Resilience Research as a Vehicle for Redefining Research, Access and Inclusion in Service Learning and Community Engagement(SLCE): A Transdisciplinary Multi- Lens Perspective.

Abstract: In this presentation, a psychologist, geographer and sustainability scientist while engaging critically with a Resilience Research framework posit a more nuanced use of Resilience Research (RR) as a vehicle for redefining research, access and inclusion in SLCE. Using case studies, from the global North (USA)and South (South Africa) the authors discuss how a Resilience Research framework, may be used as an intervention for SLCE by partnering and engaging with students and researchers to develop “new” forms of relationships with communities that involve and/or could potentially benefit from the research.

This presentation underscores the importance of using socially relevant SLCE experiences to enhance student learning and experiences of RR. The conceptualization of this work is grounded in Sustainability Theory which argues for a more representative lens for RR, in particular the use of underrepresented paradigms such as feminism. The premise that RR can enable students and researchers to support each other and communities to emerge as survivors from challenging and traumatic life experiences and cope better with similar events in the future concerning SLCE is underscored.

The authors argue for the embedding of RR in the global research agenda based on its use of multiple disciplines to find solutions to challenges that arise as a consequence of the interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors and how they contribute to resilience since these dimensions provide unique and complex conceptualisations of adversity and the contributing/determining factors. Examples, illustrating how RR informed the design of interventions for more impactful SLCE are provided.

Narrative: Resilience Research as a Vehicle for Redefining Research, Access and Inclusion in Service Learning and Community Engagement ( SLCE): A Transdisciplinary Multi-Lens Perspective

Authors:
Cheryl Potgieter1, Suveshnee Munien2, Sershen2

1 Durban University of Technology, Gender Justice, Health and Human Development
2 Florida Gulf Coast University, Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies, The Water School, Fort Myers, FL 33965

It is undeniable that contemporary challenges such as the impacts of climate change, civil war and conflicts, feminisation of poverty and pandemics have broadened our lens into Resilience Research. Individuals and communities have and will cope, adapt and recover from adversity differently. However, these context-specific experiences can be seen as opportunities to extend the use of interventions such as SLCE in providing more meaningful and robust teaching and learning experiences.

In this presentation, a psychologist, geographer and sustainability scientist while engaging critically with a Resilience Research framework posit a more nuanced use of Resilience Research (RR) as a vehicle for redefining research, access and inclusion in SLCE. Using case studies, from both the global North ( USA) and South, ( South Africa) the authors discuss how a Resilience Research framework, may be used as an intervention for SLCE by partnering and engaging with students and researchers to develop “new” forms of relationships with communities that involve and/or could potentially benefit from the research.

This presentation underscores the importance of using socially relevant SLCE experiences to enhance student learning and experiences of Resilience Research.
The conceptualisation of this work is grounded in Sustainability Theory which argues for a more representative lens for RR, in particular the use of underrepresented paradigms such as feminism. The premise that RR can enable students and researchers to support each other and communities to emerge as survivors from challenging and traumatic life experiences and cope better with similar events in the future concerning SLCE is underscored in this presentation.

Further, the authors argue for the embedding of RR in the global research agenda based on its use of multiple disciplines to find solutions to challenges that arise as a consequence of the interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors and how they contribute to resilience since these dimensions provide unique and complex conceptualisations of adversity and the contributing/determining factors. The authors provide examples, drawn from research and secondary sources, illustrating how RR informed the design of interventions for more impactful SLCE. The broader implications of this proposed research in relation to SLCE for improved preparedness, resilience and responses is discussed.