Ambassador: Jennifer Jones
- Current role:
- PhD student
- Institution:
- University of West of Scotland
- Discipline:
- Arts and humanities
Biography
Jennifer Jones is a PhD researcher within the School of Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of the West of Scotland and a Visiting Lecturer within the Media School at Birmingham City University and DeMontfort University. She is working on projects closely tied to the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games, in the context of emerging media landscapes and labour practices within the creative industries. She specializes in new media methods for data capture, collection and archiving, in particular around social media and mega-events, whilst focusing on the continuous link between digital practice and theory. Jennifer is the coordinator for #media2012, a national citizen media network for London 2012, web editor and staff writer for “Culture @ the Olympics,” a hybrid academic magazine which covers ‘anything but sport’ relating to the Olympic movement.
What motivated you to engage with the public?
Through my PhD research, I have formed a natural interest in the links between the research and the public dissemination process, in particular through new media. As my research (and chosen methodologies) are about a phenomena which is inherently focused on the public and the ways in which communities emerge around particular topics, my position has moved into a space where I get to work with people from varying disciplines and backgrounds in order to help generate discussion about the importance of public engagement.
Describe the public enagement work you have done
I have been experimenting through the use of social media in a number of contexts - from ‘amplifying’ events through online coverage, to running informal learning sessions in public spaces. Everything that I do around this area is shared publicly on my website - which could include videos, slides, worksheets and discussion material.
This is replicated through my teaching, where I actively attempt to introduce key concepts and themes from my research into the classroom in both a theoretical and a practical way. Again, all of the course content and discussion is shared in a public arena which has allowed for my students to engage with those who they may be discussing (and using) in the classroom.
