Exploring research with children and youth: perspectives and practices
A webinar organized by the Canadian Sociological Association's Sociology of Childhood and Youth Research Cluster
May 4, 2026 @ 11:30am - 1:00pm Eastern Time
Register for this webinar
This webinar will focus on research with children and youth. Panelists will share research projects that they have engaged with and reflect on their experiences. This includes discussions about participatory methods including arts-based methods and other innovative methods that have been used in their work. By drawing on research with children across a range of contexts and exploring different aspects of the research process, this webinar aims to illustrate the variety knowledge that is being produced with children and youth about their lives.
Moderators:
Laurel Donison, Brock University & Kings College at Western Allison Leanage, Mount Saint Vincent University
Panelists:
Malvika Agarwal, PhD Candidate, Western University
Malvika Agarwal is an emerging scholar and artist whose work engages sound as a pedagogical and ecological force. Through collaborative and participatory artistic inquiries with young children she reimagines participation in urban ecologies as relational and more-than-human, while challenging voice-centric understandings of children’s participation. Explore more at: https://www.agarwalmalvika.com/
Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac, Mount Saint Vincent University
Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac (she/her) is an Associate Professor within the Faculty of Education and Department of Child and Youth Study at Mount Saint Vincent University. McIsaac holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood: Diversity and Transitions and directs the Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre (ECCRC) which engages families, as well as partners in policy and practice, in research to enhance early childhood well-being. McIsaac’s research aims to amplify child, family, and community voice by evaluating early childhood policy innovations and co-designing solutions that support child well-being.
Andres Felipe Ospina, Strategy and Planning Lead at Fundación Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE)
Andrés Felipe Ospina is a Strategy and Planning Lead at Fundación CINDE in Colombia, with over a decade of experience in educational innovation and social transformation. His work centers on participatory approaches that amplify the voices of children and youth, bridging institutional strategies with local community realities. He has led territorial educational projects, contributed to public policy in science and innovation in Colombia, and supported global initiatives on education in emergencies. As a PhD candidate, his research explores youth recognition and empowerment, reinforcing his commitment to meaningful participation and children’s rights.