Chapter 11: Research For What?: New Directions and Strategies for Community Engaged Scholarship: International Perspectives

This chapter is an edited transcription of a plenary panel session during the Eighth International Research Conference. The panel was moderated by Sherril Gelmon, Portland State University, and the panelists were Tim Stanton, Stanford University, United States; Diana Pacheco-Pinzon, Universidad Marista de Mérida, Mexico; and Cobie Rudd, Edith Cowan University, Australia.

Sherril Gelmon: Our theme this morning is “Research for What?” It is intended to set up not only a conversation today but also the Ninth International Research Conference next year in Ottawa, Canada. At the IARSLCE Board retreat in August 2008, John Saltmarsh (now board chair), said: “You know what we really just need to be talking about? It is answering the question—research for what?” Some Board members then started to say, “Research—why? Research for whom? Research—how?” It quickly became clear that John’s question sparked a lot of discussion. So we want you to be thinking about this theme during this conversation, and also be thinking about what might be the things you would want to think about around “Research for What?” over the coming year. What you would like to present at next year’s conference, and how would you move this discussion forward?