In fandom we share a LOT of media, from fanfic to videos to endless memes, and within all of that media there's a story to be found. The team at Harmony Labs uses data analysis to observe what different audiences care about, and how we can better connect with each other. Learn more about their work and what it means for fandom communities looking to make a difference.

RIKI CONREY

The Harmony Labs Director of Science, Riki (she/her) comes to the team with an extensive background in data science for social good. Most known for her work on narrative research projects like Story at Scale and the Peoria Project, Riki has joined Harmony Labs to help researchers connect artists to the insights they need about their audiences. Riki holds a PhD from Northwestern University in Social Psychology but only because data science wasn’t invented yet when she was being educated.

SIMONE VAN TAYLOR

Simone Van Taylor (she/her) seeks to understand human behavior and persuasion by studying social neuroscience and media systems. Currently, she is a Data Scientist at Harmony Labs. When not geeking out over scientific insights, Simone can be found hitting the courts with her shuffleboard team, walking puppies around Prospect Park, and conducting an ongoing study of NYC’s best fried chicken.

JANAE PHILLIPS

Janae (she/her) is a writer, experience designer, and community organizer. As Fandom Forward’s Co-Managing Director she has trained thousands of activists around the world and helped shape the landscape of fan activism. She writes about love, community, and the complicated business of everyday life - usually with a bit of magic involved. Janae is from the Sonoran Desert and lives on traditional Tohono O’Odham land in the city of Tucson, AZ. Find her at janae.online