Rainbow Research Network

The Rainbow Research Network is an interdisciplinary coalition of staff and students supporting intersectional research on rainbow issues.

Who we are

The Rainbow Research Network is an interdisciplinary coalition of staff and students at Te Herenga Waka who have a shared interest in research initiatives related to our LGBTQIA+ and Takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ communities. We are a cross-discipline group of researchers from a range of programmes, schools, and faculties, united by a shared commitment to creating a dedicated space for supporting intersectional research on gender, sex and sexuality, race, class, feminism, and queer and trans studies.

We also run a monthly research seminar series featuring staff and postgraduate students from across Te Herenga Waka.

Our goals

The Rainbow Research Network's goals are:

to establish and preserve a dedicated, visible space for LGBTQIA+ and Takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ scholars, students, and their research at Te Herenga Waka
to support research in gender, sex and sexuality, queer and trans studies, and highlight key issues for scholars working across disciplines and create opportunities for collaboration
to identify, collaborate and seek funding opportunities with researchers on campus and beyond, both nationally and internationally
to collect, highlight, and make accessible research outputs related to Rainbow, Takatāpui, and MVPFAFF+ issues through our institutional repository
to further operationalise, in the research context, the aspirations of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework by initiating outreach support for Rainbow, Takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ scholars and students; to strengthen research capacity through strategic workshops, seminars, and professional networking events.

Upcoming events

Rainbow Research Seminar—May

"Newly Embodied: Disability, Disorientation, and an Intersectional Aesthetics of Listening" by Dr. Ailsa Lipscombe

Thursday 23 May 2024, noon to 1 pm

Kelburn Campus

Photo from 1970 depicting the Christopher Street pride march — Pride March on Christopher Street, 1970, The LGBT Community Center National History Archive/Leonard Fink; 1974

Upcoming research

We're always looking for opportunities to showcase new work by our community of researchers. If you have any recently published work, email us at rainbowresearch@vuw.ac.nz, including a link (or DOI) and a short blurb (1–2 sentences), and we'll include it in our monthly newsletter.

Get involved

The network is convened by Dr Rebekah Galbraith. For more information or to get involved with upcoming events, including our monthly newsletter, please contact rainbowresearch@vuw.ac.nz