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Research Impact: Exploring the Roadmap

  • Wednesday, 24 November 2021
  • Manchester Hall
  • 09:25 - 16:35
120+
Conference
Attendees
10
CPD
Credits
15+
Expert Speakers
8+
Sponsors & Supporters
  • Overview

Open Forum Events and Kudos invites you to join us at our 6th National Research Impact: Exploring the Roadmap conference. We will explore how to realise the full potential of the governments commitment to turning the UK into a 'science superpower' and has outlined its strategy to do so in the new UK Research & Development Roadmap.

This CPD accredited conference programme will bring together National leaders from across higher education and research establishment from across the UK to explore a long-term plan to make Britain a global centre for world-class research and dynamic innovation, supported by new initiatives such as the R&D Place Strategy, Global Talent Visa and Office for Talent; as well as existing frameworks like the REF.

Our programme of expert speakers will feature an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead with guidance from organisations such as The Royal Society, Kudos, Bath Spa University and University of Nottingham to name a few.

The conference offers an opportunity to explore the significance of pursuing ambitious projects that galvanise academia, the public, government and industry in the interest of addressing important societal issues. The Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology has provided central principals guiding the development of Moonshots - the conference will be an opportunity to explore these principals and develop cross-sector networks around ground-breaking R&D that excites and inspires.

Get up to date information on the UK's access to European Union research funding and/or new domestic equivalents to EU framework programmes for funding and innovation beyond the Brexit transition period. Discuss how R&D intensity and funding can expand beyond the 'Golden Triangle' of London, the South-East and East England to equate regions of the UK with domestic leaders and European institutes; as well as exploring how the UK R&D Place Strategy can make the fullest contribution to unlocking local growth and societal benefit from R&D across the UK's regions.

  • Confirmed Speakers

  • Event Programme

08:30

Registrations Opens with Coffee in the Networking Area

09:25

Chair's Opening Address

09:30

Welcome Address

George Freeman MP, Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation (confirmed)

09:40

Keynote Address

Abigail Hilditch, Policy Partnerships Manager, Secretariat, APPG on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM (confirmed)

On 20 July 2021, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) published the ‘Equity in the STEM workforce’ report following an eight-month inquiry. This presentation will detail the findings and recommendations of the report, outlining the need for structural change in the STEM workforce for a successful and equitable UK research sector.

10:00
  • Professor Barbara Kelly, Director of Research and Professor of Musicology, Royal Northern College of Music (confirmed)
"Research in the Specialist Sector "

Professor Barbara Kelly is President of the Royal Musical Association and Professor of Musicology at the Royal College of Music. In her presentation, Professor Kelly will explore the role of the specialist sector in respect to the UK's R&D Roadmap.

 

Professor Kelly's remit at the Royal Northern College of Music include responsibility for:

  • Directing research for the RNCM
  • Developing the college’s research strategy
  • Encouraging greater participation of RNCM staff in research activities
  • Role in embedding research into the college’s artistic programme
  • Overseeing applications for research funding
  • Institutional lead for the REF
  • Overseeing research postgraduate activities
  • Overseeing the library and archives
  • Overseeing the development of Knowledge Exchange
10:20

Headline Supporter

For research to have impact, the people who can apply it need to find it and understand it. This requires a more systematic, evidence-based approach to communication, particularly to reach and engage audiences beyond academia. That said, there has been a gap between what researchers are expected to achieve in terms of broader audiences and impact, and the skills and tools required to achieve that. Kudos is working to fill that gap. We provide a methodology and toolkit for planning, managing, measuring and reporting  on engagement and impact activities, as well as showcases to help publicise research to different target audiences. This case study will showcase how Kudos Pro is being used at organisations including the Universities of Manchester, Kent, Melbourne, Liverpool and Newcastle.

10:40

Question & Answer Session

10:55

Coffee in the Networking Area

11:40
  • Professor John Strachan, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Bath Spa University (confirmed)
  • Matthew Guest, Policy Manager - Place, Knowledge Exchange & Industrial Strategy, GuildHE (confirmed)
"What's the Point of Place"

During this session, Matthew and John will explore the role of research and innovation in relation to places and people. The session will provoke responses to the question, "Would maximising the diversity of research, innovation and knowledge exchange deliver a step change for delivering the 2.4%?" It will cover:

  • The case for place policy in research, innovation and knowledge 
  • The role of smaller and specialist universities and colleges
  • Delivering impact for places and communities
12:00
"Connecting the Pieces: Place and Innovation"

David will consider Goldsmiths’ civic work and its creative and digital research to draw out some of the constructive tensions across place-based and innovation-led agendas.

12:20

Case Study

The Scientific Editing team at Nature Research Editing Service allows any researcher to benefit from expert editing and advice on draft grant applications and journal articles, to standards set by Nature Research – and which, UK HEI clients (including several Russell Group universities) benefit from editing and strategic advice on a large number of UK REF documents.

12:40

Question & Answer Session

13:00

Lunch

We'll be working with venues to ensure lunch at our events is as delicious as ever and caters for a range of dietary preferences - whilst being served in a safe and seamless manner. Some of the new measures we will be introducing to this effect are:

  • One-way queuing systems with safe distancing in operation.
  • Individually portioned dishes and pre-sealed cutlery will be served at collection points.  

Where possible, we will source food locally to reduce food miles, use seasonal vegetables, red tractor certified meat and eggs from free range hens.

14:00

Chair's Afternoon Address

14:05

Afternoon Keynote

  • Kirsty Allen, Research Environment Lead and Head of REF Delivery, University of Oxford (confirmed)

This presentation will cover:

  • What research environment statements can tell you about the health of your pipeline/roadmap
  • How a positive, dynamic research environment can help to deliver impact: case study
  • Don’t leave your environment statement in a cupboard!
14:25
  • Dr Nick Goldspink, Research Partnership Manager, N8 Research Partnership (confirmed)

Dr Nick Goldspink's role is to manage the portfolio of projects that the N8 Research Partnership are facilitating from inception through to their implementation at one of the N8 Universities.

 

Prior to this role Dr Goldspink worked as a Research Manager with a medical research charity, helping to shape the policy on translational research, and as a Discovery Manager at Renovo, a biotechnology spin-out from the University of Manchester. Nick has a degree in Applied Chemistry and PhD from the University of Nottingham, as well as two years’ experience as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Presentation synopsis coming soon...

14:45

Case Study

"Can Researchfish data support the creation of Impact Case Studies for REF? Commentary on a recent study undertaken for Research England"

An exploration of the relationship between research funding and research impact by linking Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 Impact Case Studies with Researchfish Grant Agreements.

15:05

Question & Answer Session

  • Kirsty Allen, Research Environment Lead and Head of REF Delivery, University of Oxford (confirmed)
  • Dr Nick Goldspink, Research Partnership Manager, N8 Research Partnership (confirmed)
  • Sean Newell, CEO, Interfolio UK (confirmed)
15:15
  • Alexandra Freeman, Director, Octopus Publishing Community Interest Company (CIC) (confirmed)
"Octopus: The New Primary Research Record for Science"

Due for launch in spring 2022, Octopus is a new platform designed to take over from journals the job of being the primary research record – a kind of ‘patent office’ for scientific work. With an incentive structure designed to reward best scientific practice, Octopus aims to improve research culture and widen access as well as making the global scientific endeavour more efficient.

Octopus Publishing (CIC), in collaboration with Jisc, have received £650,000 from Research England to support the technical development required to move Octopus from a prototype to global service.

15:35
  • Adam Golberg, Research Development Manager (Charities), University of Nottingham (confirmed)
"This is (not) Fine"

With a global pandemic and the scrambles and improvisations of the last REF, it's unsurprising that research leaders at every level have been focused on fighting fires. Inevitably, less attention has been paid to medium-term challenges and trends affecting research and researchers in UK universities. This includes deep-seated discontent among researchers as shown by recent industrial unrest and calls to improve research culture. This session will define some of the 'elephant in the room' problems for university research that often aren't properly acknowledged, but which need to be understood and discussed openly before progress on research culture, policy or strategy can be made. It will also include some practical suggestions towards a more humane research culture as well as improving research performance.

15:55

Katherine Mathieson is Chief Executive at the British Science Association (BSA) which believes that science should be a more fundamental part of culture and society. The BSA runs a range of programmes for public and school audiences which enable them to strengthen their relationship with science, and for scientists which provide them with platforms for conversations with the public. The BSA also does research & campaigns on the relationship between science and culture. Katherine previously led a portfolio of projects in science education and enterprise education for Nesta. She has previously held roles at a range of other science organisations, including the Forensic Science Service, Science Line and the pharmaceutical company Merck. Katherine has a degree in Natural Sciences, an MSc in Science Communication, a PGDip in Information Science and a PGDip in Voluntary Sector Management. She is a volunteer for GirlGuidingUK, and a Trustee of the Royal Commonwealth Society and Enthuse Trust.

 

Presentation synopsis coming soon...

16:15

Closing Keynote

16:35

Question & Answer Session

16:55

Chair's Closing Remarks and Conference Close

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Venue

Manchester Hall

Manchester Hall

Manchester Hall is the first boutique Manchester conference venue for business meetings. We provide a personal service to ensure that every aspect of your meeting fits your requirements perfectly. We also have all of the technical equipment that you may require and all of our suites have AV facilities. We will make every effort to accommodate other specific requests too. From the Goulburn Lodge Room with its wealth of original Freemasons’ features to the more intimate Study thats size and shape is ideal for smaller business meetings, we offer rooms for every type of meeting.

The Grade II listed building lies at the gateway to Spinningfields, the city’s thriving business and professional quarter, making it the ideal location for a Manchester conference venue and your business needs. We are easily accessible from Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Victoria stations. Alternatively, you can get a tram to nearby Deansgate Castlefield tram station. With our city centre location, we are also a great location for delegates travelling to Manchester via the airport, with excellent public transport and taxi links.

Featured Events

  • Research Impact: Ready for REF 2021

    • 02 October 2019
    • 09:25 - 16:10
    • Ambassadors Hotel, Bloomsbury, London
  • Research Impact: Framework for Excellence

    • 04 October 2018
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Research Impact: Strengthening the Excellence Framework

    • 14 September 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Research Impact: Delivering Excellence

    • 05 July 2016
    • 08:30 - 16:15
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Research Impact: Evidencing the REF

    • 14 July 2015
    • 08:30 - 13:30
    • King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
  • Science Summit: Strategy for Excellence

    • 10 December 2015
    • 08:30 - 16:20
    • America Square Conference Centre, London

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