Testimonial visiting fellow blogpost

This testimonial blogpost is by Dr. Julia Nuño de la Rosa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

I recently completed a fruitful academic fellowship from July 10th to 30th, 2024. During this period, I engaged in various research activities and collaborations with the Centre for Protection of Women Online, significantly contributing to my field and gaining valuable experiences.

One of the highlights of my stay was attending the International Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Annual Conference (POWES), where I participated in a roundtable discussion on the GEiO project, "You’re on mute! Gender Equitable Interactions Online (GEiO)." This session focused on presenting preliminary findings from the project led by Professors Lazard and Capdevila from The Open University. My involvement provided me with new insights and fostered connections with key researchers in my area of expertise.

During this time at the Centre, located at The Open University in Milton Keynes, I worked closely with the Director Jurasz, and Professors Lazard and Capdevila. Together, we translated the "Online Violence Against Women: Survey," designed by Prof. Jurasz, into Spanish. This survey, developed with funding from the Open University’s Open Societal Challenges program, has significantly impacted the understanding of online violence against women (OVAW) across the UK (Jurasz, O., 2024. Online violence against women: A Four Nations study, The Open University.).

Additionally, I collaborated with the GEiO project team, of which I’m a part as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) representing the Spanish team from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). I was involved in the analysis of Q methodology data collected by the research team. I had numerous meetings with the principal investigators (Professors Lazard and Capdevila) and the UK and German team’s PDRAs (Dr. Alison Davies and Antonia Heil). Together, we analyzed data collected from Spain, Germany, and England using relevant software and literature. These discussions were crucial in making important decisions for the project and analyzing preliminary results.

Moreover, I dedicated time to drafting a report on the GEiO project's national progress for the Ministry of Science and Universities, Government of Spain. I also planned the next steps for coordinating work with the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) team involved in the project. Preliminary conversations for future publications were also initiated, paving the way for further dissemination of our findings.

In addition to the academic pursuits, I enjoyed socializing with OU researchers, including Prof. Jurasz and Joanna Bhatti from the Centre, and Prof. Crafter and Dr. Stavropoulou from the School of Psychology and Counselling (OU) who are associated with related projects. I also took the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks in London, such as the Tate Modern Gallery, the British Library, and the British Museum, enriching my cultural and personal experience.

My fellowship at the Open University has been a period of significant professional and personal growth. The collaborative environment and the opportunity to work on impactful research have underscored the value of such academic exchanges. These contributions have not only advanced my own work but have also strengthened the bonds between the participating institutions, promising future collaborations and advancements in the study of online violence against women.