As part of the current ESRC IAA funding at University of Birmingham there is now an opportunity to join the ESRC IAA mentoring scheme, the first cohort of which commenced in 2019 and comes to an end in Summer 2020. The scheme has been designed to support social science researchers across all colleges to maximise … Continue reading “ESRC IAA at UoB – Mentoring Scheme”
Category: Think: Impact
Reflections on my IAA grant: An Unfinished Journey
guest blog written by Professor Janine Natalya Clark I spent a year in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) in 2014-2015, doing research with men and women who had suffered sexual violence during the Bosnian war. When some of the female interviewees (but interestingly none of the male interviewees) talked about the verbal abuse that they had faced from … Continue reading “Reflections on my IAA grant: An Unfinished Journey”
REF 2021 Guidance published
Final copies of the Guidance on Submissions (the technical rules for the REF) and the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (how the panels will operate) were published on the REF2021 website on Thursday 31 January. Alongside these were published a note from the REF Steering Group explaining the key decisions which helped to shape these … Continue reading “REF 2021 Guidance published”
The Five(ish) Ws of Impact Evaluation
Guest blog post by Beth Clewes Impact Development Officer, College of Social Sciences With REF2021 submission creeping ever closer (less than 2 years to go!), and the impact agenda becoming further embedded into research activities in universities across the UK, a question that is increasingly being considered by academics and professional services staff alike is … Continue reading “The Five(ish) Ws of Impact Evaluation”
Do we have a duty to be beautiful? Heather Widdows at the Book to the Future Festival
Written by guest blogger George Dibble Research Development Officer, Departments of Philosophy and Theology & Religion It’s not surprising that the way we look matters in an increasingly visual and virtual world. Whether you get ‘likes’ or make a good first impression matters and the pressure to be perfect is something which young men and … Continue reading “Do we have a duty to be beautiful? Heather Widdows at the Book to the Future Festival”
Economic Diplomacy and Connectivity: The Continuing Contribution of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
by guest writer Professor Stefan Wolff Economic connectivity – reducing barriers to economic exchange and promoting economic ties – is often considered as an instrument to reduce confrontation, build confidence, generate synergies, and enhance co-operation between countries. With a view to further exploring both the opportunities and challenges associated with economic connectivity, the Office of … Continue reading “Economic Diplomacy and Connectivity: The Continuing Contribution of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)”
Lapworth Lates – a ROAR-ingly successful pilot…?
For a while I’d been thinking about how the public engagement with research (PER) team might create a novel platform event to bridge arts and science research / practice together in a creative, entertaining and educational way… I’m a big fan of the revamped Lapworth Museum of Geology (re-opened in June 2016 following a £2.7 … Continue reading “Lapworth Lates – a ROAR-ingly successful pilot…?”
Influencing Large-Scale Housing Developments in the UK: Involving Children and Young People
Guest post by Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill and Professor Peter Kraftl On 28th February 2018, Peter Kraftl, Sophie Hadfield-Hill and Alex Laxton organised a workshop for Local Authorities who are delivering new ‘Garden Towns and Villages’ around England. Currently, through this scheme, the UK Government is committed to building 14 new Garden Villages and 9 Towns, although … Continue reading “Influencing Large-Scale Housing Developments in the UK: Involving Children and Young People”
REF 2021 Public Engagement Workshop
On 6th February 2018, the HEFCE REF Team convened a meeting to discuss issues associated with the assessment of how impact derived from Public Engagement with Research (PER). Attendees included a mix of public engagement staff (both academic and professional services), sub-panel chairs, advisers and secretaries, and institutional REF people (again, both academic and professional … Continue reading “REF 2021 Public Engagement Workshop”
REF Panel Adviser. Again.
On 12th December 2017, in the middle of that period of heavy snow and ice which brought the West Midlands to a halt, I found myself sitting in front of my laptop being interviewed by Skype for the position of REF Panel Adviser. A couple of weeks later, I was delighted to hear I had … Continue reading “REF Panel Adviser. Again.”