Block II: Societal impacts and conflict sensitivity for researchers: What does my research have to do with society?

52417-01 - Kolloquium: Societal impacts and conflict sensitivity for researchers: What does my research have to do with society?

Academic research and the social sciences in particular have recently started to consider their own impact in more systematic ways. This has led to a shift in the perception of research impact, which is now increasingly taking into account societal impacts that go beyond ‘a contribution to the academic debate’ or ‘publications in peer-reviewed academic journals’. Accordingly, questions formerly reserved for trans-disciplinary research have become relevant for a broader stratum of academic research. In conflict-affected contexts, this reconsideration has also led researchers to more strongly consider the impact of their research on societal conflicts, possible unintended consequences, and associated ethical dilemmas. At the same time, this greater attention towards societal impacts as a benchmark for 'good science' is not without its criticisms - stemming among others, from critical policy studies, anthropology of policy, or science and technology studies.

This workshop for PhD students takes up these considerations and aims to spark debate on and provide practical answers to the following questions:
- How can I conceptualise the societal impact of my research?
- How conflict-sensitive is my research, and how conflict-sensitive should it be?
- What are practical strategies and considerations to strengthen positive societal impacts and to deal with unintended (negative) consequences?

This workshop will feature some conceptual readings and discussions, but more importantly, we will directly work with participants' actual research projects. Participants will thus be required to present their own research project, and get the opportunity to collaboratively develop strategies to the actual problems they face in their projects.

The second block is taking place on the 14th and 15th of december from 9:15-17:00.

Further information: here

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