COLAB 3.0 focuses on participatory research as a form of public engagement and thinks about the future of these methods for researchers and the communities they collaborate with. It explores some of the ways that Warwick researchers are working with community members as experts by experience asking, ‘Who is involved in participatory research and how is it meaningful to them’ and ‘How does participatory research aid us creating and exchanging knowledge’. It highlights cross-sector and cross-disciplinary examples of participatory research, citizen science and other forms of collaborative projects and will tease out some of the challenges posed by our current research systems in valuing and making participatory research happen. 

CO-LAB is a flexible sharing forum for researchers, teachers and practitioners of all levels of experience and their community partners. It is hosted by the Warwick Institute of Engagement’s Co-Production and Communities Learning Circle with an aim to share best practice, discuss challenges and explore and develop the ways in which we co-design, collaborate and co-produce things. Most of all, it is a relaxed and social space to come together and share, network, learn and explore various forms of collaborative, co-produced and co-designed work in a supportive environment. CO-LAB is a public event that is open to all. 

As with previous COLABs, the main purpose of this session will be to share experiences related to this particular aspect of public engagement and to forge new connections between attendees. As such, we hope the session will (1) increase knowledge of a particular way of working with the public and (2) make connections that further Warwick public engagement and research in some way.

This event will be of interest to researchers undertaking or interested in participatory/collaborative research, professional services/support staff, people and groups who are already collaborating in research from outside the university, and organisations responsible for championing a research-led approach to change in our wider community.