathematicians is non-negotiable. Navigating the landscape of complementary skillsets and contrasting expertise is a difficult task. Experience in organising novel, effective, events to facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration will be key for InRA leaders in the future. There is a current gap in the training offered to InRAs, and dRTPs more generally, which is often focussed on technical skills, or event organisation limited to narrow expertise audiences (standard conference format for example). There is now an appetite for more encouragement to explore the true range of possibilities when it comes to format, facilitation, activities, seating, venue, etc. These variables all play a part in contributing to an atmosphere and, if harnessed, can help to curate effective collaborative environments for dRTPs.
Supported by the DisCouRSE flexible fund round 1, join us to train in unorthodox event organisation!
Participants from all digital Research Technical Professional (dRTP) roles are encouraged to take part. Preference will be given to those in dRTP roles, but everyone is welcome.
The training will consist of three parts.
- The Event Laboratory (this session!): a workshop where we test, tweak, and transform community gatherings (2 half-days, online). At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to organize and run novel or unconventional events. It will address both practicalities and more philosophical considerations. Together we will generate a learning resource on novel events. One in the afternoon of 16th June and one in the afternoon of 18th June, taken by Heidi Seibold of the Digital Research Academy.
- The summer conference season will then provide participants an opportunity to lend a curious and critical eye to the academic events they attend, thinking about them in the context of the online training sessions.
- Finally, on 17th-18th September we will gather at the University of Warwick for a 2-day workshop where participants will have the chance to share their reflections as well as put some ideas into action through some experimentation.