This event took place on 28 June 2021.
Global research brings many benefits, but also responsibilities to those involved or impacted by research outputs.
- Who has access to conducting or participating in research? Who is left out?
- How is research selected or assigned value and funding?
- What does ‘decolonisation’ mean to you?
‘Decolonisation’ refers to consciously challenging and questioning the viewpoints and assumptions commonly held as a direct or indirect result of colonisation, seeking to unpick and refocus narratives for a more rounded and representative picture and re-balance unequal power structures.
As a provocation, the term ‘decolonisation is capturing imaginations and gathering momentum in the UK, because it exposes bias across geographies and cultures of knowledge production that have gone unchallenged for too long. If postcolonial theory and thought articulated and foregrounded this unevenness, the term ‘decolonisation’ appears as an altruistic call to action and to change.
This interactive workshop opened thought-provoking questions on current research practices with a view to sharing experiences, insight and models of better practice. Participants were encouraged to share their research experiences through short pitches and then to work together to create a series of quick-fire posters to ‘voice’ concerns visually. Experiences and viewpoints from inside and outside the University contributed to the workshop conversation.
The aim was to share experiences of research practices from across the arts, humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, from researchers at any stage of their careers and research journeys, who feel their methods offer equitable and/or original approaches to tackling issues associated with decolonising research.
Who was this event for?
This event was of most interest to those who conduct research in any field, including but not limited to those who carry out research located in or in partnership with countries and organisations outside of the UK.
