Towards a Sustainable, Ethical and Inclusive Future
The Reimagining Research Practices project is a groundbreaking 2-year initiative funded by the Wellcome Trust, bringing together researchers from multiple disciplines, professional services staff, education fellows and software developers. The project explores how research practices can be strengthened to foster healthier research culture, concentrating on three interconnected pillars: sustainability, ethics and inclusion.
To find out more, contact Project Manager Catriona Gold:?c.gold@lancaster.ac.uk
Research is key to addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis. At the same time, performing research can be resource intensive. How can we continue to evolve our research practices and ensure they are sustainable? How can we, as a research community, ensure we are considering and accounting for sustainability?
Performing research can be ethically complex and involves navigating multiple inter-related issues and associated risks. What are good practices to mitigate for ethical risks arising from evolving research approaches? How can ethical issues be engaged with and addressed beyond filling in approval forms?
Research has the potential to benefit and improve the wider community. It can also be somewhat insular, and inaccessible for marginalised and disadvantaged communities. How can we enhance our own practices to be genuinely inclusive and work in a more collaborative manner?
You are invited to join the RRP team at a series of events that celebrate and offer forums for discussion on the outputs of the Reimagining Research Practices project as part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's 2026 Research Culture Week. We are launching the week with an overview of the project with a panel hosted by Professor Rebecca Lingwood. We also have 2 cuppa conundrum events focusing on emotionally distressing research and early interventions in cases of research misconduct. Dr Nuri Kwon will host a session that celebrates the prompts output from the inclusion strand, centred on how to work effectively with communities in research. Lastly, we have a session on AI, ethics and governance with an expert panel of cross-institutional staff considering the future of policy in this area. For the full programme and to book your space on any of the events listed, please go here: https://rcwprogramme.scc.lancs.ac.uk/
On 29th April we hosted an event exploring inclusive, community-centred approaches to research. The day included a mini symposium; exhibition of related work; and the launch of our graphic novel "Pebbles & Ripples"; culminating in a drinks reception and chance for networking. The event was aimed at researchers (at any career stage), community organisations, practitioners and partners.
Emerging from discussions as part of the project, Dr Dan Craddock has produced a podcast, which unpacks a variety of conundrums relating to ethical tensions in research. Every week a new guest reflects on a different conundrum, discussed informally over a cuppa, from AI in research to climate action, sustainability and citizen science.
The Reimagining Research Practices team have launched a course providing an introduction to sustainable research practice. The training is available online via Â鶹ÊÓƵ's open learning platform. Supporting materials are also available for those wishing to run the training in person.
