[Call for Applications] Gendered Innovations Research Ideathon 2nd Cohort
Due to popular demand, we have added 5 more spots◎
What is Gendered Innovations?
Is the science and technology that shapes our lives and future truly designed for everyone?
In animal testing for new drug development, male mice are often used, and clinical trials frequently target only men. As a result, some drugs have been withdrawn from the market because sex-based side effects were overlooked.
The mechanism of pain was traditionally considered based on male animals or men, but experiments using female animals have revealed that there are sex differences.
Female crash test dummies were designed based on a very small skeletal structure, which actually increased the mortality rate for women in accidents.
These facts show that while science and technology may appear neutral, they have actually been designed with specific bodies and social positions as the premise.
Gendered Innovations is an approach that re-examines these assumptions in science and technology. By considering biological and social sex differences (sex analysis) and complexly considering factors such as ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, sexuality, geographic location, and disability (intersectionality analysis), it aims to lead to new discoveries and technological innovations. aiming to do so.
What is Blend?
Blend is an initiative for young researchers interested in Gendered Innovations. The name is inspired by blended coffee, aiming to be a place where diverse perspectives intersect to create new discoveries. It provides a casual space for students and young researchers, regardless of whether they are in the humanities or sciences, to discuss Gendered Innovations and refine their research.
Blend Research Ideathon
What is a Research Ideathon?
An ideathon is a coined term combining "idea" and "-athon," referring to a short-term, intensive program for creating ideas.
Starting from your own research questions, a research ideathon is a place where you can share unfinished and fluid ideas while deepening your research ideas with others.🏃♀️
In this Blend Research Ideathon, the goal is not to present completed research, but to return to the research question itself and, together with peers, redesign the research from the perspective of Gendered Innovations.
Program Overview
Format: Zoom + Discord (We will explain how to use them in the first session!)
Frequency: Twice a month (5 sessions total) + optional study sessions available
Capacity: 10 people
Participation Fee: Free
Preparation: None required
Application Deadline: 7/31 (Ends as soon as capacity is reached)
Notification of Acceptance: Notified by email by 8/3
Schedule
Mission 1: Getting to know your peers
August 13 (Wed) 20:00–22:00 Research breakdown, self-introductions, and GI definition study
Mission 2: Going on an adventureAugust 27 (Wed) 20:00–22:00 SF Prototyping Workshop
Mission 3: Organizing discoveries
September 10 (Wed) 20:00–21:30 Case study / Re-examining research
Mission 4: Applying discoveries
September 24 (Wed) 20:00–21:30 Prior research workshop / Preparation for final presentationMission 5: Reporting the adventure (Final Presentation)
October 25 (Sat) 15:00–18:00 Public presentation
What we value
With so few examples to draw from, practicing Gendered Innovations can sometimes feel like a journey into a universe filled with uncertainty. That is why, while it is exciting, there are moments when you might think, 'Maybe this is impossible...🥲'.
Therefore, we operate this program by valuing three things: 'creating together,' 'enjoying the unknown,' and 'thinking outside the box.'
The Blend Research Ideathonbrings together people with diverse expertise and backgrounds, including those from the humanities and sciences, as well as undergraduates, master's students, doctoral students, and researchers.
That is why, here, we do not want to build relationships based on differences in status, such as organizer vs. participant or teacher vs. student, or the amount of knowledge and experience one has but rather, we want to value the perspectives that each person brings.
What we aim for is a relationship like fellow crew members on a spaceship traveling through a universe without a map, while leveraging each other's perspectives.
Ideathon Peers
This Blend Research Ideathon journey brings together peers with various perspectives and roles.
Guardians
These are the professors who watch over the journey and provide discussions for the next leg of the journey in Mission 5. For the 2nd cohort, four guardians will be watching over your journey.
Navigators
This is the management team that coordinates the progress and oversees the route. For the 2nd cohort, the following members will be coordinating your journey.
Alumni
This refers to former crew members who have completed this journey of inquiry. This time, volunteers from the 1st cohort will support your journey based on their experience🤝
Crew
And finally, the stars of this ideathon. You, the participants embarking on the journey!!
Crew Application Requirements
The Blend Research Ideathon is looking for 'crew members' regardless of age or gender who meet the following criteria:
Interested in Gendered Innovations (GI)
Even if you just learned about it, it is fine as long as you are thinking, 'I would like to incorporate this into my own research.'Engaged in research activities in the STEAM field
Young researchers such as undergraduate to doctoral students, or researchers who are involved in some form of research activity
Basically able to attend all sessions
Able to participate in activities online (Zoom/Discord)
I want to interactively develop my research concept
Voices from the 1st Cohort
Here, we introduce some words from the 1st cohort. We hope they serve as clues for you as you embark on a new journey🌙
It was very good to be able to discuss my own research with participants from different backgrounds, such as different fields and ages. Learning about research content I don't usually encounter throughout each session was a great learning experience. Also, I was grateful to have various perspectives pointed out that I tend to overlook in my own research, which motivated me to put even more effort into my work.
Gender-related issues are something everyone should know about and discuss, but they are also topics that are rarely touched upon in research or daily life, so it was very good to have this opportunity to learn intensively once a month.
I think these are issues that should be addressed in research and daily life, but there is a lot of unconscious discrimination in society, so this was an opportunity to learn about it and put it into practice.
Application for Participation
Why don't you join us as a crew member on this journey to practice Gendered Innovations? Let's re-examine the intersection of your research and society, and deepen our inquiries together as peers supporting fair science and technology💪