Research participation requires a collaborative approach among hybrid groups consisting of research professionals and civil society actors, such as NGOs, grass-roots organizations, and residents. Members of a science shop act as mediators in the research process, enabling civil society, academics, and students to become co-researchers or co-contributors. Various stages of the research process require a form of cultural translation. Science shops support to translate civil society’s concerns into research questions and provide participatory engineering. This mediation goes beyond dialogue or facilitation. The members of a science shop bridge gaps and create meaning where differences in vocabulary, experience, or knowledge make collaboration difficult.