Students and faculty can provide service of lasting value by conducting research on questions of significance to community organizations and in the public interest. When done in partnership with community organizations, such research can yield rich student learning while making data available to community groups that otherwise lack the resources or capacity to collect and analyze it. This creation of new knowledge is part of Stanford’s core mission, and when planned and carried out according to principles of ethical and effective research and service, is a powerful way to leverage the intellectual resources of the university.
Research opportunities for students are typically developed through a process of negotiation between faculty in disciplines relevant to the question being addressed, and one or more community organizations who will benefit from the results of the research. A number of resources and opportunities are available for students to access in developing and carrying out such a project. Faculty with projects in the public interest and Haas Center programs, such as the Public Service Scholars, offer guidance for students interested in pursuing community-based research opportunities.
Contact Us
Karin Cotterman, Service-Learning Program Director, karinc@stanford.edu, (650) 736-1650Jackie Schmidt-Posner, Director of Public Service Education, jsp@stanford.edu, (650) 723-9181