VISION *Zoom* Keynote: Research Without Boundaries: Work/School/Play

Organization: AIA Cincinnati

Program Description

VISION Keynote – Research Without Boundaries: Work | School | Play ADVANCE

REGISTRATION REQUIRED BEFORE 5pm ON JULY 15 TO RECEIVE ZOOM INFORMATION.

Research finds its way into practice in many ways.  For architects and designers, research is a natural and integral part of problem-solving [work]. Often, research on a project takes place in the early stages of development.  However, arguably, research persists from pre-design to post- occupancy. Inquiry in academia [school] is another method of research.  The designing of curriculum, working with students, and the student projects themselves, afford opportunities for deep exploration. What drives you?  Whether you have a project or not, the questions you want answered, the curiosities and passions can be springboards for research.  Research outside of practice or academia is a healthy way to expand your thinking and knowledge base [play].This discussion will focus on the variety of sources of inspiration for, methodologies, and integrations of research in practice.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the different entry points for research in practice
• Review various processes for research
• Explore alternative definitions of research
• Leverage and motivate staff through self-guided inquiry

Melissa Farling is a renowned thought leader in evidence-based design, who has focused her 30-year career around the impacts of architecture on people. She discovered her passion for research in college and was able to significantly further her exploration at Gould Evans in 2005 when working on the Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, an interdisciplinary facility that has enabled world-class scientific research and revolutionary biomedicine and health outcomes.  Farling has led groundbreaking workshops and studies in neuroscience and architecture, successfully applying research to designs for a wide range of large-scale public projects. Farling is deeply engaged in the advancement of the architecture profession: she was a research associate for the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture beginning in 2006, and then became a member of the Advisory Council in 2013. She has served as co-chair of the National AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) Research Committee for a decade, co-organizing and co-leading the first criminal justice neuroscience-architecture workshops, and currently serves as a member of its leadership group. An advocate for her industry, Melissa co-chaired the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit 2013, hosted by the AIA Phoenix Chapter, served as a past-president of AIA Central Arizona Chapter (now known as Phoenix Metro Chapter), and served two terms on the AIA Phoenix Metro Chapter Advisory Council.