Race in Fandom: Experiences from the Margins

Sarah M. Gatson's presentation at the 2010 program

eBat: A Technology-enriched Life Sciences Research Community

We are leveraging Web-based technology to create an online community for Life Science research. Our prototype community for cardiovascular research with live bats, called eBat, consists of local researchers as well as remote collaborators. The eBat project offers scientists and students a remote-controlled microscope for conducting experiments, a message board and a chat system for scheduled as well as spontaneous communication, and an online peer-reviewed manuscript repository. In this paper, we report our observations of the use of the eBat infrastructure by local researchers over a period of six months. Resident researchers quickly adopted the eBat infrastructure. eBat technology has now become an indispensable part of the local research group and is used extensively for coordination, communication, and awareness. eBat complements face-to-face interactions well and has resulted in improved communication amongst lab members. We are currently exploring the extension of eBat technology to include distant researchers in live cardiovascular research experiments. We discuss our initial experiences with adapting the eBat infrastructure for research-at-a-distance and the lessons learned from these initial interactions

Race and ethnicity in fandom

This section of the special issue examines the cultural products of fandom and the intersections of race/ethnicity, class, and gender/sexuality

Editorial: Race and ethnicity in fandom

This section of the special issue examines the cultural products of fandom and the intersections of race/ethnicity, class, and gender/sexuality

eBat: A Technology-enriched Life Sciences Research Community

We are leveraging Web-based technology to create an online community for Life Science research. Our prototype community for cardiovascular research with live bats, called eBat, consists of local researchers as well as remote collaborators. The eBat project offers scientists and students a remote-controlled microscope for conducting experiments, a message board and a chat system for scheduled as well as spontaneous communication, and an online peerreviewed manuscript repository. In this paper, we report our observations of the use of the eBat infrastructure by local researchers over a period of six months. Resident researchers quickly adopted the eBat infrastructure. eBat technology has now become an indispensable part of the local research group and is used extensively for co-ordination, communication, and awareness. eBat complements face-to-face interactions well and has resulted in improved communication amongst lab members. We are currently exploring the extension of eBat technology to include distant researchers in live cardiovascular research experiments. We discuss our initial experiences with adapting the eBat infrastructure for research-at-a-distance and the lessons learned from these initial interactions

The Gulf Coast Heritage Preparedness Initiative: Proposal to the Texas A&M University President's Excellence Fund

This planning and pilot study will assess the feasibility of a community-based, interdisciplinary model for protecting endangered places and heritage in surviving historic Black settlements founded 1865-1930 known as freedom colonies. The team will develop the materials, approach, and lead model testing among freedom colony descendants in the Brazos Valley region. The team’s goal is to create a community heritage preparedness assessment protocol and process which includes public guidance, hotspot analysis, and workshop curriculum delivered through an engaged, participatory, public humanities approach. The deployment of this pilot study will determine if making existing guidance and assessments more participatory and including archival education within current engagement with freedom colonies will increase these communities’ capacity to prevent loss of culture and valuables before disaster strikes. Once tested and implementation is funded, the model will be propagated through the Gulf Coast Heritage Preparedness Initiative (GCHPI) which will leverage cross-disciplinary training and technology to enable field documentation, collection, and education throughout the State and region. A primary objective is to create sustainable, holistic approaches to community-based preparedness as the frequency and intensity of disasters increase and disproportionately impact communities of color.X-Grant, President's Excellence Fund, Texas A&M Universit