Kathrin Paal’s research focuses on participatory and inclusive approaches in education and health. Her work investigates how marginalised groups, especially young children and people with SEND, can be positioned as co-researchers, ensuring that their voices and lived experiences shape research design, analysis, and outcomes.

She is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, contributing to projects on student wellbeing and support. Kathrin has also worked on national and international projects exploring children’s rights and inclusive education, using creative and ethnographic methods to co-produce knowledge and practical solutions with different stakeholders.

Her doctoral research at the University of Plymouth examined children’s perceptions and agency in preschool settings, drawing on ethnographic and participatory methodologies. Across her work, she combines rigorous qualitative methods with a strong commitment to equity, ethics, and meaningful collaboration.