It is my pleasure to announce that Bicycles Create Change is breaking new ground!
I have many exciting plans for this blog and making these ideas into reality will take a concerted amount of effort, organisation, research, networking and resources.
As many of you know, it is a principle of Bicycles Create Change to collaborate with Griffith students and graduates to support and develop advanced personal, academic and professional skills.
These forays have been highly successful so far – such as:
- The Bicycles Create Change Summer Internship (2016) which was an 8-week intensive program I designed and ran in conjunction with four wonderful international students – Gabriel, Sachie, Juliet and Mauricio. Not only did we have a challenging, wonderful and productive time, this program was also recognised by English Australia for its innovative approach to academic and professional skill development by being awarded the 2018 Bright Ideas Teaching Award.
- Bella Turner (a Griffith Design (now) graduate) and I worked on a few projects together before she graduated and left for the UK, including the Go Ride app she and her team were working – and our collaboration to create the fun short film LEKI, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Brisbane Bicycle Short Film Festival 2018.
Project: Australian women’s participation in mountain biking
Currently, I am working on a number of bike-related projects and initiatives.
One of these is a public lecture investigating the issues and aspects relating to Australian women’s participation in mountain biking.
This is a big research project.
To help with this project, I am delighted to introduce the newest member of the Bicycles Create Change team – Nao Kamakura.
Nao is joining us as a Research Assistant and will be responsible for the background work for this investigation.
Introducing Nao Kamakura
Below, is a little bit about Nao in her own words….
Hello Readers!
My name is Nao and I am from Japan.
I came to Brisbane to study English and study at Griffith University. I want to learn about Australian business culture. After my English studies and a semester at Griffith University, I am now a research assistant for Nina and Bicycles Create Change.
The focus of my research for Bicycles Create Change is investigating aspects of women’s participation and perceptions of mountain biking – with a particular focus on the Australian context.
I’m a Chemist and an Environmentalist.
I believe the past development of the field of Chemistry has unfortunately destroyed our Earth a lot, but further, that future chemical innovations will be able to create a better world!
Therefore, I would like to be a person who contributes to a future where Chemistry can facilitate a more sustainable world.
Here is a link to my website called Enjoy the World. This is where I sometimes write about my greatest hobby – travelling and Australian life. I will let you know now though, it is all written in Japanese!
The BCC Research Assistant role
Nao and I have worked together previously. She is a DEP graduate of my class and for the last 13 weeks, we have been working on a PhD writing course as well while she was completed a semester of Griffith Coursework. Now she is looking for a new challenge.
Nao brings a remarkable set of skills to BCC. She has a science background so has a particular analytical approach to work, which offsets my more global and creative approach to work. She is great at the detail, I work best with the big picture. She is also a thoughtful and proactive environmentalist.
As well as having excellent English skills, Nao is also incredibly well travelled. For the last 8 years, she has kept her own travel blog, which is an amazing record of all the places she has travelled, people she has met and wonderful insights she has garnered along the way.
For this BBC role, Nao ‘s has been charged with finding and collating data, reports and research about the participation, motivations and perceptions of why women either do – or do not- ride mountain bikes in Australia and then to synthesis this information.
You will be able to hear about Nao’s work as she will also be presenting her findings as part of an upcoming Bicycles Create Change Public Symposia I have planned – the details of which will be released very soon. Stay tuned!
