Co-producing research as an ethical minefield for Early-Career Academics?

Please join us for the first seminar on research ethics for Early-Career Academics (ECAs) in CAHSS. This event is under the umbrella of the Ethical Pressures of Thinking Network, and Early Career Academics from all disciplines in CAHSS are welcome.

Our starting point is that ethical concerns are part of our research, in methodology and writing, rather than stand outside of it. ECAs face particular ethical challenges when preparing, conducting, and disseminating their research – but they also bring unique insights and experiences that are not always acknowledged by employers and funders. Hence, this new seminar series is meant to be a safe space for ECAs to facilitate horizontal knowledge-sharing. On September, 25th 2024, we will kick off with a collaborative 90min session on the ethics involved in co-producing research.

Co-production – what about it? Many ECAs care deeply, and are increasingly pushed by funders, to co-produce research with fellow academics, civil society and private actors, and research participants themselves. “Co-production” comes in different forms, including arts-based methods, media, co-authorship, the co-production of knowledge etc. However, navigating temporary contracts and limited funding, university bureaucracies and, for some, challenging research contexts, make it hard for ECAs to build ethically sound collaborations, especially with partners who also find themselves in precarious positions. While calls for co-production aim to increase representation, authenticity, validity, it can come with the risk of unintended harm to participants. As some ECAs are on precarious contracts, they may not be able to ameliorate the effects of participant vulnerability should it occur, as they may also have to deal with heightened employment migration that affects how they deal with the “afterlife” of previous projects.

Our goal is to bring ECAs together for an in-depth discussion of key ethical dilemmas for ECAs in co-production in a supportive environment. We invite you to bring your own thoughts, personal experiences, and conundrums involving co-production with differently situated actors in the research process. To kickstart the conversation, the organisers Kathy and Ann will briefly talk about their experiences of co-producing a photovoice exhibition with unpaid health volunteers in Kenya (Kathy) and co-conducting arts-based research with displaced Syrian academics in the Middle East (Ann).

To make the event accessible to colleagues with childcare and other caring duties, participants will be able to participate in person and through Microsoft Teams. We will circulate the Teams link closer to the date.

Looking forward to discussing with you!

Ann & Kathy

Organisers:

Dr Ann-Christin Zuntz, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Social Anthropology, [email protected]

Dr Kathy Dodworth, Research Fellow, Centre of African Studies, [email protected]

Host or Publisher Dr Ann-Christin Zuntz & Dr Kathy Dodworth