Success at the International Research Lecture Series

On November 6th, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) hosted a lecture series focusing on International Research as part of their 2024 Research Week. Live Work Well Research Centre Director, Dr. Deborah Stienstra, joined virtually to give a lecture on her experience with conducting international research through the Endangering Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development-Genre, handicap et développement inclusif (EDID-GHDI) partnership.  

EDID-GHDI is a 7-year partnership (2020-2027/2028) funded through the a SSHRC Partnership Grant. Through connections in Haiti, South Africa, Vietnam, and Canada, the partnership aims to bring together researchers, students, decision makers, and civil society organizations to share about the challenges and progress of women, and girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities. EDID-GHDI also hopes to promotes policies that reduce barriers and foster inclusion and participation. 

EDID-GHDI prioritizes community-based research and working directly with women and girls with disabilities to ensure space is made for them in the research process allowing them to set directions and provide leadership. Of equal importance is the development of relationships across sectors and the creation of opportunities for students.  

Though rewarding, this international partnership often includes challenges such as having to work in unstable contexts and environments and also having to work within the navigate differing expectations of partners. Everyone presents their knowledge from a different vantage point and the same standards are not available in every country.  

Deborah also discussed the continued development of the partnership’s research capacity. This development includes the addition of a student network with a seat at the leadership table, an early career researcher's forum, opportunities for training and mentoring through research activities, and a Zotero database of research sources.  

In this session on conducting international research, As well as Deborah’s lecture, Dr. Adam Sneyd and Dr. Noella Gray also attended with their own presentationspresented. Adam discussed the challenges of doing research on politically sensitive topics, the value of serendipity in research, and the necessity of being need to be confident in your abilities but aware that change does not come easily. Noella used her presentation as an opportunity to discussed her research in international marine conservation and environmental policies on small islands.  

Overall, the lecture series was a success with many unique perspectives on the challenges and rewards of conducting international research.