About the RRN Website

The www.refugeeresearch.net site has been created to encourage as much online collaboration, networking and information-sharing among researchers doing work on refugee and forced migration-related issues as possible. We use the term "researcher" quite broadly - it encompasses academics affiliated with universities, colleges and other research institutes, field- and community-based researchers, individuals working within the I/NGO, grassroots and governmental sectors who produce various kinds of theoretical and/or policy relevant and practice-based research. 

As part of the network, you will have access to a number of tools that can facilitate online collaboration. Learning how to use them is actually quite easy, and over the coming months, we will be developing short online tutorials available to all RRN members, as well as being available to provide more immediate support. 

The RRN is designed to be as independent, self-directing and self-managing as possible, offering many ways to get involved, contribute and collaborate. The core interactive tools on the website are blogs (personal web journals), forums (or discussion lists), pages and stories (adding content to the site). In addition, you will be able to list any refugee and forced migration relevant event, new publication, education/training programs, syllabi as well as other resources - video, podcasts, etc. If you are a researcher, you will be able to include yourself in the online, searchable Researcher Profile database (our admittedly ambitious goal is to map the entire refugee research community), and if you are interested in actively collaborating with other scholars in developing research initiatives, you will be able to create and manage your own networks, working groups and research clusters. If you are a refugee, community member or staff working in an organization, you will be able to connect to researchers, or groups of researchers, who may be able to respond to your research requests or assist you in developing your own initiatives. Graduate students will also have significant opportunities to get involved with the networks, working groups and research clusters through the New Scholars Network. 

As the website develops, you will be able to access collaborative software such as Adobe Connect to hold tele- and videoconferences, webinars, document sharing and instant messaging (for those communications that just can't wait). Our mantra is Open Source, Open Access! We will also be looking into alternative delivery systems to accommodate RRN members who face challenges around bandwidth and internet access.