DEEP DIVE Scientific Facilitation for Engaged Research

The modular workshop series offers an in-depth training in the design and facilitation of participatory and transdisciplinary research processes. The series enables a practice-oriented engagement with the challenges of engaged research. The focus lies on the conscious design of collaboration, the reflective role of researchers, and the systematic involvement of societal stakeholders across different project phases.

The workshop series combines conceptual framing, intensive hands-on practice and peer reflection. Participants work continuously on their own projects, reflect on experiences between modules and develop concrete next steps for implementation.

Overview

Duration: 1– 4 half-day workshops (approx. 3.5 hours each), modular and individually bookable

Target Group: Early-career scientists, postdocs, and researchers who want to develop participatory research approaches, reflect on existing participation formats, or strategically integrate engaged research into their projects.

Language: English or German

Methodological Approach: The workshop series is designed to be interactive, dialogic and strongly practice-oriented. Between modules, participants are encouraged to test approaches in their own project contexts and reflect on experiences in subsequent sessions. The aim is not only to convey knowledge, but to support participants in developing concrete next steps for their own research projects.

Each workshop combines:

  • short expert inputs,
  • group work and methodological exercises,
  • reflection phases,
  • work on participants’ own project ideas or case studies.

Workshop Modules

Workshop 1: Understanding Roles, Stakeholders & Engagement

  • Principles and levels of engagement in engaged research
  • Roles, power and expectations in participatory processes
  • Stakeholder and multiplier mapping
  • Identification of shared concerns

Workshop 2: Identifying Research Needs & Co-Creating Research Questions

  • Collaborative problem mapping
  • Co-creation formats for research questions
  • Building shared understanding around goals, relevance and research priorities
  • Reflection on steering vs. openness in co-creation processes

Workshop 3: Facilitation & Dialogue in Engaged Research

  • Foundations of scientific facilitation
  • Dialogue and participation formats
  • Intervention techniques in group processes
  • Reflection on group dynamics
  • Strategies for challenging situations

Workshop 4: Participation Planning & Process Design

  • Models and levels of participation
  • Process and method planning
  • Roles, resources, timeframes and responsibilities
  • Reflecting on feasibility and limits of participatory approaches

After the workshop, participants are able to:

  • strategically apply engaged research approaches

  • reflectively and flexibly shape their role in participatory research processes

  • systematically identify, engage and collaborate with stakeholders

  • facilitate co-creation processes for developing research questions

  • plan and implement participatory research processes across project phases

  • apply practical strategies to build common ground and to confidently handle challenging dynamics

Bringing science and research to the world!

On behalf of the Ruhr-University Bochum we offer a three-part workshop series on the topics of research transfer and cooperation with non-university partners.

Are you planning qualification programs for young scientists? Please feel free to contact us! We will be happy to put together an individual training offer for you. You are also welcome to use the following form to give us some first information around your planned training – we will then get in touch with you shortly.

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