312 Main Research Shop
Overview
The 312 Main Research Shop supports community organizations by offering research services at low or no cost. Inspired by the 'science shop' model widely practiced in Europe and building on the success of similar initiatives in Canada, we collaborate with community partners, students, and faculty members to address community questions and concerns through research.
We offer a range of research products and services to community organizations, including:
Literature Reviews
Needs Assessments
Program Evaluations
Surveys
Policy Briefs
Our Approach
Our community-engaged research (CER) philosophy prioritizes CER ethics, which include the active involvement of community organizations in the research process, ensuring the research design and outcomes address their specific needs.
Our Partners
The 312 Main Research Shop is a collaboration between SFU CERi, , and the .
How It Works
The 312 Main Research Shop connects community organizations with SFU graduate students to collaborate on community-driven research projects. We start by soliciting project proposals from local nonprofits, then match them with graduate students who have the skills and interests to help address those community research needs.
Each project offers students hands-on experience in community-engaged research 鈥� from data collection and analysis to knowledge sharing and public communication 鈥� while strengthening the capacity of community partners to use research for action and decision-making. SFU CERi manages and facilitates the process from start to finish, ensuring projects are well-supported and grounded in community priorities.
Our shared funding model includes a partner contribution that supports the student researcher鈥檚 stipend, while SFU CERi covers the remaining portion of the salary and provides program coordination and mentorship throughout the project. This collaborative model ensures that community partners gain access to high-quality, tailored research, while students gain valuable professional experience and contribute to meaningful, real-world impact.
Sponsors
