Community-Based Research: Knowledge in Place

Community-Based Research (CBR): Knowledge in Place will explore research that is about, in and with communities. We'll examine philosophies and practices that recognize, support and challenge local knowledge, and consider how researchers study community life and how research emerges from the life of the community. The foundation for our work is often called "participatory research" – when non-experts become active researchers in the quest to better understand and respond to conditions around them. We'll examine how communities and activist-researchers understand, examine and shape political, social, ethical and environmental patterns of life. We'll examine the community-based research literature and consult with community-based organizations, as we work on projects in collaboration with area organizations. We'll consider how research on, in and with communities reveals the nature of democracy and the practices of science. There will be strong strategic and skills features of this program, as we learn about and develop research planning, surveys, community mapping and data systems. We'll be working with area researchers, advocates and community groups.