Hosted by: Loughborough University

Sponsored by: KT-EQUAL

Event organisers: Professor Leela Damodaran, Co-investigator, KT-EQUAL
Heather Williams, Project Officer, KT-EQUAL

Date: 26 January 2010

Venue: Sir Dennis Rooke Building
Holywell Park
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU
 

Since the 1993 government white paper on science and technology, Realising Our Potential, the UK research councils have placed increasing emphasis on user engagement. Moreover for many years the research councils have encouraged researchers to involve research users before, during and after the research process (for example, ESRC Strategic Plan 2009-14).  Research users are therefore diverse, and there are costs of engagement (in terms of time as well as resources) associated with individuals and organisations engaging in the research process.

Who actually qualifies as a research user, however, is not a simple question. This workshop will explore some of its parameters in depth and from the perspectives of leading academics, a research council and research users drawn from the voluntary and public sectors.    

The workshop will be of interest to a wide range of professionals and policy makers, health and social care practitioners, employers, charitable and government bodies concerned with the needs of older and disabled people, all those involved in the provision of services and, of course, researchers and academics from engineering, biological, social science, medical and health care disciplines. Older people, who have the biggest stake in ageing research, are especially welcome.

There is no charge for attendance just an enthusiasm and interest in extending the quality of life through informed user-focused research and its application.

Register now to book your place on this free workshop by going to the registration page. Registration is essential.

KT-EQUAL was established in 2009 to extend the remit of SPARC which ended in late 2008. It is funded by EPSRC and will run for four years. KT-EQUAL is designed specifically to provide a platform, publicity and policy representation for researchers involved with developing better design practice and technologies to support older people and disabled people. A key aspect of its activities is working in partnership with the users and beneficiaries of research.

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