Reflecting on pathways to scholarly activism: adapted world café and strategic partnership working engagement

Using sociological tales, this paper outlines how in-person and online adapted world café can be a scholarly-activism approach to researching with professional stakeholders to understand issues and problem solve. This practice can be a launchpad for further collaborative thinking, alongside ongoing involvement with strategic partnerships to influence change agenda’s that are research-evidence based. This paper showcases how scholarly-activism can assist with addressing issues accessing services for those experiencing harms from alcohol, drugs, and/or gambling in the UK. Researchers need to go beyond traditional academic duties and project timelines to share research insights and build traction for change. Research initiated with a change agenda in mind can fulfil aims and objectives, with the researcher(s) being facilitative and collaborative, engaging with collegiate activism activities in collaboration with lived and learned experts.