Equitable Partnerships for Sustainability Research

A research workshop featuring leading Sussex researchers and their project partners from abroad diving into what makes up an "equitable partnership" for sustainability research

SSPR banner with SDG-coloured sprays and event details in the centre, promoting the upcoming Equitable Partnerships 2024 workshop

As we work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and creating a more sustainable and just world, fostering inclusion and equity becomes crucial. However, realising the SDGs requires unprecedented global partnerships between government, the private sector, civil society, and the research community.

To drive impactful, evidence-based sustainability research, we must cultivate an inclusive research culture and foster interdisciplinary collaborations which are equitable and mutually beneficial. But what makes research inclusive and what exactly are “equitable” collaborations? What benefits and impacts, or challenges and barriers are associated with establishing these? And how can they be maximised, or overcome?

The Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) Centre of Excellence addressed these key questions in their first  which took place on Thursday, 29 February 2024, in the Conference Centre on Falmer campus. Chaired by Prof Robin Banerjee, 5X社区视频 Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement, the event provided a platform for dynamic discussions and knowledge-sharing on the intricacies of equitable research collaborations.

Nearly all SSRP-funded projects involve new or ongoing partnerships and external collaborations which support and enable our research community in carrying out excellent research. And only thanks to these partnerships our projects can have real-world impact, both locally and globally.

Drawing on extensive experience and expertise across campus, including the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the Institute of Development Studies, the event aimed to unpack the concept of "equitable partnerships" for sustainability research.

We heard from a selection of insightful SSRP-funded projects, spanning collaborative research on sustainable agriculture in conflict zones in Northwest Syria; biodiversity and human rights in tropical forests of Ecuador; and the links between HIV treatment, drought, and poverty in South Africa.

Additionally, the workshop outlined initial tips for building and nurturing such partnerships, while also discussing common challenges and ways to overcome any barriers, inviting researchers on campus and their international project partners to share their insights.

The workshop featured: 

  • Insights on fostering global engagement and partnerships at Sussex, shared by Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement Prof Robin Banerjee. See Robin Banerjee's presentation slides here [PPTX 8.02MB]
  • A lively panel discussion on the definition, characteristics, possible barriers and requirements of equitable partnerships in sustainability research featuring SSRP project leads and their international partners from Ecuador, Syria and South Africa
    • "Research on sustainable agriculture in conflict zones in Northwest Syria"
       (Middle East Adviser at the Council for At-Risk Academics, UK) &  (Co-founder and Director, Syrian Academic Expertise, Turkey)
    • "Research on biodiversity and human rights in tropical forests of Ecuador"
       (Fundación Cambugán, Ecuador) &  (Professor of Environmental Biology, 5X社区视频, UK)
    • "Research on links between HIV treatment, drought, and poverty in South Africa"
       (Professor of Global Health and HIV Medicine, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, UK)
  • Plenty of time for a Q&A-session with the panelists, followed by a more open discussion on the topic. 

SSRP workshop "Equitable Partnerships for Sustainability Research" (29 February 2024)

Further highlights of the day will be uploaded here soon.