August 1 2024: Spark Connections Newsletter

Spark Connections Newsletter: Celebrating Spark’s Achievements in 2023-2024

As we close the chapter on another exciting year, we’re thrilled to share the highlights and milestones from our 2023-2024 Annual Report. This year has been a whirlwind of activity, growth, and innovation at Spark: A Centre for Social Research Innovation. Here’s a look at some of our proudest achievements and how we continue to ignite the flame of social research excellence.

Advancing Research Excellence

At Spark, our mission is to connect researchers with the resources, skills, and tools they need to stand at the forefront of social research innovation. This year, we co-hosted the “Reproducibility/Replication Games” workshop with the Canadian Research Data Centre Network and the Institute for Replication. This two-part event in June 2023 provided valuable insights into creating and disseminating reproducible quantitative social science works.

Our weekly Spark Talks continued to draw significant interest, featuring global researchers who shared their innovative methods and findings. With topics ranging from duo ethnography to the use of large language models, these sessions have enriched our understanding and application of social research methodologies.

Empowering Through Education

Education remains at the heart of Spark. Our short course on “Impact Evaluation,” led by Paul Bakker, was a hit this fall, equipping participants with the tools to measure and assess the lasting impacts of various initiatives.

Additionally, our Data Champions Project, funded through a SSHRC Connections RDM Grant, supported graduate students in implementing best practices in research data management. These initiatives underscore our commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and practical application.

Expanding Research Support

Our Research Conversations service has been a beacon of support for faculty, students, and community researchers, providing expert advice and coaching on various research projects. This year, we held conversations with over two dozen researchers, helping them refine their questions, navigate research barriers, and connect with the right tools and resources.

We’ve also enhanced our facilities to better serve our community. The newly upgraded Qualitative Suite and Secure Empirical Analysis Lab (SEAL) now offer even more robust and secure environments for conducting sensitive and high-impact research. These spaces have been pivotal in supporting 15 active projects this year, including collaborations with prestigious institutions worldwide.

Strengthening Community Connections

Our Brighter Spark Applied Research (BSAR) team has been hard at work, partnering with local and regional organizations to deliver impactful research and evaluation services. From working with Cochrane Canada to collaborating with Hamilton Community Foundation, our applied research efforts are making a tangible difference in our community.

Communication and Engagement

This year, we launched our new website, designed to be an accessible and visually appealing hub of information. The new site features dedicated pages for Spark events, training, and services, making it easier than ever to find the resources you need. Our Research Toolkits offer curated collections of the best online resources, including videos, blog posts, books, and articles, grouped into seven comprehensive toolkits to support various research methods. We’re thrilled to provide a user-friendly platform that enhances the way we communicate and engage with our community.

Our bi-weekly newsletter, Spark Connections, has continued to grow, now reaching over 500 subscribers with a readership between 2000-3000 per issue. Through social media, we’ve engaged with a broader audience, sharing updates and resources that support our mission.

Celebrating Key Events

We hosted our annual Open House Event in September, offering networking opportunities, tours of our facilities, and insights into our latest research. Our participation in the first annual Community-Engaged Research Day in March highlighted our commitment to fostering community partnerships and exploring new research opportunities.

Honouring Our Team

None of these achievements would be possible without the dedication and expertise of our incredible team. This year, we’ve seen significant contributions from our staff, including Lynn Holland’s guidance of our Administrative Team and Lily Wang’s strategic growth of SEAL.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we’re already gearing up for another year of innovation and growth. We’re excited to continue our journey, expanding our educational offerings, research support, and community partnerships. In 2024-2025, we’ll undergo our first external five-year review, providing an opportunity to reflect on our progress and plan for the future.

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant research community. Your support and collaboration are what make Spark a beacon of social research innovation. Here’s to another year of breakthroughs, discoveries, and building a brighter world together.

If you’d like to dive deeper into our achievements and plans, you can read the full 2023-2024 Annual Report on our website.

Warm regards,

The Spark Team

Read more at Spark Connections.