Informed Consent

Part of the objective in any research is to better understand preferences, interests, challenges, difficulties, or conditions that different people might experience in diverse contexts. For this particular project, we want to understand how frontline communities in the Puget Sound area envision using tech to build climate resilience and fight for climate justice. 

For this reason, we want to be completely transparent about the methods, the type of data to be collected, and how this data will be analyzed and communicated. We want all participants in these workshops to be fully aware of and voluntarily agree to the nature, purpose, and potential risks of a study before taking part. This allows everyone to put into practice their self-determination.

This work at the University of Washington is being conducted by Amelia Doğan, a PhD student in the Information School, Nino Migineishvili, a PhD student in the Allen School of Computer Science, and Lindah Kotut, a professor in the Information School. 

Please read carefully the following description of the goals and methods of the research component of these workshops. If something is unclear, feel free to contact Amelia (dogan@uw.edu) with any questions. You can also reach out to Isabel if you prefer (isabel@frontandcentered.org). 

What is this project about?

You are being asked to participate in a research study about how to design technology for the climate crisis for communities on the frontlines. It is up to you to decide whether you want to participate. If you decide to enroll, you can stop participation at any time. Please read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in this study.

What will you be asked to do?

If you agree to be in this study, we will ask you to participate in workshops with other participants. Some activities will include group discussions and sketching. Part of the data collected will be aggregated, so no identifiable information will be shared, to highlight insights on perspectives around climate change and climate justice. 

What will happen to the information you provide?

The information you provide will be kept confidential. We will store the data with a code instead of your name. We will transcribe an audio recording of the workshop without the names of participants and destroy the recording within four months of the workshop. We will additionally take photos with your permission without your face in it. We will also keep a record of drawings and design products from the workshop.

What can you do if you want more information?

This study was deemed exempt by the University of Washington under IRB ID STUDY00022710. 

Talk to the study team. Amelia Dogan is the lead researcher at the University of Washington for this study and can be contacted at dogan@uw.edu. You may also contact Lindah Kotut, Amelia’s advisor and professor at the University of Washington, at kotut@uw.edu .

Talk to someone else. If you want to talk with someone who is not part of the study team about the study, your rights as a research subject, or to report problems or complaints about the study, contact the UW Human Subjects Division at hsdinfo@uw.edu or 206-543-0098.