The Centre of Research in Theories and Practices that Overcome Inequalities (CREA) was founded in 1991 by a current professor of Sociology at the University of Barcelona, Doctor Honoris Causa of West University of Timisoara and also a recognized researcher in Europe in the Social Science area, Ramon Flecha. After Ramon Flecha’s resignation as the Director of CREA, in 2006; Marta Soler, Doctor by Harvard, a current Professor of Sociological Theory, assumed the post. CREA, one of the centres that first joined the Scientific Park of Barcelona (University of Barcelona); is indisciplinary; multicultural and open accepting different ideologies, religions, lifestyles, sexual orientations ; transparent, since its knowledge is at everyone’s disposal; and it is a centre where the validity of arguments prevails over the positions of power of their members, creating, in this way, an environment of an egalitarian dialogue. This centre is formed by University research professors, researchers and professional collaborators of diverse disciplines (sociology, pedagogy, economy, mathematics, communication, biology, etc.).
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Methodology
All the research CREA carries out is done with the direct collaboration of the subjects researched, using the critical communicative methodology. The subject of research is directly included providing its interpretations, experiences and opinions, enriching, in this way, the research. It is about facilitating the participation of the researched in the research through an egalitarian dialogue with the researcher where validity claims prevail over power ones.
Lines of research
The Research Centre carries out both, international and national projects developing the following lines of research:
Groups
And from the lines of research described above, five groups were created by CREA:
International dimension
CREA is, today, internationally well- known for its international research oriented to overcoming inequalities; already present in Europe and in various countries such as Brazil, United States, Korea or Australia. Concretely, from its origins, CREA has collaborated with international research groups, as well as with different authors of the Scientific International Community. Some of the seminars were held with important authors such as: Paulo Freire (1994), Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck Gernsheim(1998), Alain Touraine (1999), Jon Elster (2001), Judith Butler ( 2001), Alejandro Portes (2002), Gordon Wells(2003), John Searle (2003) or Gary Orfield (2003).
Different members of CREA have given lectures and seminars at several universities in Brazil, United States, Germany, Australia, Korea and others. Ramon Flecha participated in The Harvard Education Forum celebrated on February 27, 1998; in honor of Paulo Freire, alongside important international referents such as: Noam Chomsky (Institute Professor and Professor of Linguistics, MIT), Eileen de los Reyes (Moderator, Assistant Professor HGSE), Carolyn Higgins (Earlhm College), Yamila Hussein (HGSE master’s degree candidate), Donaldo Macedo (UMass Boston), Nancy Richardson (associate dean for ministry, Harvard Divinity School), Ira Shor (City College of New York).
In addition, and as another example, in 2008, professor of Sociological Theory and director of CREA, Marta Soler, gave two lectures about literary gatherings and Community involvement for social change and about the role of critical communicative methodology in Overcoming social exclusion ; and led a seminar at the Havens Center for Study of Social of Structure and Social Change, in the University of Wisconsin- Madison.