Virtual Meeting Place for Junior Researchers Hosted by SDRC

Over forty junior researchers from the Philippines, Pakistan and Indonesia responded to the Social Development Research Center’s invitation to participate in its “Research Speed Dating” event on March 28, 2022 via Zoom. The activity served as a venue for social science researchers to meet and become part of possible research collaborations through funding opportunities from the government of the United Kingdom, the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the National Institute for Health Research (UK), Global Health Policy and Systems Research (UK), the Stockholm Environment Institute, and the International Peace Research Association (US).  

By interacting in break-out groups, participants were able to share their current research involvements and explore topics of common interest for interdisciplinary and inter-country alliances. As the activity was a first-time experience for many, challenges in becoming familiar with the format and in “warming up” to others in a group setting were encountered, but registrants expressed appreciation for the chance to participate and to make new acquaintances for future exchanges.

“Research Speed Dating” opened the week-long celebration of SDRC’s 43^rd anniversary, with this year’s theme of “Introspection and Application: Making a Post-Pandemic World Possible.”