This panel developed from an organic conversation between an art historian and a marine social scientist about how offering a single definition for justice and equity is impossible. The lack of a concrete definition is a challenge for enacting equity and justice, and yet it is also necessary for enabling communities to define their own needs. In this panel, we explore the multiple working definitions of justice in our research and teaching. This panel brings together scholars from various disciplines at Duke University to explore approaches and challenges to defining and fostering equity. How does one define justice and equity from one’s discipline and its methods? What is the operational definition of justice and equity you use in scholarly practices of research and teaching? What challenges and debates are scholars grappling with in one’s discipline around equity and justice? We aim to create a space for interdisciplinary conversations about shared challenges and opportunities in advancing equity and justice.
This year’s Global Justice and Equity (GJE) Conference, organized by the inaugural cohort of GJE Fellows, focused on advancing our understanding and practice of community-engaged research. Featuring Duke-based researchers and local practitioners, conference sessions included an exploration of multidisciplinary understandings of equity and justice, best practices for community-engaged research, and a case study of university-community partnerships to address food insecurity among the LatinX/Hispanic community in Durham. Attendees left with enhanced understanding about the opportunities, challenges, and methodologies for advancing community-engaged research.
