CaTSe
Service Point for Participatory Research
Project Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2027
Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Gesine Bär
Project Staff: Tanja Gangarova (researcher since 01/03/2026), Flora Griebel (student assistant, 01/12/2024 - 31/08/2025; researcher since 01/02/2026), Susa Boden (student assistant since 01/08/2025), Agathe Marian Likoba (student assistant since 01/07/2026)
Former Project Staff: Dr. Ina Schaefer (researcher, 01/01/23 - 31/3/2026), Isa Luzie Brodnjak (researcher, 15/10/23 - 31/12/2025), Weena Mallmann (researcher, 01/02/23 - 30/09/23), Lena Frey (student assistant, 15/01/23 – 31/01/24)
Partners:
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf von Berlin, Jugendamt, Fachsteuerung Beteiligungsprozesse
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Organisationseinheit Qualitätsentwicklung, Planung und Koordination des öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf von Berlin, SeniorenServiceBüro
Abstract:
The Service Point for Participatory Research (CaTSe), a sub-project of Campus Transferale (CaT), promotes the transfer of participatory approaches in the Berlin district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf. In collaboration with local stakeholders, the CaTSe team provides professional support for the design, implementation, and evaluation of participatory processes while advancing methodological innovations that foster health equity and social justice at the municipal level.
In addition, the Service Point offers a wide range of workshop formats for multipliers in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district, which are designed to deepen theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and to promote a critical stance on power relations. The overarching goal of these formats is to strengthen equitable collaboration.
Insights generated through the project are continuously reflected upon and fed into national and international debates on participatory (research) practice, contributing to broader knowledge exchange and the advancement of participatory (research) practices. At the same time, the findings are utilized to further develop university-based programmes and services. The close cooperation with stakeholders in Marzahn-Hellersdorf furthermore enables sustainable processes of transformation.
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) (2nd Funding Round: Innovative University program 90%; State of Berlin, Senate Department for Science, Health, and Care 10%)
Publications/Presentations:
- Ackermann T, Schaefer I, Bär G, Abay R (2026, forthcoming). Einführung: Potenziale, Herausforderungen und Begrenzungen partizipativer Forschung in Sozialer Arbeit, Gesundheitswissenschaften und Kindheitspädagogik [Introduction: Potentials, Challenges, and Limitations of Participatory Research in Social Work, Health Sciences, and Early Childhood Education]. In: Ackermann T, Schaefer I, Bär G, Abay R (Eds.). Partizipative Forschung in Sozialer Arbeit, Gesundheitswissenschaften und Kindheitspädagogik. Herausforderungen, Begrenzungen und Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten [Participatory Research in Social Work, Health Sciences, and Early Childhood Education: Challenges, Limitations, and Practical Approaches]. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa. pp. 9–29.
- Bär G, Schaefer I, Misbach E (2026, forthcoming). Partizipation in kommunalen Praxisfeldern stärken: Wie kann eine Hochschule durch ihre Transferstrategie und eine Servicestelle unterstützen? [Strengthening Participation in Municipal Fields of Practice: How Can a University Support This Through Its Knowledge Transfer Strategy and a Service Center?]. In: Ackermann T, Schaefer I, Bär G, Abay R (Eds.). Partizipative Forschungsansätze in Sozialer Arbeit, Gesundheitswissenschaften und Kindheitspädagogik: Herausforderungen, Begrenzungen und Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten [Participatory Research Approaches in Social Work, Health Sciences, and Early Childhood Education: Challenges, Limitations, and Practical Approaches]. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa. pp. 386–407.
- Schaefer I, Bär G (2026, forthcoming). Partizipative Forschung in Public Health: Gemeinschaftlich forschen zu den sozialen Einflussfaktoren auf Gesundheit [Participatory Research in Public Health: Conducting Research Collaboratively on the Social Determinants of Health]. In: Ackermann T, Schaefer I, Bär G, Abay R (Eds.). Partizipative Forschungsansätze in Sozialer Arbeit, Gesundheitswissenschaften und Kindheitspädagogik: Herausforderungen, Begrenzungen und Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten [Participatory Research Approaches in Social Work, Health Sciences, and Early Childhood Education: Challenges, Limitations, and Practical Approaches]. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa. pp. 177–196.
- Wallerstein N, Eder MM, Carter-Edwards L, Castro-Reyes P, Gangarova T, Sprague Martinez L, Michener L (2026). Institutional Transformations for Authentic Community Engaged and Participatory Research. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 10(1):e60, pp. 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2026.10715
- Allweiss T, Schaefer I, Krieger T, Amort F, Wright M, Dresen A (2024). Partizipative Gesundheitsforschung planen, reflektieren und evaluieren: Die Adaption und Erprobung des „Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Model“ für den deutschsprachigen Raum [Planning, Reflecting on, and Evaluating Participatory Health Research: Adapting and Testing the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Model for German-Speaking Contexts]. Gesundheitswesen. 86(2): pp. 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2167-2100
- Arsova-Netzelmann T, Landwehr J, Hartung S, Schaefer I (2026). Partizipative Gesundheitsforschung – Einheit und Verschiedenheit [Participatory Health Research – Unity and Diversity]. Workshop presentation at the Berliner Werkstatt Partizipative Forschung [Berlin Workshop on Participatory Research]. Berlin, 6 March 2026.
- Ackermann T, Schaefer I, Bär G, Abay R (2026). Partizipativ forschen in den SAGE-Wissenschaften – Bandbreite und empirische Anwendungsfelder [Participatory Research in the SAGE Disciplines – Diversity and Empirical Fields of Application]. Workshop presentation at the Berliner Werkstatt Partizipative Forschung [Berlin Workshop on Participatory Research]. Berlin, 6 March 2026.
- CaTSe & Jugendfreizeiteinrichtung Anna Landsberger (2024). Zwischenergebnisse des Projekts „Geld und Leistungsgesellschaft“ [Interim Findings from the Project “Money and the Achievement-Oriented Society”]. Presentation at the Kinder- und Jugendbüro Marzahn-Hellersdorf [Marzahn-Hellersdorf Office for Children and Youth]. Berlin, 25 September 2024.
- Hartung S, Schaefer I, Biehn E, Heuer I, Krause RA, Lehnhart C, Majzik Z, Schneider J (2026). Partizipation fördert Demokratie – Folge 2: „Was benötigen Menschen, um sich Partizipation zuzutrauen?“ [Participation Strengthens Democracy – Session 2: “What Do People Need to Feel Confident in Participating?”]. Workshop at the Kongress Armut und Gesundheit [Poverty and Health Congress]. Berlin, 16–17 March 2026.
Keywords: Participatory Research, Transfer, Science-Practice Cooperation, Participatory Methods
Contact: catse@ ash-berlin.eu
Tanja Gangarova: gangarova@ ash-berlin.eu
Flora Griebel: griebel@ ash-berlin.eu
Prof. Dr. Gesine Bär
Vice President for Research, Cooperation and Continuing Education,
Professor of Participatory Approaches in the Social and Health Sciences, Programme Director of the Master’s Programme Social Work as a Human Rights Profession
Room No. 302
Office hours: by appointment
