Abstract

Changes in the way we operate are introducing our researchers and participants to new complexities and risks which threaten the integrity of research if not done properly.

Lancaster University is currently undertaking a Wellcome Trust funded project which aims to re-focus and re-imagine working practices for our research community, whilst enhancing and building resilience into our research culture.

We focus on three overarching but interlinking pillars: P1) the sustainability of our evolving research practices, P2) the mitigations for ethical risks arising from reshaping research approaches, and P3) the enhancement of inclusion in our research community and practices. Under these pillars we are:

- investigating internal and external current practices and innovative ideas

- developing support mechanisms, new resources, strategies and policies for researchers to adapt to recent changes and ready them for future developments

- evaluating and communicating our activities, identifying best practice for sharing across the sector and optimising further development opportunities.

The team aims to produce multiple deliverables available for the HEI sector beyond academic publications and conferences, these include:

- Training tools for researchers on sustainability, citizen science and inclusion

- Pilot of academic safe spaces to discuss complex digital related ethical issues

- Discussions on climate change action and use of data collected by personal devices

- New mobile sensing devices for future citizen science research projects

- Recommendations for policy and practice changes

The 2-year project began in May 2024 and so at the halfway point I seek to present to the INORMS conference an overview of the project and its findings and deliverables to date. I hope that through the presentation conference delegates will take away useful information about each pillar, the intersectionality of all three and activities that they can undertake in their HEI to start to address concerns/problems.

I hope to gather information that can be used as part of the project by asking questions of the audience about their concerns and solutions to the issues. I will also provide a way for delegates to keep in touch with the project and benefit from the final deliverables.