The 2009 conference is hosted by The Science Shop, Queen's University Belfast

Participatory action research and academics, incomplete fulfilment

Reporting on a community based action research project going on in Lille (France), this paper intends to question the meaningful but sometimes short-term relationships between academics and participatory action research participants.  What are the goals and strategies?  How can politicians and citizens be involved in such research?  What are the stumbling blocks?  We will show how ambivalent attitudes can be found both on the academic side and on the side of community practitioners and participants, and how these can be dealt with.

Theme: Critical reflections on community engagement in the natural sciences, technology and innovation

Presenters Name:  Martine Revel, PhD in sociology

Presenters Institution: Lille 2 university, CERAPS (CNRS), Lille, France

Presenters Biography:

Martine Revel holds a PhD in sociology and is a professor and researcher in political sociology at Lille University.

Her main research topics are citizen participation in public debate and participative change.  She also works on CSR and sustainable development.

She is responsible for several interdisciplinary research projects in this area, working with academic staff and students.