Participatory Research Network Blog

Bringing together voices from across the University of Sheffield and beyond, the PRN blog explores the practice and culture of participatory and co-produced research.

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If you'd like to contribute, please read our submission guidance to learn more about the topics we cover and how to submit a blog. We welcome contributions from students, researchers, professional services staff, practitioners and community partners. 

Latest posts

Figure: Ben and Andrew from The Professors explore an exhibit on a trip to the Turner Prize show in Bradford.

The Professors: challenging dominant ideas about co-production through disability arts practice

Dr Cassie Kill reflects on working with The Professors, a learning disability artist collective whose creative, non-linear and embodied ways of working disrupt the ableist assumptions underpinning dominant models of participatory research.

Improving participatory research 

Themes featured in the concluding discussion with all workshop participants about existing knowledge and next steps, including: The more you know the more you realise you don’t know Keeping communication simple No clear process to follow Every project is bespoke in its data collection Intellectual property rights are built on colonial logic and western assumptions Identifying knowledge gaps Hidden knowledge in the university Old processes that don’t mesh with PR

"Negotiating the right to be named" – Reporting on the PRN’s Intellectual Property Rights and Participatory Research Training Workshop

On 25 June 2024, participatory researchers from across TUoS sat down with representatives from research and professional services to untangle how intellectual property rights and data protection legislation affect research design and partnerships.

a relaxing view of the sea

But who owns the data?

Reflections on ownership in Participatory Action Research by Ankita Mishra

Community building 

PRN Fika logo image

"Fika anyone?" - Building a community for participatory research through the power of coffee and biscuits

From this spring, the Participatory Research Network (PRN) are organising a monthly online 'fika' (coffee and chat) open to anyone interested in participatory research.

Research reflections

Figure: Ben and Andrew from The Professors explore an exhibit on a trip to the Turner Prize show in Bradford.

The Professors: challenging dominant ideas about co-production through disability arts practice

Dr Cassie Kill reflects on working with The Professors, a learning disability artist collective whose creative, non-linear and embodied ways of working disrupt the ableist assumptions underpinning dominant models of participatory research.

Event reflections

People standing and stood up in a seminar room gathered around tables, playing pictionary

Draw your research 

This blog reflects on our 'Draw your Research' workshop, led by Dr Zoe Cox, as part of our 2026 Creative Participatory Methods Training Workshop. Researchers explored drawing and illustration as a creative tool for understanding, analysing, and communicating their work.

2 June 2026

artistic visualisation from the joy in social research event

Joy in Social Research

This blog reflects on the ‘Joy in Social Research’ event, which created space for postgraduate and early career researchers to collaborate and critically engage in the concept of joy. It was funded by the Participatory Research Network and iHuman.

Related information

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iHuman

How we understand being ‘human’ differs between disciplines and has changed radically over time. We are living in an age marked by rapid growth in knowledge about the human body and brain, and new technologies with the potential to change them.

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Sheffield is a world top-100 research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.

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