Estrella & Tech

Design Justice, Participatory Design, and Community-Based Participatory Research 

Philosophy of Technology: Project 1

Guidelines & Focus 

Using Participatory Design principles, create a mock white paper proposal for a research funding opportunity regarding a Minerva topic of interest. Our selected topic was Cultural Resilience, Climate, and Human Security in Oceania (Ref. p. 34 of DoD Minerva Research Initiative’s University Research Announcement).

It is difficult to condense and summarize the problems that the Oceanic communities face. The circumstance is complex as is any relationship between local inhabitant and outside entities that seek innovation. The published research announcement attempts to highlight a few of these complexities. See below.

U.S. partner nations in the Pacific are facing enormous challenges in the next two to three decades, with rising sea levels, increased storms, and overwash events (i.e., “king tides”) dramatically affecting human security in these large ocean nations. Indigenous peoples will disproportionately be affected by climate-related crises. The disruption of ecosystems affects the availability of plants and animals upon which indigenous peoples rely for food, medicine, and cultural practices. Economic impacts on their livelihoods and income sources are also expected. Indigenous people often have deep knowledge of their environment and have been shown to develop innovative adaptation strategies. This knowledge is an important resource that is also threatened.

Many Oceanic nations can document some of the social, economic, and cultural problems that complicate their ability to develop a resilient society. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), for example, the current land tenure system reduces the incentive for businesses to flood proof. And differences between social classes can create tensions as families, clans, and individuals struggle with whether and when to migrate or remain. Many families ardently seek to remain, despite the growing problems they will encounter. Doing so will require cultural resilience—an ongoing process of preservation, adaptation, and innovation of cultural practices to meet the evolving context of change—strong social networks, effective leadership, and intergenerational knowledge transmission.  

DoD Minerva Research Initiative’s University Research Announcement

Project

Suggestion were provided in the preferred areas of research to be conducted. Such as (1) general research of the culture, language, and social systems, (2) the development of “remain or stay” preparation and resources, and (3) research of the local peoples groups and their roles within the community. Before our group could begin the proposal, we needed to conduct background research on the region, demographics, and issues voiced by the communities. Collectively we created product tasks and assigned them accordingly.  

  1. Create point allocation system for assignments (Kaitlin)
  2. Create task & assignment tracker (Estrella)
  3. Create project outline (Group)
  4. Research and define concepts of Technology of Philosophy before identifying solutions (Estrella)
  5. Research issues faced by Oceanic society focused on healthcare, science, infrastructure (Kaitlin, Summer, Alexis)
  6. Research demographics (Summer) 
  7. Brainstorm community based participation research questions/goals (Alexis)
  8. Discuss, identify, and decide proposal components (to keep/remove) (Aiden/Maverick)
  9. Discuss, identify, and decide interview questions  (group)
  10. Discuss, identify, and decide finalized components (group)
  11. Draft proposal template (Aiden/Maverick) 
  12. Complete final product (white paper) 

Project Inspiration

At first glance of the course title, Philosophy of Technology, most would expect the first project to be more “techy”. It is easy to scroll through and judge that this is not a “techy” project but we beg to differ. Here’s why…

There are too many instances that the elite, overarching powers, or authorities design, create, produce, or rule over the majority. The majority are the ordinary. Let me not take away the hard work and expertise of said designer, creators, producers, or artists, or rulers. They have their rightful place where they earned to be. What I aim to highlight are the areas that are overlooked, misplaced, within the margins, or areas that need reconsideration. Of the many, many, many, many, many readings and rabbit holes we venture down in this course, here are the references were particularly standout. Writing a meager one paragraph summary for these resources would be an injustice. I opted to highlight some keywords and concepts introduced. I am confident that all sorts of people (ordinary, academic, professional, etc.) can learn something new from these writers. I highly encourage you (whoever you are) to challenge learning something new or perhaps learning an opposing perspective to the one you hold. Sorry, I digress. The whole point is that in order to better serve the customer, audience, or end-user, we would be more successful should we inquire and truly comprehend who they are, what they need, and what they want. The best way to accomplish this is to consult them directly. Resources shared in this post help facilitate that.

Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement, Ashley Shew

Keywords and ideas:  impositions, assumptions, cyborgs, disabled, disability, accessibility, technoableism, pioneering, ADHDers

“Often, past me disappoints my currently disabled self”

Ashley Shew

Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need, Sasha Costanza-Chock

Keywords and ideas: impacts of technology, social impacts, affordances, disaffordances and dysaffordances,  activism, universal design, mobilization, engagement, niche (niches), user-centered design (USD), matrix of domination, systematic exclusion, microaggressions, value-sensitive design (VSD), preexisting bias, technical bias, emergent bias, paradigm shift, user privilege.

Content

Use cases and future considerations: 

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Friere

Keywords and ideas: phenomenon, praxis, transformation, authenticity, cause of liberation, abolishing the situation of oppression, a priori, pedagogy, true dialogue, critical thinking 

Food for thought? BTW, ‘Food for thought’ are not Friere’s words. One of the challenges posed by Friere is to reconsider the relationship we have with the act of dialogue.

Anti-dialogical vice dialogical 

(1) Anti-dialogical

Individual or collective

organizes own program

answers own questions

content and discourse revolve around “bits of information to be deposited in the student”

(2) Dialogical

(teacher-student; student-teacher)

poses problems to kickstart discourse 

Offers organized deconstruction 

Content and discourse born by authentic dialogue 

Mock Proposal (White Paper)

APPLICATION WHITE PAPER 

Cultural Resilience, Climate, and Human Security in Oceania

NFO Number: HQ003425NFOEASD01 

Topic Number: 4  

Topic Title: 2025 Minerva Grant  

Project Members: Kaitlin Kerns-Lucas, Estrella Guillen, Aiden Duprey, Maverick Frost, Summer Hill, Alexis Morel 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH AND ISSUES 

Intro: The goal of this proposal is to be granted the availability to help ensure the existence and continuation of Tuvaluan culture without a forced relocation from their home. We aim to research into ways that help preservation be a realistic goal, attainable and continuable as generations pass by. Through surveying and open communication, we hope to procure a culture around island preservation that is non-invasive towards the people of Tuvalu. With the collaboration of the community and researchers, we hope to find a beneficial, seamless way to enact the preservation of Tuvaluan land, culture, and homes. 

Goals:  1) Identifying how to preserve the sanctity of Tuvaluan culture based on community-based dialectic. 2). Identifying the needs of the community based on the burden placed upon participants. 

Research Questions:   1) What factors from the rising sea levels are the most concerning to your community and what can we do to help. 2) What factors are affecting your community in regards to deciding on relocating or staying.  

PROPOSED METHODS 

Collaborative Design: Researchers will have direct communication with Tuvaluan citizens in order to ask about their concerns and preferences with regards to staying versus evacuating, and ensure they are properly addressed. Researchers will 1) get in contact with community experts for interview and advising; 2) survey locals and collect information on recurring concerns. 

Art Based Data: The culture of the Tuvaluan community members can be directly observed through the artistic expression within the community. Tuvalu citizens will be consulted about their own perspectives and needs, however to avoid further burdening community members already under stress, researchers will observe the cultural expressions on the island in the form of 1) artefact based art such as sculptures and trinkets; 2) environmental art such as landmarks and architecture; 3) social events, such as those involving song, dance, or food. It is important to consider cultural expression across multiple domains as environmental art can speak to the significance of the land for the Tuvaluan community, whereas understanding the social habits may help researchers determine the best course of action for relocation. 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH AND ISSUES 

Both scientific researchers and citizens of each nation have determined climate change has, and will continue to have, detrimental effects on our livelihood and stability: especially areas closely surrounded by water lacking external assistance. Citizens of Tuvalu in Oceania understand the impact of climate change far too well, as it consists of three reef islands and six atolls with a land area estimated to be 26 square kilometers [1]. Climate change is a considerable threat to Tuvalu, and citizens are acknowledging their situation as dire; it is currently projected that by 2050, ≥50% of land area in the nation’s capital, Funafuti, will become inundated [2]. The nation itself lies only two meters above sea level. The most pressing issues in Tuvalu asserted by Tuvaluan citizens listed are: coastal erosion, lack of external aid, decimation of plantations and fisheries, food insecurity, and inaccessible freshwater resources via saltwater intrusion [3]. Fisheries sector consists of up to 60% of government capital, with Tuvaluan citizens practicing subsistence agricultural formulas[4].  

While it is necessary to empirically identify potential challenges Tuvaluans may face, it is more imperative to determine the most prevalent restrictions faced and gauge willingness to relocate/accept information which can be used to aid in relocation. Relocation from one sector of Tuvalu to another is impossible, as when moving from the bayside inland, you are in the ocean on the other side. As for non-economic or physical losses, the Tuvaluan people risk the displacement of their culture, traditions, and language[5]. There are currently plans to implement coastal rehabilitation measures or potential relocation, which involves land reclamation, to create raised land for Tuvaluans[6]. These infrastructural solutions may benefit Tuvalu, but it is critical to communicate with the citizens of Tuvalu and assist individuals in becoming “climate navigators.” The potential education of “climate navigators” will allow Tuvaluans to get training and guidance on relocation, if and when citizens decide to do so [7]. Empirical data has been collected by previous researchers, but lacks the necessary communication with individuals into their specific needs and requirements when offering assistance. 

To successfully assist Tuvaluan citizens, as well as other Oceanic countries facing similar obstacles, you must identify each individual requirement and develop strategies to relate to those who refuse assistance– this may come in the form of Tuvaluans educating their fellow citizens rather than outsiders who have not faced their challenges [8]. Research will require the formation of personal relations with the people of Tuvalu, discovering the specific needs of each member of the island, and offering the most aid possible in varying ways, with emphasis on catering to those with personal restrictions or anxieties.  

COLLABORATIVE DESIGN  

Research is to be conducted using participatory design methodology.  Human interaction is focal and integral to the success of project. It is through this hybrid approach, that the employment of research practices that are human-centered and community-led that that will result in the successful identification of community-based needs over perceived community needs, and overall, successful research. Common practices are community-knowledge extraction, participant observation, interviews, popular education (community to research team and likewise, research team to community), and focus groups. Typical resources used for research such as crowd sources via social media or other digital tools, rely on a common denominator of user-reliance. This requires the economical and physical means of resources that are overlooked and not afforded to the majority of targeted peoples group in the Oceanic region. Not all people of the community are afforded to be categorized as users, commonly referred to in technology as end-users. Due to lack of affordable and widespread industrial infrastructure in the Oceanic region, basic human necessities such as electricity, water treatment facilities, and other Western affordances such as access to broadcasted communication and access to the internet, the primary execution of research is required to be on-site and face-to-face with the target community or communities. This does not exclude the use of digital means of research, communication, or data collection. Simply put, it is a requirement that the technology used to facilitate research is not solely the modern conception of technology (radio, internet, etc.).  

One of the many end goals of the project is the development of a better praxis or evolving pedagogy for the demographic of non-users, underreported users, and otherwise those without the knowledge or physical resources to participate in user-based data collection and research. Praxis refers to the reflection of knowledge and consequential action taken with that knowledge and new found knowledge. There cannot be enough emphasize placed on the importance of unscripted, organic, and face-to-face engagement with the targeted demographic presented above. It is through the development and implementation of several participatory practices, that it is possible to accurately document and relay the true extent of disparage and marginalized community groups. Research cannot be performed accurately nor efficiently on the current lack or total absence of data sets. Herein lies the utmost significance of human interaction between researchers and intended peoples to better facilitate community-based research and needs.  

White Paper References
Design Justice, Participatory Design, and Community-Based Participatory Research References

Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement, Ashley Shew

Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need, Sasha Costanza-Chock

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Friere

DoD Minerva Research Initiative’s University Research Announcement

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