Panel: What do we mean by community driven R&I?

On 10 June 2025 The Young Foundation and UKRI brought together the pioneers who are transforming research and innovation through community-driven approaches. The conference explored how communities are reshaping what research and innovation can be, discovering inspiring stories and real-world learnings from UKRI-funded projects and beyond, spanning different fields, sectors, and ways of working. Together, attendees explored how to push boundaries to create better opportunities for everyone to participate in research and innovation, and spark ideas for future collaboration.

This video is of a panel session from the conference, which shared community-driven R&I projects, funded by UKRI, that demonstrate diverse approaches to funding and delivering projects. Panellists shared their projects’ real-world impact and contributions to knowledge, across different disciplines, practices and perspectives.

See more about the conference

Chair: Professor Alison Park, Deputy Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Panellists:

  • Pandora Liu, Reading Hongkongers C.I.C. and Dr Deepti Angra, University of Reading, part of the Community Led Research Pilot
  • Hannah Yu-Pearson, Centric Lab, part of the Community Knowledge Fund
  • Dr Ben Williams, University of the West of England, part of Citizen Science Collaboration Grants

Community Methods and measurement Peer research Social action Social innovation community research conference participatory research Pushing Boundaries R&I research and innovation UKRI Posted on: 30 June 2025

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