Can everyone hear me? Reflections on the use of global online workshops for promoting inclusive knowledge generation

Online research methods have risen in popularity over recent decades, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. We conducted five online workshops capturing the experiences of participatory health researchers in relation to power, as part of a collaborative project to develop global knowledge systems on power in participatory health research. These workshops included predominantly academic researchers working in 24 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Here, we reflect on the opportunities, limitations, and key considerations of using online workshops for knowledge generation and shared learning. The online workshop approach offers the potential for cross-continental knowledge exchange and for the amplification of global South voices. However, this study highlights the need for deeper exploration of power dynamics exposed by online platform use, particularly the ‘digital divide’ between academic partners and community co-researchers. Further research is needed to better understand the role of online platforms in generating more inclusive knowledge systems.

Egid, B., Ozano, K., Hegel, G., Zimmerman, E., López, Y., Roura, M., Sheikhattari, P., Jones, L., Dias, S., & Wallerstein, N. (2021). Can everyone hear me? Reflections on the use of global online workshops for promoting inclusive knowledge generation. Qualitative Research.