School of Health & Wellbeing

Spend 5 minutes with General Practice and Primary Care's Nic Dickson... (Research Associate)

Tell us a bit about what you do in SHW?

I work as a research associate with the General Practice and Primary Care team on a project called SEISMIC SysteMatic, which seeks to understand how people in deprived areas live with multiple long-term health conditions (MLTCs). I’m part of the "People Insights" team, which uses a participatory, arts-based approach to map the challenges and health journeys of three different segments of the population, including children and families, people of working age and those in "pre-frailty", aged 50–70. This data will be shared with clinicians and engineers from the University of Glasgow and the University of Liverpool, and together we will co-identify, co-develop and co-produce systems engineering solutions for people living with MLTCs. 

What do you enjoy about your role?

That's easy – the work description uses my experience, talents and enthusiasms and if I had to define the job I would want, it's this! I am delighted to be in post and draw on my expertise as a social researcher and community-based arts practitioner. I recently completed a PhD in Education at the University of Glasgow, where I led a qualitative research study that explored the barriers and enablers to engagement in arts-based adult learning with women who had histories of childhood sexual abuse and recent homelessness. From this work, I bring insights as a community-based visual artist, researcher and educator. I am part of a supportive team who recognise the value of co-production and how creative approaches can be used to enhance data collection. As part of the role, I am working with community groups from across Glasgow to develop participatory research approaches to ensure the "seldom heard" can help shape health services.

What are the challenges?

The challenges are that I’m not a clinician, so I’m being introduced to new ways of thinking about people and health by my clinical colleagues, and we’re also working with engineers and systems designers who use different terminology and frameworks. It's all about finding common language and understandings! However, my team is great, and we work together to understand these perspectives and find commonality. A further challenge is that this is pilot process, and although there is a plan to create AI software and technology to help people manage their MLTCs, we’re still determining what that might look like in practice. So, it feels all a bit unknown and exploratory but conquering the challenge puts the team into an exciting future – we could potentially find new ways of providing support frameworks in health.

What is the best thing about working in SHW?

Oh, the building and the people! There is such a wonderful community feeling, from the smiling Ainsley on the reception desk with her seasonal decorations to Lorraine in the canteen knowing how you take your coffee, it’s a really welcoming space. I am proud to work at SHW and applaud the inclusive ethos of the staff teams who work hard to communicate the work which is being undertaken by all the different departments. I feel incredibly lucky to be working with the General Practice and Primary Care team and have enjoyed meeting the staff and students on Level 3 and learning all about their different projects and interests.

Tell us something we might not know about you?

I am part time at the SHW and have two other research associate roles with the School of Education and School of Social and Political Sciences; I am working on projects which consider the gendered journeys of Rwandan and Indian women who study and work in STEM subjects, and research which considers the domestic abuse experiences of South Asian women living in Glasgow. For both projects, I have used arts-based practice to capture and disseminate the research findings. 

In addition, I am developing my work as an arts-based research practitioner and visual note taker and am in the process of setting up a company called "Visual Inquiry" to showcase the work undertaken over the last few years as an independent consultant. Most recently, I collaborated with a colleague from SHW to help illustrate their PhD research into the impacts of social connections and mortality in the UK. I helped design and develop a poster to communicate the findings for international audiences and research publications. 

I am relishing these opportunities that are presenting through SHW and learning new ways to develop my drawing skills and artistic abilities to help capture the key research messages designed for lay audiences. I hope to continue this work and develop further connections through my digital illustrations and visual work.

When or where are (or were) you happiest?

I think I am at my happiest when outside and with friends and doing something active. Currently, I am obsessed by British Military Fitness, but I’ve always been into running. Recently on a writing retreat with colleagues from the School of Education I convinced another poor soul to join me in running up a hill (in the bitter cold). We climbed a rock and embraced the elements!   

Tell us about something (or more than one thing!) you are proud of 

I feel quite proud that I returned to academia when I was in my 40s and pursued a PhD. I had three young kids at the time and leaving my job as a senior policy and research officer at the council to study part-time at the University of Glasgow felt like a risk. However, so many amazing opportunities have come from this, and my life has changed in so many ways. I feel extremely lucky to work for the University of Glasgow across interdisciplinary teams and to be able to utilise my creative skills in each role. I hope in the future I will secure a permanent post and get more opportunities to teach and to collaborate with colleagues from across the schools.

If you could have your time again, what might you do differently?

Not jump over walls without checking the space on the other side first! (Ha, thanks to my dad for this suggestion!).

Any secret – or not so secret! – ambitions?

Hmm, ambitions… I guess I want to get through 2024 and see what other opportunities present themselves through working at SHW and the wider university. I’m very excited to be part of a programme called the Laboratory for Civic Research, which brings together creative practitioners and researchers from across the schools. I think I’m going to learn huge amounts from this network and others. I’d love to develop my arts-based practice and find innovative ways to promote, publish and present the findings from my PhD. I need to construct a website for Visual Inquiry (I have a holding page on visualinquiry.co.uk so watch this space) and I need to think about the parameters of my fledgling business. I think I may need a mentor, so if anyone is reading this and thinks they might be able to assist I’d welcome their guidance! There are so many ways in which this work could potentially go, so it feels a really exciting time to be in academia.

Do you have a favourite quote or saying, or mantra by which you try to live your life?

Like the rest of the family, growing up on Douglas Adams, Red Dwarf and Monty Python, I love adaptations of quirky concepts and my touchstone will change as I age. Right now, it's probably "42" – I think I know the answer to a question, but defining the problem takes a little time!

If you would like to appear in "5 minutes with...", do please get in touch (shwadmin@glasgow.ac.uk)! We aim to feature colleagues from across a wide range of roles and grades within our school, both staff and students, research/teaching and professional services. 

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First published: 12 December 2023