Community Research Initiative Showcase 2024
Community Research Initiative Showcase 2024: Creating Knowledge TogetherAt the Community Research Initiative (CRIS), we believe in the transformative power of collaboration.
A PhD Students Journey From Novice to Research Consultant, A Day with East London's Change Makers
On a chilly autumn afternoon in East London...
Dissertation Showcase 2023
We like to work hard and celebrate even harder here at the Community Research Initiative!
Learning through volunteering
It’s an age-old complaint during school, isn’t it – but what’s the point in learning this? Or I’m never going to use this in real-life. Unfortunately, this disconnect between the classroom and the outside world continues into university lecture halls as well.
Students co-creating dissertations with community organisations
Making your dissertation go further, do moreStudying for a master's here at UCL? The dissertation is a key element during a demanding and challenging year - why not make it go further and mean more?
Community Research Clinic 2022
What’s a Community Research Clinic for?The Community Research Clinic, a joint venture between the UCL Volunteering Service’s Community Research Initiative and Kohlrabi Consulting, offers London’s small-to-medium sized charities, other non-profit organisations, and grassroots community groups the opp
Funding for LGBTQ+ inclusion activities & research
What is this funding?The LGBTQ+ Equality Implementation Group has allocated funding to proposals for LGBTQ+ inclusion activities and local institutional research t
Dissertation Showcase 2022
At the Community Research Initiative, we are always looking for ways to celebrate! Especially when it comes to our students and local Community Partners who have spent the summer collaborating on a research project.  
Lunchtime Talks: Volunteering
This year, we hosted a series of panel talks for our students to discover Volunteering. 
Research volunteering
Research volunteeringDuring your studies, you will have developed skills in critical thinking, reading widely and consolidating new information, managing data, presenting information, problem-solving.
Student Dissertation Showcase
Past events Showcase 2024 Our 2024 Dissertation Showcase took place on Weds, 11 Sep 2024 at UCL East.
Bite-Size Student Story: Megan
Megan Elias is a MSc student in the Institute of Archaeology. In this bite-sized student story, Megan reflects on the initial stages of her collaboration with the community organisation Crossbones.
Bite Sized Student Story: Saskia
Saskia Van Kesteren is a MSc student at the Bartlett School of Planning.
Student Networking Event Highlight: Sara
Sara Treneman is a MSc Social Policy and Social Research student within the Institute of Education. In this bite-size story; Sara shares the connections she made at the CRIS Networking event and her budding dissertation idea.
Social Hackathon Event Highlight: Ponni
Ponni Balasundaram is a final stage Ph.D. student at the UCL Royal Free Hospital Institute for Liver and Digestive Health. She shares her reflections on her experience participating in the Social Hackathon featuring community organization Round the Blend.
"As an international student I learned so many things about the multinational community of the UK which was really fruitful.."
Canan Işık is an alumni of the MSc of Child and Adolescent Mental Health within the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. As a former international student, she reflects on the benefits of a collaboration with a community partner in the UK.
It didn't feel like a dissertation - it felt connected to the kind of work you're going to end up doing
Sigrid Duekilde is an MSc Anthropology, Environment and Development alumni. This story captured in 2020 depicts her reflections and feelings about collaborating with her community partner. If you’re wondering about what its like to collaborate with a CRIS partner, read her story to find out more!
Organisation Story: Talking About Our Generations
Emma, Program Leader at Talking About Our Generations talks about the organisation’s experience at the CRIS Research Consultancy Clinic.
Collaborating Department Highlight: MA Sociology of Childhood and Children's Rights
Dr Rosa Maria Mendizabal, from the MA Sociology of Childhood and Children's Rights talks about the goals of the program and examples of what students aim to accomplish through their dissertations.
Celebrate & Inspire: CRIS welcome event 2021
The Community Research Initiative's 2021-22 Welcome event, celebrating last year's collaborations to inspire next cohort of students, is now available to be watched in full.