Abstract

What are the benefits and challenges of a research-practice partnership (RPP)? This presentation focuses on an RPP between university-based researchers and urban environmental educators. We focus on the process of collaboratively investigating a problem of practice: how do relational processes between educators, youth, and place support environmental interest development? Our RPP emphasizes parity between researchers and practitioners, open communication about research design and implementation, and co-design of program interventions. Our setting was a paid summer internship designed to support development of youth environmental interest. Data collection included participant observation, youth and educator interviews, and artifact analysis. We discuss specific strategies for project collaboration, such as early and ongoing project meetings, co-design of program activities that meet both research and educational goals, and the collaborative analysis of artifacts, such as field journals.