Our work with researchers in the early stages of their career can help to:
- encourage links with policymakers and practitioners
- broaden understanding of the research landscape
- enhance professional development
- develop expertise in realising pathways to impacts
This supports EPSRC’s aims to develop the research leaders of the future and to enhance the overall impact of research.
ECR knowledge exchange skills development
This series of events brings together early career researchers in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. This will help to enhance their professional skills and develop their expertise in maximising the impact of their research.
Events include face-to-face workshops, webinars and on-line opportunities to share expertise and knowledge. The first two workshops focus on strengthening knowledge exchange skills and are an opportunity for networking with fellow scientists working in similar areas.
Participants are encouraged to get involved in the whole series of events, where possible.
15–16 April, Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel, York
EPSRC are committed to supporting the next generation of research leaders, and there are various funding mechanisms available to support ECRs in developing their own research.This workshop explored the various elements of devising strong and comprehensive proposals from considering the initial approach and identifying key players through to planning the outline and full proposals, and how to approach the review and interview stage.
- Checklist
- Summary of the event (pdf, 1,5 MB)
- Workshop agenda (pdf, 160 KB)
- Participant list (pdf, 130 KB)
Presentations:
- EPSRC approaches to funding: David Holtum (pdf, 820 KB)
- EPSRC/LWEC Challenge Fellowship: David Holtum (pdf, 160 KB). LWEC Challenge Fellowship Call
- Learning from successful fellowship applicants: Catherine Bale (pdf, 12.9 MB)
- Successful proposals: my experience & advice: David Dawson (pdf, 2 MB)
- Approaching the review process and panel interview: Roger Street (pdf, 1.5 MB)
Other resources from the workshop
- EPSRC interviews: guidance to interviewers on specimen questions (pdf, 40 KB)
- Good practice in information dissemination: Ian Cooper (pdf, 4.1 MB)
Further information
Supporting early career researchers in Higher education
The UK Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE) and the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) have just published their findings from a project on ‘Supporting early career researchers in higher education in Europe: the role of employers and trade unions’. Recommendations include:
- Tackling job security for ECRs
- Improving the line management of ECRs by principal investigators and supervisors
- Improving the possibility of all forms of mobility for ECRs
- Improving the attraction of research careers and ensuring manageable workloads.
Further information from Universities & Colleges Employers Association
13–14 March 2014, Oxford
Presentations from:
- James Painter, Reuters Institute, Oxford: Communicating Climate Change in the Media (pdf, 9.2 MB)
- Adam Corner, COIN: Experiencing the impacts of climate change… or climate silence? (pdf, 900 KB)
- Chris White, EPSRC: An EPSRC perspective: the value of KE skills, maximising impact, ECR opportunities (pdf, 900 KB)
- Communications options notes (pdf, 7.3 MB)
- Understanding your audience notes (pdf, 5.9 MB)
Highlighted links:
- The Conversation (dedicated to communicating academic research to wider audiences)
- What Works – evidence centres for social policy (looking to ensure practitioners have access to and understanding of the evidence base) Government announcement, March 2013 (pdf, 300 KB)
- Research Uptake Guidance, Department for International Development (pdf, 680 KB)
- Communicating research for evidence-based policymaking: A practical guide for researchers in socio‐economic sciences and humanities, European Commission (pdf, 1.4 MB)
- Guide: Engaging with Policymakers, National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement
- Impact toolkit, Economic and Social Research Council
- Is blogging and tweeting about research papers worth it? Interesting blog article from Melissa Terras
9 & 10 October 2014
This workshop explored various approaches, from identifying the main players through to the communication and use of final outputs.
Presentations and some creative thinking from the day were captured in a Storify.
The residential event ran from lunchtime to lunchtime to allow for in-depth discussions and networking opportunities. It included facilitated sessions and discussions and practical challenges to allow participants to build on their own expertise and put the concepts into practice.
Making research useful: 13 May 2014
- Making research useful: knowing your audience presentation (pdf, 1.2 MB)
- Recording of Making research useful webinar (you may be asked to install software to run the recording)
Jonathan Breckon from the Alliance for Useful Evidence explores the role of good communications in ensuring that research has influence and practical impact. Reflecting on experience and drawing on lessons learnt from the social sciences, he demonstrated how evidence, working with stakeholders and addressing the right questions can have impact beyond the research community.
Engaging policymakers: 17 September 2014
Hosted by Tom Sutton, who works on infrastructure resilience in the Cabinet Office. Tom reflected on his experience as a policy advisor to provide insight into how research and evidence can be used in decision-making, and offer advice on how researchers can work with policymakers. Our blog – Look, over here! – examines the main messages from the day.
