Helen McFarlane

Team Culturing Information
last Updated: 15. March, 2012.

WHO are you?

 * Name - Helen McFarlane
 * Location (city, country) - Galway, Ireland
 * Contact Information (email, skype, phone) - h.mcfarlane1@gmail.com, helen.mc.farlane
 * Introduction Video -
 * Resume/CV -

2007-2011: Bachelors International Corporate Law with Spanish Specialization in Intellectual Property Law. I have a particular interest in opensource software and hardware development in the law, in the EC jurisdiction mostly. My thesis questioned copyright reform for opensource projects. I also studied and have grounding knowledge in economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, company and commerical law, international law, comparative politics, and I'm fluent in Spanish, all of which may be useful!

2011-2012: Equipment Manager in an events and conference office in Galway University. I do general office admin, maintenance and management of equipment lending (a lot of studying manuals for sound equipment and cameras!) Also I'm a lighting and stage technician, sound engineer, stage producer for various cultural events (juggling, plays, concerts, etc).

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

 * Do you support open source culture?

Yes, I think it's fantastic as a philosophy and way for life, for art, culture, manufacture and creation. I studied it for my thesis, find it endlessly fascinating as a potential solution to barriers to world development, shock crises andworld diasters, be they natural or human-provoked!


 * Why are you interested in collaborating with us?

Absolutely, I work part time these days but I would love to help however I can, be it through legal research, grant writing, making tea for GVCS workers, anything!


 * How do you think that the GVCS and Open Source Hardware can address pressing world issues?

Through supporting legal and financial reform by pioneering opensource methodology and reasoning, besides practically and scientifically enabling development and post-scarcitt economics. If every small community in the world, even if every county council in Ireland had access to and training for these machines, major world diasters could be buffered and humanity could continue, be that a traumatic cut in all world trade ties, major natural diasters, zombie apocalypses, anything could be weathered! Additionally any small community that can self-sustain through these machines can live far beyond the capacities for freedom and self-fullfilment that the present day economic system can offer. For instance, if a community can easily and completely sustain themselves in an environmentally low-impact way, theoretically there is time and opportunity for denziens of this community to follow their own passions and interests, to create and produce, and be truly happy. To not be a slave to modern-life essentially, to truly experience human liberty and live in an enviroment where their basic human rights (and those of third world producers) can practically be met.


 * What do you like in OSE Europe?


 * What should happen so that you become more involved with OSE Europe?

More time for myself to help out, which I'm in the process of getting.


 * What is missing in OSE Europe?


 * What are your suggestions for improvement in OSE Europe?

WHAT are your skills?

 * List all of your skills in these areas, at what level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and where did you practice them:


 * Organizational -

Advanced: have produced a series of concerts in my work in the events office, organised University Art exhibition 2009 and 2012, organised external public art exhibitions, published and edited university magazine 2011, ran and coordinated several college clubs.


 * Fundraising -
 * Finances -

Beginner: studied as part of my degree


 * Law -

Beginner: studied as part of my degree


 * Public Relations/Marketing -

Intermediate: practiced in events office, carried out PR for all concert and dramatic events, also studied as part of degree


 * Video/Graphics/Art -

Beginner: Learning Gimp, Adobe video editing and animation software with online tutorials right now, no portfolio currently! Am self-taught caricaturist and fine artist (as in I've sold and exhibited work!).

Beginner: am studying basic electronics for stage lighting purposes, have soldered and taken apart equipment/connections, am doing electronics and construction health and safety course - SafePass - and studying electronics independently (enrolled in MIT's pilot free course in electronics and circuits).
 * Electronics -


 * Others -

Am studying independently to gain experience in mechanics, welding and construction


 * How have you already contributed to OSE, OSE Europe and Open Source Hardware?

I have helped out a little in finding and editing images for the

HOW can you help?

 * How do you want to contribute?


 * Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week? Or do you have a free timeframe (week, month)? 


 * Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?


 * Are you interested in being part of one of the OSE communities in Europe? If so in which country?


 * Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit in OSE Communities in Europe? If so in which country?


 * Are you interested in building GVCS or other Open Source Hardware equipment in Europe? If so which ones?


 * Are you an OSE True Fan?


 * Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?

Your Friends and Community

 * What friends, people, communities and organizations do you know who are already doing valuable work for a better future? For example: open source hardware/software, sustainable agriculture, natural building, renewable energy, abundance based economies, local production or others?


 * What are the technological (machines, tools, structures, ...) and biological (people, animals, plants, ...) needs of your community so that it becomes self-sufficient locally and globally connected?


 * Are your friends and community doing valuable work for a better future? How can they become more involved in this process and share more with everyone?