The event was designed by our academic knowledge exchange lead, Dr Lauren White, who sought to ensure we worked collaboratively to share knowledge, expertise and insights from across partnerships on shaping research for the future. Knowledge Exchange is sharing expertise and experiences as a two way process. Often, this means communities or non-academic organisations sharing knowledge with academics and those in the university sharing research and intellectual expertise. This dialogue is essential to research and to societal change and impact.
As part of the day, we learnt from a range of organisations, from grassroots activist community organisations through to governmental departments conducting novel research methods. We welcomed over 50 participants from academic departments across the university, community organisations and government departments. Our SMI team also sought to showcase how collaboration and innovation comes through the methods we celebrate, with activities integrated into the day to work to co-produce understandings of what it means to be a team, to be a partnership and what critical questions remain in our work going forward.
To get our conversations started, the SMI led a creative methods session entitled ‘Collaborative Research Partnerships: Establishing the State of Play’ where we utilised team sports equipment to elicit conversations on questions such as ‘how do you play this together? What components are important? What do you need to play? How do we ensure we recognise the contributions of all?’. From football to skipping ropes, this metaphor allowed us to explore the value and importance of communication, being in tune and having shared goals, working in sync and recognising the different skills each team and research project brings. Such themes allowed us to translate these into the values and definitions of research partnerships and what is necessary to facilitate collaborative and co-produced research, societal change and impact.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
Following this, we then had a series of presentations.
First, Shahida Siddique (Diversecity Development Trust) and Dr Will Mason (SMI, University of Sheffield) spoke of their longstanding collaborative work, community activism and the importance of letting communities drive first, with academics listening.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
Second, Lisa Lund (National Bereavement Service) and Dr Laura Towers (SMI, University of Sheffield) documented their shared work and research agenda in improving the administration people face when experiencing bereavement.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
Third, Harry Gordon (Seven Hills School), Sarah Gillard (Greenacre School) and Dr Lauren White (SMI, University of Sheffield) shared their interdisciplinary co-produced project entitled ‘Reimagining TAS with DYP’, advocating for the value of letting disabled young people lead and shape the research agenda and be immersed in university partnerships.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
Fourth, we heard from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on how they have introduced novel diary methods into research on resolving family conflict. This presentation demonstrated the value of thinking through methodological possibilities and how we at the SMI always keep methodological questions and innovations in mind.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
Fifth, Henry Staples and Lora Krasteva, Uzma Rani & ROAR Dr Aneta Piekut (SMI - UoS) and Professor Gwilym Price (Economics, UoS) showcased the creative possibilities of partnerships and how research can be translated with partners and embedded into the communities in which it is a part of.
Image description: Illustration by Liam Callebout, Nifty Fox Creative.
As we drew the day to a close, we invited attendees to share what they’d taken from conversations on the importance of research partnerships, the lessons to be learned and the possibilities for the future. They also shared what they found particularly valuable from the day, sharing that it was helpful to have examples of practice that could be applied to their own research and ‘great examples of community led research’.
It was stimulating to have the opportunity to see and discuss research carried out in a very different range of contexts than those I am usually involved in – it helps to think about whether there are different approaches that are worth trying. That is on top of the opportunity to continue building links with the Institute, as a contribution to continue building our professional capabilities. A great opportunity to share our research findings with an engaged and knowledgeable audience. I especially enjoyed the friendly discussion.
Mike Daley
Central Analysis & Science Strategy Unit - DWP
Great learning experience for me about the wider support and help available for National Bereavement Service clients, I met some new fascinating organisations as well as academics who are doing incredibly valuable work across our communities. This event further strengthened our enthusiasm to partner with Dr Towers and Professor Reed on a longer term project which we are currently hoping to take forward.
Lisa Lund
National Bereavement Service
Professor Kate Reed, Director of the SMI, closed the day and reflected:
‘What a totally brilliant event this has been. It highlights the importance of academic and non academic partnerships and collaborations, and also reinforces the methodological innovation and value of the Sheffield Methods Institute.’
Professor Kate Reed
SMI Director
Our partners also networked with each other, leading to fruitful discussions and developments in cross cutting agendas for future work. We know that conversations are happening for exciting new partnerships and aligned agendas as a result of the partnership. As a department, we’re proud to have facilitated this and look forward to showcasing this in the near future. Our priorities as a department are to ensure that we continue to present such partnerships across the university, as well as developing areas of priority that came about as a result of the day. These include thinking about the role and definitions of knowledge exchange, impact and activism internationally and to continue to think about how our live, active research always lends itself to methodological questions and insights.
At the SMI, we’d like to thank all of our partners who presented, attended and shared their insights as part of the day. We’d also like to thank Liam Callebout and Nifty Fox Creative for their graphic illustrations of the day.
For more information about our research partnerships and methodological innovation at the SMI, please visit our website or email our knowledge exchange lead, Dr Lauren White at l.e.white@sheffield.ac.uk
