My name is Maria Eduarda Almeida, and I am a Psychology undergraduate at the State University of Maringá, a public university in Brazil. This summer, I worked as a MITACS Research Assistant in GoHELP Laboratory at the University of Waterloo. This experience was significant in many ways, especially regarding the dedication to scientific inquiry and the diversity within the academic community.
In recent months, I participated in studies involving data collection across several countries, conducted in partnership with international universities. One such project was CANVAS, which examines the experiences of children living in vulnerable settings in predominantly African nations, focusing on the physical and emotional effects of everyday violence. The project integrates technology and health to support practical interventions and produce knowledge aimed at improving living conditions while promoting human rights, health, and well-being.
As a fifth-year Psychology student, I recognized the value of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex issues by combining various perspectives. These viewpoints contribute to a broader understanding of social and health processes, grounded in ethical and political awareness. This is clearer when research considers the lived experiences and cultural contexts of the communities involved, shifting the focus from the researcher to a more dialogical and situated understanding, rooted in listening to and learning from those we aim to understand.
I consider the research conducted here particularly relevant because it highlights that difficulties in accessing basic resources essential for well-being, have social, economic, and political roots. This reminded me of a recurring debate during my undergraduate studies: critiques questioning the validity of qualitative research based on its alleged lack of objectivity. Here, I learned that such studies must be neutral because the issues explored within them from sociopolitical contexts. Nevertheless, this does not prevent the studies from being grounded in solid theoretical and methodological foundations that ensure scientific rigour.
Within this framework, I enhanced my skills using qualitative data analysis tools and gained insight into the dynamics of research within an international context. This experience revealed that knowledge creation is collaborative, involving multiple stages conducted by different researchers, from project design and intervention planning to interviews, transcription, coding, and data interpretation. For example, after returning to Brazil, I will continue assisting with the writing of one of the scientific articles resulting from the projects, contributing to a better understanding of mental health issues.
Participating in a project spanning multiple continents was enriching, and I observed how the international nature of the work is reflected in the laboratory environment, which includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, educations, and experiences. All contribute collectively to the production of knowledge. Through this, I understood that science is also a form of encounter. It is through this encounter that I saw how researchers’ perspectives shape their commitment to transforming data, analyses, and relationships into efforts to rethink realities often seen as consolidated, opening pathways to more dignified ways of living and understanding the world.
For these reasons, I am grateful to my supervisor, Susan Elliott, for the opportunity, and to the academic community for their support throughout this journey.