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Dr Lorna Colquhoun Head of Research Development

Dr Lorna Colquhoun Head of Research Development. Interdisciplinary Research and the Changing Funding Environment 2 April 2009. 2001-08 Comparative RAE Performance. 33% (16 / 48) of UOAs were in top 5 on GPA. Research Income 07/08, £91m. Research Income (£k). Big issues – Impact of Research.

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Dr Lorna Colquhoun Head of Research Development

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  1. Dr Lorna ColquhounHead of Research Development Interdisciplinary Research and the Changing Funding Environment 2 April 2009

  2. 2001-08 Comparative RAE Performance • 33% (16 / 48) of UOAs were in top 5 on GPA

  3. Research Income 07/08, £91m

  4. Research Income (£k)

  5. Big issues – Impact of Research • “Measurement” of impact as a key indicator increasingly popular (economic, political, social, etc.) • Publications, citations • Novel compounds, devices, patents, licences, spin-outs • Consultancy, policy development, press coverage, conferences, training, outreach to communities, benefits to society • These are important measures of activity • But how do we capture, analyse, record and report them?

  6. Interdisciplinary and large research grants in practice • Challenges • To stay ahead of the game • Be distinctive and retain high quality • Be capable of responding quickly – in or out? • Play to strengths and opportunities • Support (and reward?) those that lead this

  7. What is Interdisciplinary Research? • Interdisciplinary research is a mode of research that integrates information data techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts and / or theories from 2 or more disciplines to advance fundamental understanding or solve problems beyond the scope of a single discipline • Problems of great societal importance

  8. Interdisciplinary research is a powerful tool • inter – multi – cross • Quantitative vs qualitative • Closed vs open • Objective vs subjective • Tradition – transition – transformation

  9. Drivers • Complexity • Desire • Need • Power • Money

  10. Money • Cross Research Council initiatives – there is money out there • Cross-Council Funding Agreement – August 2006 • Leverhulme Trust- special weight given to • originality of projects; • significance; • ability to judge and take appropriate risk; • removal of barriers between traditional disciplines

  11. LIVING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE • EPSRC • BBSRC • ESRC • NERC lead • STFC • MRC • AHRC • RESPONDING TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES • ENERGY • EPSRC lead • BBSRC • ESRC • NERC • STFC • NANOSCIENCE THROUGH ENGINEERING TO APPLICATION • EPSRC lead • BBSRC • ESRC • NERC • STFC • MRC • GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES: • security for all in a changing world • EPSRC • BBSRC • ESRC lead • NERC • STFC • MRC • AHRC • AGEING: LIFE LONG HEALTH & WELLBEING • EPSRC • BBSRC • ESRC • NERC • STFC • MRC lead • AHRC • DIGITAL • ECONOMY • EPSRC lead • AHRC • ESRC • MRC

  12. Barriers • What do you think? Your experiences....

  13. Disciplinary • Knowledge depth/ innate knowledge • Language • Timescales • Funding • Review of apps • Institutional • Recruitment • Reward (promotion) • Departmental structures • Overhead distribution • Evaluation • Publication credit • RAE/REF

  14. Impediments to IDR

  15. What makes it work (from developing your proposal to delivery) • Common language • “Cross cultural competence” • Common goals • No bolt ons • Iterative (shift in view) • Leadership • Developing your question together

  16. Initial Stages: Building Bridges • Common problem(s) to solve • Leadership • Environment that encourages faculty/researcher collaboration • Establishing a team philosophy • Seed/glue money • Seminars to foster bridges between students, postdoctoral scholars, and PIs • Workshops to foster bridges between investigators • Frequent meetings among team members • Think of the end at the beginning

  17. Supporting the Project • Good Research/project management • Support project initiation and team building • Seamless and flexible funding • Willingness to take risks • Recognize potential for high impact • Involvement of funding organization

  18. Facilities • Physical co-location of researchers • Shared instrumentation • Enhance chance meetings between researchers, such as on-site cafeterias

  19. Organization/ Administration • Matrix organization • Rewards for academic leaders who foster IDR • Tenure/promotion policies for interdisciplinary work • Utilize experts with breadth and IDR experience for assessment • Professional recognition of successful practitioners of IDR

  20. Making Interdisciplinary Research Work - UoB • Water • Risk:BRISK • Climate change • Major initiatives: Underwritten £ • Research themes: Facilitators • Research themes • Termination process for themes • 2007 • 2008 • 2009

  21. Making Interdisciplinary Research Work - UoB • Institute for Advanced studies • programme for interdisciplinary workshops • Support for Research Themes • Research Programme on IDR – Nexus www.bris.ac.uk/ias

  22. Making Interdisciplinary Research Work - UoB • The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN): supporting innovation in research, and education on a global scale, through interdisciplinary collaboration, faculty and student exchange and eLearning • IAS/WUN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH WORKSHOP COMPETITION • www.wun.ac.uk & www.bris.ac.uk/wun

  23. Overview of Research Development Funding opportunities Strategic development Support for bids

  24. Support for bids • Training • Advice on sources of funding & fEC • Assistance with co-ordination of complex/multi-disciplinary proposals • Advice on non-subject specific content of proposals • Liaison with funders • Liaison with other University Support Services • Letters of support • Mock interview panels

  25. Strategic development • Institutional/Faculty visits • http://www.bris.ac.uk/research/support/development/events/ • Statistics • External policy • Intelligence • http://www.bris.ac.uk/research/support/development/intelligence/safe/ • Major & Institutional bids • http://www.bris.ac.uk/research/support/development/majorbids/safe/ • Capacity building

  26. RED Research Development • Lorna Colquhoun - Head of Research Development • Tom Bowker - RDM EU Support • Lindsey Gaunt - RDM FMD + FMVS • Simon Gray - RDM Science & Engineering • Jude Hill – RDM Social Sciences & Law • Isobel Howe - WUN Development Manager • Helen Jordan - RDM EU • Katie Powell - Research Development Associate (Med Vet Sci) • Kathleen Sedgley - Research Development Officer • Kerry Vernon - RDM Arts • http://www.bris.ac.uk/research/support/development/

  27. End

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