It's June already???

As I admitted in the description of this blog, I am a newbie in public health research. As many of you know, my previous research days were spent with fruit flies, behind microscopes or with a pipet in my hand. The part of the research I enjoyed most, was when I was able to research and write how the information learned would apply to humans. My research was always much removed, but was related via the protein lamin C to Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy. Just by entering public health I was placed much closer to the subjects (aka humans) that make me interested in research. The projects that have caught my attention most make use of a methodology that is fairly new called PhotoVoice. I wanted to talk about it a little in my blog because I think it is interesting, innovative and exciting. I also thought it would be of addition interest to my social work, psych, and social media friends (Emily Jarman, Gabby Mikleu and Stacy Rust especially). PhotoVoice helps initiate tough conversations and empower populations that may have previously been marginalized. The basic idea is to give cameras (photo or video) to participants from a specific population and let them, the experts of their lives and their problems, describe the answers to specific questions. Sample questions include:

                How do the participants conceptualize and give meaning to their experiences as a minority?

                How do participants perceive themselves in relation to the wider community?

                What health disparities do they experience due to their position in a community?

Community members participate in multiple stages of project. They take the photo and video, describe what they see, discuss within a group all the images and help design the final exhibit. The goals of PhotoVoice projects are threefold: 1) to record and reflect on the community’s strengths and concerns, 2) to promote dialogue/conversation between the community and 3) to reach policy makers so public policy will address the real needs of the community. If you would like to check out some of the projects that have already been done internationally using this method check out www.visiblevoice.info.

I would like to take a moment to say that I am thinking about everyone back home in Dakota Dunes, South Sioux City, Sioux City and Sloan. I am praying that all the levees will be constructed in time, they will hold and the damage will be limited. Wish I could teleport back and offer assistance myself. To Emily Conway (though I am guessing you are way too busy to be reading my blog), I hope Saturday is perfect even if some of it has to change due to the flooding. Your words, reflecting your always optimistic self, said it perfectly, “Even if it floods, I still get to marry Chris :)”. Wish I could be there to see you looking gorgeous. I can’t wait for pictures to start invading Facebook. For those of you reading from Romania that have no idea what I am talking about because these floods haven’t made international news, check www.ktiv.com if you are interested. Below is a picture, taken from the Sioux City Journal, of a Blackhawk helicopter carrying a one ton sandbag to be placed on the levee in Dakota Dunes (much more interesting picture than any I have taken this week).

Finally, I am very excited about the upcoming days. Tomorrow, I am going to see Catrhythm, the band I have mentioned in previous blog-posts. Then on Friday, the Transylvanian International Film Festival (TIFF) begins in Cluj. It runs for 10 days and I plan to see several movies each day. There are films from around the world and of the list of several hundred movies I recognized five (127 Hours, Winter’s Bone, You Don’t Know Jack, Never Let Me Go, and Somewhere). Of course I will be writing reviews of the movies I see and letting you all know which ones to see as well.  

:) Kait