Workshop: Disconnection, Division and Exclusion – apply by 30th January 2014 | Staffordshire University Research and Funding Blog

This open call invites expressions of interest to attend a research development workshop addressing the challenges of Disconnection, Division and Exclusion, being held as a part of the cross-Council Connected Communities Programme on 18-20 March 2014 at the Novotel Sheffield Centre Hotel.

The aim of this workshop is to stimulate the development of innovative, cross-disciplinary, community-engaged, research projects to better understand the disconnections that can occur from, within and between communities and the consequences, positive and negative, of disconnection in different cultural contexts. It will explore the potential for research to engage with the assets and creativity within diverse communities, to address some of the challenges that can be associated with ‘disconnection’, such as loneliness, isolation, exclusion, alienation, marginalization, discrimination, conflict and extremism and low levels of civic participation and/or engagement. A key priority will be the sharing, understanding and further development of creative approaches to engaging with diverse communities in the co-production and co-design of the research projects to address issues of disconnection.

The AHRC is are seeking applications to participate in the workshop from:

Researchers and project partners supported under the Connected Communities Programme who are interested in working with others to address the challenges of disconnection, division and exclusion.
Researchers from a wide range of disciplines who are not currently involved in the Connected Communities Programme with expertise relevant to the themes of this workshop (disconnection, division and exclusion etc.) interested in working collaboratively with other academic and non-academic partners to explore these issues.
Individuals from outside the higher education sector (e.g. from community, voluntary or policy organisations or from the heritage and creative arts sectors) with experience or expertise in exploring issues such as disconnection, division and exclusion and who are interested in working collaboratively with academic and other non-academic partners to explore these issues.

The facilitated workshop will be highly participative, interactive and open to innovative ideas from participants about future research opportunities and priorities. Attendees at the workshop will have an opportunity to apply for ring-fenced funding for follow-up projects of up to £100,000 to support inter-disciplinary collaborative grants combining arts and humanities expertise with other research disciplines and community, policy and practice partners, to take forward the most innovative research ideas that emerge during the workshop that would contribute to the aims outlined above.

The workshop is being organised by the AHRC as a part of the cross-Council Connected Communities Programme, in collaboration with RCUK partners in the ESRC, NERC, MRC and EPSRC. Through the workshop the research councils are also keen to explore links to other initiatives and potential collaborations with other research funders and with a range of other policy, practice, charitable and voluntary organisations.

Closing Dates

30/01/2014

Deadline Date

The deadline for applications to attend the workshop is 1700hrs Thursday 30th January 2014.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications to attend the workshop is 1700hrs Thursday 30th January 2014. Applications should be submitted electronically as an e-mail attachment to connected.communities@ahrc.ac.uk (please quote ‘EOI Research Development Workshop’ in the subject line). Please note that late submissions will not be considered.

Further information on how to apply is provided in the call document (PDF, 246KB, opens in new window).

Further Enquiries about the workshop should be directed to:

Pete Henly: connectedcommunities@ahrc.ac.uk