gattuso_sfaa_2014
- 1. Complementary Styles: Engineering and Anthropology at The University of Memphis Anna Gattuso The University of Memphis March 19, 2014
- 2. Structure of the engineering/anthropology collaboration at The University of Memphis • Collaboration centered around projects that share participatory themes • Main (current) collaboration • Participatory community resource management plan with Scenic Hills • Second (newer) collaboration • Engineers without Borders effort to design and build water sources with community residents in Yarvicoya, Bolivia
- 3. Who is collaborating? Two applied anthropologists Engineering professor Applied anthropology graduate student Scenic Hills Planning Committee and Neighborhood Association (Scenic Hills)
- 4. The collaboration began from a shared common interest: Scenic Hills United Housing, Inc. (UHI) Engineering professor David Arellano, PhD, PE and The University of Memphis Herff School of Engineering
- 5. UHI’s Involvement and Background To increase homeownership among low to moderate income homebuyers (United Housing, Inc., n.d.) UHI’s mission: Roots of Project 2009, buying and rehabbing homes
- 6. Scenic Hills’ History and Background • Scenic Hills Neighborhood built in 1958 • Good housing stock and shared parkland • Loss of homeowners in the last two decades
- 7. Collaborating with Engineering Need Project needed anthropologist to facilitate community partnership Research design Research designed with our roles in mind Implementation Communicated via email and meetings (with residents and team)
- 8. Plan workshop Work with SHPC Executive Committee Share research results with Dr. Arellano Planning with Dr. Arellano CIM in Scenic Hills EWB Yarvicoya meeting EWB president attends Anthro Club meeting Finish CIM data Analyze CIM data Research Summer 2012 Spring 2014Fall 2012 Fall 2013 Collect surveys and analyze results; share with Dr. Arellano 1st Scenic Hills Picnic Summer 2013 2nd Scenic Hills Picnic Collaboration Timeline Scenic Hills finalizes Committee
- 9. Challenges Residents sometimes dubious about CDC presence • Strategies used to overcome challenge: • Drawing on the cultural capital provided by university-based partner • Talking to people through participant observation Bureaucratic policies made some of the processes slow • First Ad Hoc Committee meeting stalled due to Memorandum of Understanding • IRB approval process initially slow
- 10. Outcomes For Scenic Hills: Committee on Dam Maintenance and Operations Innovative funding strategy to pay for infrastructure work Repairs to Loch Nevin Dam For Engineering: Community engagement Site and funding for student For Anthropology Participatory research/community development opportunity New case study in Scenic Hills Model for participatory community resource management For The University of Memphis A successful example of engaged scholarship New inter-agency/ trans disciplinary collaboration For UHI Increased community development work
- 11. Ways to improve this model Create more opportunities for meetings Bring engineering student on at same time as anthropology student Build strategies to avoid bureaucratic obstacles: • Explain participatory research to IRB office
- 12. Benefits 1) An extension of anthropology and engineering networks into each other’s disciplines 2) An extension of university networks into the community and UHI 3) A 3-way partnership between the university, UHI, and Scenic Hills 4) Community empowerment – the community has formed their new committee and a new leader has emerged
- 13. Conclusions/ Reflections • Although they experienced varying levels of participation, community is a partner Scenic Hills community members • Community development • Qualitative data collection via participatory research Applied anthropology skills useful in project
- 14. Potential next steps Hold world café-style (charette style) civil engineering lunch and learn at Scenic Hills Invite engineering partners to help Scenic Hills analyze CIM data Co-present results as a model at anthropology or engineering conference(s), and to the State of TN Co-design potential Anthropology for Engineers class Write up results for paper with research partners Amy Schaftlein and April Steele
- 15. A huge thank you to: my research partners and to this panel. Questions? First Annual Scenic Hills Picnic, Loch Nevin Park, Summer 2012 Reference: United Housing, Inc. n.d. “Mission.” http://unitedhousing.org