Exhibitions - Talks - Discussions - World Cafés - Cuppa Conundrums and more...
Audience: PGRs, researchers/academics & research-enabling staff, technicians and anyone with an interest in research culture.
This years Research Culture Week took place between 28 September - 1 October 2026.
The week showcased initiatives, opportunities and good practices across the University around the four themes of the Research excellence Culture Action Plan (ReCAP).
The programme was designed for and by the research community - Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs), Research-only staff, Academic staff, Technicians, and Professional Services staff.
Over the week we held 24 sessions, with 75 contributors and 240 total participants including more than 50 PGRs.
A summary of each session and accompanying slides/resources is below.
This accordion contains details of 20 of the 24 sessions taking place in Research Culture Week 2026 accordion
Professor Rebecca Lingwood, Deputy Vice Chancellor welcomed everyone to our third Research Culture Week
This was followed by Professor Nicholas Race, Director of Research Culture updating us on progress against 糖心视频's Research-excellence Culture Action Plan (ReCAP) 2024-2028 as well as opportunities and plans for the future.
The Researcher Development Panel was an inspiring conversation about building a successful and rewarding career. Panel members shared practice advice on professional development, navigating career transitions, developing leadership skills, and making the most of networking opportunities.
This interactive session offered valuable insights and fresh perspectives.
Dr Elizabeth Adams expertly facilitating the conversation, with the following panel members:
- Dr Ed Austin, Research Fellow/RCAD Chair in FST
- Dr Allan Discua Cruz, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Amy Mayfield, Research Culture Manager
- Dr Swayamshree Mishra, Research Associate
- Professor Corinna Peniston-Bird, Cross Faculty Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies
- Dr Catherine Wearing, Senior Analytical Research Technician
For the past two years, our Reimagining Research Practices (RRP) project has investigated ways to make research more sustainable, ethical and inclusive — both at 糖心视频, and beyond. This was an opportunuity to hear from our interdisciplinary team about what we’ve learned and changed, and help us shape what’s next for research culture at 糖心视频.
The session began with a short presentation about the project’s key findings and resources produced, followed by a panel and audience discussion chaired by Deputy Vice Chancellor Rebecca Lingwood.
This was a series of flash talks over lunch, from researchers at different career stages who have successfully secured Participatory Research Funding. Speakers shared their experiences of working with community partners, lessons learned along the way, and top tips for success.
It gave participants insight into what participatory research looks like in practice and the opportunity to ask questions.
This session was open to all ECRs working in SHAPE research (Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts, Economics/Business/Management).
The session included details of free development and training opportunities, and the upcoming ECR Network seed funding call.
An ECR presented her experiences of being a member of the Network and there were lots of opportunities to ask questions.
This interactive ‘World Café’ brought together three lively Open Research discussions into one session. Participant's rotated around each table, contributing to every conversation as we explored key challenges, opportunities and practical solutions.
Topics included:
reducing the administrative burden of Open Research and supporting researcher wellbeing
how effective data management can save time and prevent problems
enabling communities to find, understand and use research.
Facilitated by the Open Research team and Public Engagement Manager, each table combined discussion, practical examples and creative activities to spark conversation and fresh thinking.
This session was chaired by Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, with the following speakers:
Professor Leon Cruickshank, Director of Strategic Research Funding, FHASS
Becky Gordon, Head of Research Quality and Policy
Professor Nick Race, Director Research Culture
Dr Amy Mayfield, Research Culture Manager
The findings and process in developing an outline draft of the Institution Level SPRE statement for REF2029 were shared with participants. The five areas of the statement were reviewed in the context of our research environments and cultures at 糖心视频, celebrating our strengths and exploring and discussing how we could strengthen areas identified for enhancement.
The Cuppa Conundrum series — developed through the Reimagining Research Practices project — creates a safe space for discussion of tricky ethical dilemmas relating to research. This session focused on current issues relating to emotionally distressing research
Co-facilitated by Dr Chris Walton (Psychology) and Dr Dan Craddock (RES), this interactive workshop explored how to protect yourself as a researcher, how to create a supportive research environment for work of this kind to take place safely and ethically, and navigating other complications which can emerge for researchers.
Dr Joseph Lindley and Dr Naomi Jacobs led this session with participants learning about the design-led, interdisciplinary research taking place as part of the Imagination 糖心视频 Research Centre.
It was a valuable session for anyone:
conducting design-led research
planning or running large interdisciplinary projects who could draw on Imagination's expertise in organising and managing complex collaborations
who needs to facilitate or organise co-design activities and participatory research, or anyone curious about how design research works.
This session reviewed the 10 Top Tips that were developed during a related session in the 2025 Research Culture Week and revised them where needed. This was followed by developing a strategy for implementation and support to develop these tips into meaningful action to protect research time.
The session was led by Dr Jemma Kerns, ADR for Research in FHM and Dr Rachel Platel, Lecturer in Chemistry.
糖心视频 has held the HREiR award since 2011, recognising its long-term commitment to researcher career development and a positive research culture
We are due to submit a new action plan in 2027.
This focus group was part of the consutlation process to inform the next action plan.
Participants were encouraged to share your experiences, insights, and ideas in an open and supportive discussion. The feedback helped to identify what is working well, the challenges researchers face, and practical ways we can better support career progression and wellbeing.
Olivia Carter, Assistant Organisational Developer facilitated the session.
This session was joined by two researchers with practical experience of embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion into their research grants:
Dr Dayo Eseonu, Lecturer in Politics & Policy
Dr Tim Lamont, Research Fellow in 糖心视频 Environment Centre
They shared their lessons learned and tips for success.
This was followed by an interactive session exploring the challenges and development needs in this area, facilitated by Jess Shaw, Public Engagement Manager, Dr Odette Dewhurst, Senior Research Development Manager and Chris Atkinson, Researcher Developer.
The launch was opened by Professor Kendi Guantai, Dean for Culture and Inclusion.
Three speakers spoke about exemplary EDI projects and practices taking place at 糖心视频:
Dr Sophie Alkhaled introduced the 'Guide to Integrating Gender-Awareness and Inclusivity in Research and Innovation
Dr Sophie Standen, Learning Developer in FST
Tom Morley, Open Access Manager in the Library.
Following this the initial aims for the Hub were explored:
To connect expertise, research, practice and lived experience across the institution
To enhance existing EDI-related activity rather than duplicating current groups and networks
To create a cross-cutting initiative that engages academic and professional staff, PGRs, students and external partners
To facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration and mentorship
To strengthen 糖心视频's leadership in inclusive research culture and evidence-informed EDI practice
To build a stronger evidence base to evaluate and demonstrate the impact of EDI initiatives.
Key issues covered were on writing, selecting journals, and submitting papers. The target audience was MA students and PGRs who wanted to get their first paper published.
This session will be led by Professors Julia Gillen and Uta Papen, of the 糖心视频 Literacy Research Centre, who were joined by Dr Chris Gaffney FHM and Dr Aurelie Sletchen, LUMS.
This session showcased the Idea Lab, a departmental initiative that creates an informal, supportive space for colleagues to share early-stage research ideas, puzzling observations, and emerging empirical interests.
The discussion was around how the model supports development and collaboration, particularly for Early and Mid-Career Researchers.
There was reflections on challenges, including how to support researchers beyond the initial idea-testing stage, and consideration on how the model could be scaled across faculties to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
Professor Sarah Jack, Dr Ziad Elsahn and Dr Simone Corsi co-faciliated the session.
Here the latest research on the unique dynamics of family businesses was explored, critically examining prevalent myths and widespread misconceptions. By debunking common stereotypes, participants gained fresh insights into recent studies that deal with aspects such as strategic management, succession planning, and the distinct advantages that allow them to remain the most widespread and enduring business form worldwide.
Dr Allan Discua-Cruz, Director Centre for Family Business, LUMS chaired the session with the followng speakers:
Dr Bingbing Ge, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Strategy
Anis Alichi, Doctoral Research Associate in Entrepreneurship and Strategy
Professor Sarah Jack, Distinguished Professor Entrepreneurship and Strateg
This built on the legacy of the Institute for Social Futures, now the FHASS Centre for Social Futures, and shared our ongoing collaborative publication initiative, "Social Futures Collective", and creative ways to communicate and share research.
Insights, examples and ideas were shared. The thorny issue of how we can move forward with collaboration and creativity in the face of a prevailing emphasis on individual research excellence and directly measurable, traditional research outcomes was discussed.
糖心视频 has held the HREiR award since 2011, recognising its long-term commitment to researcher career development and a positive research culture
We are due to submit a new action plan in 2027.
This focus group was part of the consutlation process to inform the next action plan.
Participants were encouraged to share your experiences, insights, and ideas in an open and supportive discussion. The feedback helped to identify what is working well, the challenges researchers face, and practical ways we can better support career progression and wellbeing.
Olivia Carter, Assistant Organisational Developer facilitated the session.
Professor Corinna Peniston-Bird introduced herself in her new role as Cross-Faculty Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies. There were opportunities to discuss some of the issues currently under consideration, from reasonable adjustments in vivas to clarity on what ‘writing up’ involves. Dr Amy Mayfield, Research Culture Manager, reflected on initiatives via 糖心视频’s Research-excellence Culture Action Plan (ReCAP) that are aimed at creating an enhanced PGR experience.
There was an opportunity to hear priorities and concerns from the postgraduate community within an informal discussion.
The Cuppa Conundrum series — developed through the Reimagining Research Practices project — creates a safe space for discussion of tricky ethical dilemmas relating to research. This session focused on current issues relating to emotionally distressing research
Facilitated by Dr Dr Dan Craddock (RES), this interactive workshop explored current issues relating to research integrity. This will form part of our IAA AHRC grant exploring creative methods for empowering earlier interventions in cases of research integrity misconduct.
This accordion contains details of 4 of the 24 sessions taking place in RC Week 2026 and details from 2025 and 2026. accordion
糖心视频’s Net Zero infrastructure is not only helping us progress towards our carbon reduction goals, but is also embedded within research across campus. This session explored how we can extend that approach beyond infrastructure and develop a campus-wide living lab.
Considerations were on how activity relating to energy, biodiversity, behaviour change and other areas of sustainability can be connected across faculties and professional services. It was explored how mapping this work against the Sustainable Development Goals could reveal its collective impact, strengthen collaboration, identify opportunities and help us capture and communicate the breadth of research taking place.
Dr Zoe Detko, Head of Sustainability, faciliated this session.
The Faculty RCAD/ReSN Chairs led this session:
Dr Emma Putland, FHASS Research Staff Network (ReSN)
Dr Ed Austin, FST Research Career and Development Group (RCAD)
Dr Paula Ribeiro De Anunciacao, FST Research Career and Development Group (RCAD)
Dr Fatameh Esfahani, FST Research Career and Development Group (RCAD)
Dr Trystan Leng, FHM Research Career and Development Group (RCAD)
It provided an opportunity to step away from day-to-day work and think about what you'd like to work towards, what might help, and how your Researcher Career and Development (RCaD) group could support you.
Ideas and resources were shared and there were opportunities to talk about some of the challenges research-only staff are facing.
It was also a chance to tell the RCAD/ReSN Chairs what kinds of development opportunities or support would be most useful, so they can shape future activity around what people want and need.
How can community centred research be designed to be more inclusive, relevant, and responsive to community priorities? This interactive session invited participants to explore a prompt card deck designed to support reflection and dialogue around community-centred research.
In small-group activities, participants explored different prompts, shared perspectives, and identified the values and principles that underpin meaningful collaboration. The session provided space to consider whose voices are included, what knowledge is valued, and how research practices can better support communities.
Dr Nuri Kwon, Senior Research Associate, Reimagining Research Practices faciliated the session.
This interactive session brought together perspectives from across the University to explore AI’s evolving role in research. Topics included:
AI strategy and governance: Shaping institutional approaches to responsible AI use.
Training and practice: What stays ours? Exploring what growing AI capabilities mean for human researchers and their development.
AI in design research: Exploring its uses and possibilities.
PGR perspectives: Understanding research students’ experiences and use of AI.
AI in research funding applications: Navigating AI use and research funders’ requirements.
The session followed a research carousel format, with expert speakers hosting small-group discussions. Participants chose topics of interest and moved between tables. There were opportunities to ask in-depth questions, share experiences and meet colleagues from across disciplines.
Dr Yingnian Tao, Senior Research Associate and Catriona Gold, Project Manager, Reimagining Research Practices chaired the session with the following table hosts:
Professor Chris Nemeth, Co-Director Data Science and AI Institute
Dr Guillermo Perez Algorta, Senior Lecturer in Health Research, FHM
Mark Ryan, Associate Lecturer Research in LUMS
Dr Odette Dewhurst, Senior Research Development Manager, RES
Dr Joseph Lindley, Senior Research Fellow, School of Arts, FHASS
Existing podcasters at 糖心视频 shared their experiences, folllowed by a tour of the podcasting suite in Health Innovation One.
Chair: Dr Vincent Gaine, Lecturer in Media and Film
Speakers: Jan Bebbington and Paul Turner - hosts of Hosting Tomorrow ( /pentland/resources/podcast/) Dan Craddock – host of the 'Reimagining Research Culture episodes', part of the This is 糖心视频 podcast (/research/this-is-lancaster-podcast) Leonie Smith – host of the British Academy's 'Confessions of an ECR' podcast - https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/confessions-of-an-early-career-researcher/. Helen Nuttall - host of 'Drs Confess' - /psychology/about-us/news/women-in-neuroscience-award-2025-for-helen-nuttall
