Research Seminars @ Illinois

Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

Human-Computer Interaction Talk Series: Dr. Calvin Liang, "Deconstructing the theory-practice gap in community based participatory research in HCI."

Apr 29, 2026   3:30 - 4:30 pm  
0216 Siebel Center
Sponsor
Research Area of Interactive Computing
Speaker
Dr. Calvin Liang
Contact
Allison Mette
E-Mail
agk@illinois.edu
Originating Calendar
Siebel School Speakers Calendar

Abstract: Community based participatory research is held together by values and practices that shift decision making power towards those who are impacted by design choices. In HCI, a growing body of work has adopted community based research to sustain and achieve goals that meet social needs. However, there exists a gap between community based research’s theoretical principles and what is practically achievable. In this talk, I will present work that unpacks lessons learned through three case studies of community-based research. First, I will focus on design outcomes in an instance of co-designing sexual communication tools. Next, I will examine the process of partnering with community advisory boards. Finally, I will discuss value misalignments when enacting a participatory Agile development process in a community-industry partnership. Across these lessons, I aim to deconstruct what contributes to the theory-practice divide for researchers invested in community-based research in HCI.

Bio: Calvin Liang is an Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at Northwestern University. His research brings together human-computer interaction, social computing, and public health and focuses on designing for health and intimacy through community-based research. He holds a PhD in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington and is a current CRA Trustworthy AI Research Fellow.

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