Martha Vahl started her professional career as an adult education community worker. Later she studied social science at the University of Amsterdam. After graduation she participated in a (long term) research programme at the same University which aims to study and develop research methods to improve on user support systems. She concentrated on the use of stories to improve on community action. In 1993 she was invited to help develop the Centre for Systems Studies of the School of Management at Hull University (United Kingdom). She contributed (and implemented) a research program into community development research, with special emphasis on the critical and empirical evaluation of linguistic devices ('script research'). In 1996 this work gained her a further research position in the Centre for Systems Research, in Lincoln's newly established University (UK). In 1997 she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Nijenrode and co-ordinator of the Center for Corporate and Community Renewal. Her task is to help develop the Centre and, in particular, to explore the notion of community in corporate settings. Her work included projects in the United Kingdom (Lincoln) and in Canada (Walpole) as well as theoretical work on research in management. Additionally she contributes to the Executive MBA at Nijenrode. In 1999 Martha returned to the UK to set up the Lincoln Research Centre Ltd., which specialises in research, design, communication systems, research training and evaluation for business & community, and is affiliated to the Centre for Innovation and Cooperative Technology (CICT) of the University of Amsterdam. The work of the centre concentrates on improving the supportive (community and voluntary sector) infrastructure, urban regeneration, and to explore and stimulate the use of ICT for community issues. The concept of 'scienceshop' is being implemented to link communities to sources of support and knowledge, such as universities and colleges. |
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