#8 RESEARCH AS RELATIONSHIP: An Ethics of Inquiry

This is the second lecture for the 2024 Fall session of ENGLISH 1110 for The Ohio State University, taught by PhD Candidate Peyton Del Toro.

In the process of writing or creating anything, inspiration often comes from various sources—personal experiences, the experiences of our families and communities, observations in popular culture, interactions with others, or even random moments of insight. The creative process involves capturing these fleeting moments and transforming them into something tangible and ever-lasting.

Your work becomes a gift to others, inviting them to engage with it, find meaning, and even be inspired themselves. This process of creating and sharing reflects the idea of passing along gifts and trusting that what you put into the world will have a reciprocal effect. You take in ideas and experiences (inhale), produce work based on them (exhale), and then receive feedback or see the impact of your work on others. This cycle is continuous, and the act of sharing your creations can lead to new ideas and inspirations, perpetuating the cycle of creativity.

Integrating Kimmerer’s ideas into academic writing involves a shift towards practices that honor both rigorous scholarly standards and the ethical responsibilities and accessibility to the communities we engage with. It’s about creating a dialogue between academic principles and the values of connection, gratitude, and reciprocity.

I think Kimmerer’s work opens a door for thinkers of all disciplines to reimagine the way they put forth their knowledge into the world. Our work—whether in the realm of academia or in our daily communication—is deeply intertwined with our responsibilities to our communities and the natural world. Instead of viewing academic work as an isolated endeavor, Kimmerer’s insights encourage us to integrate local knowledge, address real-world issues, and reflect on how our research serves broader societal needs.
For a deeper dive on the “Skywoman Falling” section of the book, check out my very first episode titled “SCI-FI AS RE-STORY-ATION.”