I have been involved in CANI-NET since 2023, and am very grateful to be a member of this supportive network that allows explorations of creative, artful inquiries no matter which disciplines one may be familiar with. My training is in sociology (specifically sociology of health and illness, with a particular focus on patient narratives and patience experience research), and have developed, led and taught a Masters degree module in research methods and research ethics for over 15 years at my university.
In recent years, especially since the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests since 2019, I have began publicly embracing my Hongkonger identity more and more, including through my own research, civic engagement and other academic/cultural endeavours. In so doing, I am also embracing my creative, artistic self, something I had largely left aside since deciding to go into university rather than accepting my art college offer. It is almost like I am finally coming into my own in my fourth decade of life when I can begin to integrate different facets of my self: artistic and academic, Hongkonger and Irish. I am grateful to be part of the CANI-NET community while I am going through this journey of my late growth and development.