I’ve just applied for some digital democracy work. (Yes, that is a hint!) My covering email (slightly adapted below) says I can do some stuff.

I’m passionate about democracy and IT, especially in hyperlocal democracy (community councils, parish councils, and similar).

Professionally, I’m a part-time social informatics researcher at Edinburgh Napier University, concentrating on use of the internet by, and information literacy in, hyperlocal democracy. See more at https://www.napier.ac.uk/people/bruce-ryan

I’m also web-weaver, minutes secretary and general IT supporter for Leith Central, Leith Harbour & Newhaven and New Town & Broughton Community Councils in Edinburgh.

I’m also a member of the £eithChooses participatory budgeting process steering group, concentrating on written communications.

Prior to returning to academia in 2010, I was production manager at a Scottish educational publisher, running a fair proportion of the IT as well as delivering finished projects on time and in budget.

In response to your specific questions:

• Your name: Bruce Martin Ryan
• Where you live (council area is fine – just to try get some geographic variance): Edinburgh
• If you are a member or supporter of any particular party (again, this is to help with diversity): not an SNP member, but a supporter of practical versions of independence and federalism
• Any other basic info that might be useful (diversity): white male, 50 < age <55, of Austrian and Australian parents; not conventionally heterosexual but in a great hetero marriage; long-standing vegan. Contribution to some diversity work redacted for this post.
• What tasks you’re able to help with
  • Publishing, particularly using Adobe Creative Suite (page layout and illustration) and MS Office
  • Proofreading
  • Web-publishing: I mostly use WordPress (via WordPress.com and hosted instances) but can turn my hand to HTML/CSS and JavaScript.
  • Map production, using the Leaflet library, OpenStreetMap and JavaScript. Examples:
    • Map of Scotland’s community councils: http://socprojects.napier.ac.uk/is/CClocationFinderV3/
    • Second example redacted for this post
  • Quantitative data analysis, using Excel. (I also have a tiny bit of experience with SPSS.)
  • Qualitative data analysis, using NVivo (and Excel for quick work)
  • Hardware: I’ve used to doing my own and other people’s hardware upgrades, and have built a hackintosh.
  • OS-related work: I’m content with Windows 7, and can use Windows 10 but vastly prefer Macs.
  • Cycle-courier: I’m not fast but I love using my bike, so could distribute things within Edinburgh.