Getting the research community to change their practices and embrace e-conferencing technologies for collaborating with colleagues across sites entails changes on the individual as well as the organisational level. Assuming that providing researchers with e research technologies such as high speed internet connection, and high definition video conferencing will automatically result in a shift in practices that will reduce travelling for meeting with collaborating colleagues has been proved erroneous . This type of change entails numerous interrelating factors. This interrelatedness creates complex systems which need to be understood in order for change to be implemented effectively.

My postdoctoral project is addressing the change from a Systems Approach arguing that for change to be implemented effectively numerous interdependent factors have to be addressed. To do this effectively I propose to study the interrelated relationships between the various factors. Through understanding how the interdependent relationships operate we can begin to address change processes in a way which acknowledges the parts as being part of a whole, rather than addressing different parts as stand alone units.

Participate in a Research Project

Welcome

I would like to invite you to participate in a research project which is looking at variables affecting the use of teleconferencing tools for collaborative research in an age of growing environmental concerns.

Collaborative research is gaining momentum in the Global Knowledge Economy which is increasingly dependent on global collaboration but at the same time is required to conduct ‘green’ collaboration, and reduce the carbon footprint-print associated with travel to, and from meetings with collaborators.

The obvious solution to the tension between the two requirements is to divert practices from meeting face- to -face to meeting virtually using teleconferencing technologies. However, my past research as well as literature show that this is not a straightforward solution and other variables need to be investigated.

This project suggests that in order to gain better understanding we need to expand the investigation beyond the design and technology aspects as these have been investigated by many with inconclusive findings.

Here I aim to investigate the individual and organisational variables affecting the shift from face-to face to telecommunications enabled meetings, and the potential link between this shift and the reduction of travel.

To achieve my aim I need your contribution, and would very much appreciate if you would do so by completing the online survey linked here.

To access the survey please click on the ‘Survey’ link appearing at the right hand corner of this page

The findings of the survey will be used in academic publications. The survey is anonymous and any revealing details will be obscured to protect your privacy. The survey has been subjected to the approval of the University of Canterbury Ethical guidelines and privacy laws.More information about the project can be found on this blog.

The survey's report will be sent out on request. To receive report please email mary.allan@canterbury.ac.nz

Thank you for your cooperation

Dr Mary Allan

BRCSS Postdoctoral Fellow

Social Science Research Centre (SSRC)

School of Sociology and Anthropology

University of Canterbury

New Zealand

Sustianable Collaborative Research

I am a postdoctoral research fellow funded by the BRCSS (Building Research Capabilities in the Social Sciences) and supported by the Social Science Research Centre (SSRC), The School of Sociology and Anthropology University of Canterbury NZ. My postdoctoral work seeks to investigate the reasons underpinning uptake of teleconferencing technologies tools for supporting collaborative research. This issue is gaining momentum in the emerging Knowledge Economy, which on one hand is reliant on interdisciplinary collaborative research and development on a global scale, but at the same time is required to apply ‘green’ working practices. Teleconferencing technologies hold the potential to reduce travel and decrease related carbon emission levels however, Fuchs(2006; 2006)Mokhtarian,(2000), and Denstadli (2004), found that this potential has not yet been adequately realised, and uptake is still low(Ho, 2007).

Studies attempting to understand the reasons for the relatively low uptake have mostly been driven by the hypothesis that enhanced design of technological tools will cause an increase in uptake and so reduce the need to travel. However, literature shows that using the linear model of ‘cause and effect’ to describe the relationship between uptake and design fails to elicit the complexity entailed in this relationship and further aspects should be explored (Allan & Thorns, Forthcoming)

My project will investigate the interdependent relationships between the increasing need to collaborate, while at the same time lower the carbon footprint created by travel, and the uptake of teleconferencing technology. The project will focus on the discovery of the ways in which users, rather than designers, construct the functionality of the technology. Furthermore, the study will illustrate the ways in which users’ actions are constructed through systems of social, political and economic relationships stretching beyond the user/ technology relations.

The project will focus on members of the research community as its population of study. The choice was guided by two main reasons:

• The research community is often required to engage and collaborate with colleagues spread across the globe, hence are currently regarded as relatively frequent flyers. Studies show that air travel to international conferences can generate the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide generated by 550 US citizens in one year (Roberts & Godlee, 2007).
• The research community often plays an active role in finding solutions to the growing environmental crisis. The project will specifically approach those researchers working at the cutting edge use of new technologies, and research centres specialising in the study of new ICT and teleconferencing technologies, as well as those working on sustainability related projects.