Our Health: exploring interdisciplinarity and community-based participatory research in a higher education science shop

This paper presents a qualitative case study of the experiences student and community partners involved in collaborative health research context an extra-curricular higher education science shop: Our Health. Health set questions around well-being, conduct with interdisciplinary groups students using community-based participatory model. explores benefits challenges that this approach raises for as they navigate complexities stepping beyond disciplinary boundaries relationships to develop new insights methodologies. draws on: grounded theory analyse online focus participating undergraduate partners; semi-structured interviews graduate key university staff members; project meetings. For latter, we used non-participant observation observe members at work meetings, co-creating evolving knowledge lived issues. Through these methods, developed deeper understanding relational modes community–student collaboration research. findings demonstrate role played by interdisciplinarity enabling their intrapersonal skills, skills integration while strengthening connections between academy wider communities.