How can we help students understand the real-world and practical implications of research? How can build a deeper, more meaningful understanding of research methods for students? This session addresses the opportunities and challenges of engaging students actively in the research process through opportunities to design, collect, and analyze data based on an active research project in Montreal on food justice and sustainability. Lessons from sending students out to their neighborhoods and communities to learn the city and carry out research that directly impacts their lives and environments will be discussed.