The lecture, entitled “Negotiating the Ethical Space of Participatory Action Research”, will be delivered by Professor Sarah Banks and will explore the growing popularity of participatory action research (PAR) and other forms of community-engaged research, as well as their importance for ethical practice. Through real-life examples, some of the everyday ethical challenges faced in PAR will be examined, focusing on the “ethical work” carried out by researchers as they seek to act ethically and to justify and reflect on their actions within context.

Sarah Banks is Professor Emerita in the Department of Sociology and co-founder of the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action at Durham University, United Kingdom. She teaches and conducts research in the areas of participatory action research, community development, and ethics in social work. She has a particular interest in practical ethics and is co-editor of Ethics in Participatory Research for Health and Social Well-being (Routledge, 2019) and Co-producing Research: A Community Development Approach (Policy Press, 2019).

The event will take place online via the Teams platform on 16 January 2026 at 2:30 p.m., moderated by Professor Sofia Silva, coordinator of the research line in Community Development.

Register here