[00:00:00] Intro: Welcome to the Research Culture Uncovered podcast, where in every episode we explore what is research culture and what should it be. You'll hear thoughts and opinions from a range of contributors to help you change research culture into what you want it to be.

[00:00:23] Emma: Hi, it's Emma. And a very warm welcome to 2025 and our 100th episode. Today I'm joined by all the hosts for an episode looking at our predictions for the next 12 months. But before we get there, the Research Culture Uncovered podcast has had a fantastic year. We won the Vitae Impact Culture and Engagement Award for the Research Culture through Researcher Development category.

We grew our host team by welcoming two new members. Emily and Heledd, but sadly for us, we also said goodbye to Tony Bromley as he starts his retirement on behalf of all the podcast team and our listeners We say a big thank you to Tony and wish him all the best And you never know he may make an appearance on the podcast as a guest soon.

So joining me today are Ged, Ruth, Nick, Taryn, Emily, and Heledd, and I have the best job of keeping them all under control and preventing podcast carnage. Can I ask all of you to unmute and on the count of three, we will do a collective hello. One, two, three.

[00:01:32] Ged: Hello.

[00:01:34] Emma: I think that worked. So before we start looking at 2025 and what that has in store for us, I'd like each of our hosts to share a highlight or a favourite episode from the last 12 months.

And I'm going to start with you, Ruth.

[00:01:50] Ruth: My highlight from 2024 is that we actually decided to expand our career support and move, you know, beyond PGRs and ECRs and actually now also offer career support for our research professionals or colleagues who work in the research arena who are not academics. Um, but who are essential to the research process and then also going forward, um, putting more emphasis on mid career colleagues.

And that ties in with the N8 commitment that Leeds made in 2024. So the future is bright, more in careers. And that makes me as a career professional, obviously very, very happy.

[00:02:31] Emma: Brilliant. Thank you very much. And Taryn, how about you?

[00:02:34] Taryn: Uh, so my highlight for 2024 is that, uh, we developed and ran the first cohort of the fellowship accelerator program, which is our program aimed at postdocs, helping them to think about applying for research funding.

Um, so we've completed the first cohort, we've looked at all the feedback and it was all really positive. And that means we're running a second cohort next year. Um, so it's been a real highlight and just actually really lovely to work with such a lovely group of postdocs and help them develop their ideas this year.

[00:03:07] Emma: Great. Thank you very much. Uh, Ged, what about you?

[00:03:10] Ged: So I guess my highlight was going to the AESIS. That's A E S I S. I'm not going to do what it stands for because I'll be here all day conference in Dublin in June and meeting loads of people that I'd only really interacted with in the online space. So it was great to have a good natter with them and, you know, There's an episode about that and also there was a follow up episode.

So I'm kind of doing my plug for mine just to try and catch Ruth up in, uh, in the amount of downloads she's got.

[00:03:40] Emma: Brilliant. And again, listeners, we will make sure that we link to those episodes and anything else that we mention in the show notes.

[00:03:47] Heledd: Hello. Hi. So to be honest, this whole year has felt like one big highlight for me.

Uh, if I think back to this time last year, I was in the lab working as post doc. I was measuring mitochondrial respiration in monocytes from the blood of people with cystic fibrosis using a machine called a seahorse, which is one of my all time favourite pieces of lab equipment. That and a bijou. If you know, you know.

But one of the skills I developed during my research career was as an associate supervisor and mentor. It's a role that so many postdocs and technicians take on without much formal guidance or recognition. So when I began my role as a research department advisor, I discovered the UKCGE Recognised Associate Research Supervisor Award.

Or as I like to call it now, RARSA, because I can't for the life of me remember the order of the words and I always mix it up. But this award really celebrates the contribution of associate supervisors and that really kind of instantly resonated with me. So I saw it as an opportunity when I started to kind of gain some recognition for the role I played in supporting so many researchers over the years.

So this year, my highlight is that I've not only earned this award. My own accreditation, but I've also had the privilege of supporting other researchers through the process and a pilot scheme that I've set up. And I've also continued to develop this pilot into my first official support program to help even more researchers gain accreditation.

And this kicks off this January. So I'm excited about that.

[00:05:21] Emma: Brilliant. Thank you, Heledd. And we should also say a highlight should be your first episode. Nick, over to you.

[00:05:27] Nick: All right, well, um, like Heledd, I suppose I've had quite a few highlights, uh, this year. One sort of collective highlight that I think Emily's going to talk about, so I'll leave that to her.

But from a personal point of view, um, was a trip to the LIBER conference in Cyprus. I don't often get To travel that often with work, uh, certainly not as far afield as Limassol in Cyprus on that occasion. Um, so yeah, that, that, and again, like Ged, I won't try and say what Libra stands for not least because it's in French, um, and I can barely manage, uh, English on the podcast.

So yeah, I won't, uh, but the, the Libra conference was, I was actually there on a panel talking about, um, indicators for open research. And also interviewed a couple of colleagues from that panel, um, for the podcast as well. So that's also available. So yeah, that was probably my highlight, um, along with the one that I know Emily's going to talk about.

[00:06:22] Emma: And we should also say, uh, whilst Nick was away, uh, we found out we'd been nominated for our award and he actually managed to record part of a podcast halfway up a mountain, I think, if I'm correct.

[00:06:33] Nick: That, well, yes, but although that wasn't actually the same occasion, so I was on holiday then, um, in Croatia, in fact, so that wasn't the occasion of, uh, it was, uh, abroad, but yeah, I did record a portion, I'd forgotten about that, at the top of a mountain in Croatia.

See,

[00:06:47] Emma: another highlight.

[00:06:49] Emily: And Emily,

[00:06:50] Emma: over to you.

[00:06:52] Emily: Hello, I think my highlight for the year is going to be launching the Open Research Hub. So that's what Nick's been talking about in his highlight. So this was a really big collaborative effort. And I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who was involved in putting that hub together.

The hub is a website that's openly available on the Leeds website, and It's a place to gather all the information about open research. There's a huge amount going on in that space. We really want it to be the default, but we also recognize that researchers need a bit more information and guidance. So we want the hub to be really practical and useful.

And I hope our listeners find it useful in the months to come.

[00:07:35] Emma: Fantastic. Thank you all very much. Loads of stuff that's been going on over the last 12 months. Um, and I'm really pleased to say that all of you have agreed to continue delivering this podcast for another year. So let's find out a little bit more about your predictions and what we can expect.

So Ruth, I'm going to come back to you.

[00:07:56] Ruth: So where do I start when I look at the sector of higher education all over the world? And I spend a lot of time on Blue Sky these days and what you pick up immediately is a lot of anxiety and frustration with what's happening in higher education across the world, whether we look at the New Zealand or the Netherlands or the UK or America or even Germany.

And so I think my prediction is that we will be spending more of our energy really in looking at ourselves, supporting colleagues who might be affected by redundancy. And also helping our next generation of researchers adapt and make time for those conversations because I think there is a lot of uncertainty in the sector, and not just in the sector also beyond the sector, and so that is a concern for me how can I support colleagues at the University of Leeds.

In, you know, putting things into perspective, helping them really manage uncertainty and managing uncertainty is never easy. So, um, but we have a lot of experience in, in our team in this. And, um, for me, that's a really important piece for 2025. How can I support my colleagues at the University of Leeds in managing uncertainty in their careers?

[00:09:12] Emma: Thank you very much, Ruth. Um, Taryn, what do you think 2025 holds for us?

[00:09:18] Taryn: Um, so I'm going to focus on, uh, the funding landscape, uh, to anyone who's interested in research funding. 2025, we are going to continue to see a lot of change, a lot of flux in the funding landscape. Um, so in the UK, it's going to be a tricky year next year.

There's no doubt about it. Unfortunately, researchers are more dependent on research funding than ever. You know, some of the big research councils are closing schemes, and we don't know when they're going to open up again, um, from speaking to research managers at different universities. We also know that due to the cost of certain schemes, universities are increasingly not supporting those, uh, those schemes, which, which again is a real challenge.

I think particularly if you're in the arts and humanities, it feels at the moment that there are fewer and fewer sources of funding available, which, It's just really, really rough. Um, but there are some positive signs on the horizon as well, because obviously anyone who knows me will be unsurprised, uh, to hear me talk about narrative CVs again, for what feels like the millionth time this year.

Um, but we've seen a lot of, uh, we've seen a lot of, you know, Research councils and funders worldwide taking up the narrative CV, uh, so the Canadian research councils have just announced that they're moving to one. You know, we know that they're used widely across the UK, but also in Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland, Luxembourg, and I think this is only going to continue.

And I know the narrative CVs can be a little bit controversial at times, but I think they're a really positive step in the right direction. And I think There's also now a lot of research to show that narrative CVs actually are having the impacts that it was hoped they would. Um, so hopefully that is something Emma, you and I will discuss more in 2025 on a future episode.

So good things and bad things in the funding landscape, but definitely overall the picture is one of change. Great. Thank you very much. And

[00:11:14] Emma: Ged.

[00:11:15] Ged: Yeah, I think as, uh, as, as both Ruth and Taryn have said, um, you know, it's, it's tough times, uh, probably coming to us in, in 2025, especially, um, around the UK. So I think, um, a lot of the section work we're doing this, At the moment, it leads is starting to work out how we can essentially make ourselves look a great ally of the of the new government in the UK.

So, you know, just just at the beginning of December, we got more detail. Um, From the prime minister about what their missions really are and how they might be, um, assessed. And I think a lot of universities will be spending time thinking, how do we tie into that to kind of try and protect ourselves from some of that uncertainty, um, that, uh, that Ruth and Taryn mentioned.

So, you know, I'm, I'm predicting that we'll start to see what those activities are on a kind of, um, economic growth and regeneration space. So that's my thoughts for 2025.

[00:12:20] Emma: Thank you. And I'm going back to Heledd, please.

[00:12:24] Heledd: Thanks. So my main area of work focuses on postgraduate research and development and this year with the updates from the research development framework by VTI, there is a shift to align with the evolving research environment, which I believe now is due to be reviewed annually moving forward, which is fantastic.

So the updated framework, you know, shows, reflects changes, not only at a national level, but also internationally. It's aligning with global trends in research training, collaboration, and also career preparedness. And I'm really pleased to see that the framework has been refined to make it more accessible and user friendly.

Uh, it's a little far too complex before. Um, now one of the key areas that I'm particularly keen to build on over the next year is PGR mentoring initiatives. So here at Leeds, we already host a very successful university wide mentoring screen. And in 2024 myself and Maria from the leadership and professional practice team worked with postdocs and the Faculty of Biological Sciences to set up a group mentoring program for their PGRs.

Now that initiative was a success. a real highlight for me in it because I feel like it really strengthens peer support networks and it also enables the potential for cross disciplinary collaborations. It enhances the overall research culture for our PGRs and it's such a powerful tool for professional growth and it's something I really want to develop into our other faculties and to really kind of ensure that our researchers are supported to achieve their potential.

I'm also really keen on supporting this support. But the wellbeing and mental health of our researchers, which is another huge part of the, of the framework is something that I'm really keen to kind of bring into a core part of our, um, PGR programme, that quest, which we have, um, moving forward.

[00:14:13] Emma: Thank you very much.

And our, uh, keen listeners will notice that Heledd threw in another highlight in that section as well. So she got two for the price of one. Nick over to you.

[00:14:24] Nick: Right, well, predictions. I probably shy away a little bit from predictions, not least because, you know, who knows what's going to happen as we've already alluded to sort of the uncertainty in the sector.

So if it's not, um, too sort of contrived, my prediction is more collaboration. I think, uh, you know, that's the watchword of open research and, you know, Emily's already mentioned the open research hub. So that's a big part of what we've done this year and be using for advocacy around open research next year.

Along with that, we'll also be working with, um, the DORI's, the directors of research and innovation as open research champions. Um, and a big part of that work is to try and develop more discipline specific guidance around open research, obviously again in the context of collaboration, you know. So the other thing obviously that listeners and you all will be aware of is my interest in Wikimedia.

Um, which again is a hugely collaborative, uh, platform. And, uh, actually I'm throwing in another highlight now insofar as this year, um, we've managed to recruit what we're calling a Wikimedia and Open Knowledge Advisor, um, who will be starting just after Christmas. Already starting to plan a few events around Wikia.

In fact, straight after this, I'm talking to colleagues about, um, a potential edit a thon for LGBTQ history month in February. Also looking at an edit a thon for Africa week. So that's some. Exciting stuff coming forward. So yeah, that new colleague will be joining us in January and certainly have an episode with her to get her on the podcast, uh, Dr.

Lucy Hinnie. I will just mention her name. I know she won't mind. I know she's looking forward to joining us. Um, and also another episode that I'm hoping to do is with Kikachukwu, who's another new colleague of ours, another highlight, am I allowed to say that? Three highlights, um, who's, uh, uh, joined us this year as, uh, another Open Research Advisor supporting, um, the Open Research Champions and working with Emily and I on the Open Research Hub.

So, yeah, as I say, not really predictions other than more collaboration. I suppose the other thing we're obviously waiting for is, um, what REF has to say on Open Research. So we're all waiting on REF. I can't believe nobody's mentioned REF yet. So that's obviously hopefully coming in, um, 25 as well and we'll find out a bit more about what REF will be looking at.

In open research. So yeah, loads going on and hopefully we'll continue to collaborate on this podcast and with any colleagues that are listening. Brilliant.

[00:16:40] Emma: Thank you very much, Emily. He has not started a trend. You are not allowed four highlights in yours. So over to you.

[00:16:48] Emily: Oh, I had a few lined up as well.

Nevermind. Um, my predictions for 2025. Well, firstly, we've got a new Concordat for research integrity that's due out in 2025. The Concordat is the UK's national framework for good research practice. I think, and I believe that the Concordat is actually going to be extended in remit. It's. Mainly been focused on higher education research environments, but I believe the 2025 version will be expanding to other sectors.

So industry, public, private sector, and even third sector organizations that undertake research. And I think that's a really good thing because it's going to kind of Break down those barriers and really works in collab, more on collaboration, as Nick was saying, but having a really, a shared understanding of what good research practice looks like is, is a really good thing going forward.

And then I can't believe I know no one said this yet. Uh, AI, of course, artificial intelligence. I don't think we can ignore that. It's. Uh, potentially a disruptive technology, but it's also something that we're really trying to get to grips with. How do we use it ethically and how do we balance the benefits that we can get from AI and the need for researchers and others to be AI literate with the, uh, Environmental impacts and the ethical questions around artificial intelligence.

And we really need to make sure that we're using it fairly because not everyone's going to get access to it, using it transparently. And of course those environmental sustainability aspects to it. So I think we're going to see a lot more on the ethics of AI in 2025 and beyond probably.

[00:18:34] Emma: Thank you very much.

Maybe we should have asked AI to do its prediction for what it thinks 2025 is going to hold, although that could be quite terrifying. So at this point, I suppose I have to ask myself what I think my predictions for 2025 will be, unless one of my hosts wants to jump in and ask the question to me. So Emma, what are your predictions for 2025?

Thanks Ruth. Um, I suppose. It wouldn't be me if I didn't say REF, people, culture and environment, um, it is coming and I think it has the potential to bring both benefits and challenges for us as an institution and as a sector. I'm really looking forward to seeing what is included in some of the metrics and how, as an institution, we are already moving towards that and perhaps giving us some ideas for where we might need to do more work.

But I think ultimately, I really hope that. This change to the REF process will be done with an ethos of shared learning and not as a competition where we're all pitted against each other. I may be overly hopeful. Go on Ruth.

[00:19:49] Ruth: Emma, can you explain what REF stands for? For us in the UK, we all know what it means, but we're, I'm aware we have listeners all over the world and I think, what are they talking about?

What is REF?

[00:20:00] Emma: Well, short answer, I can put a link to REF in the show notes. So the research excellence framework is an exercise that institutions undertake every seven years. Um, although the timings have become slightly changed and how well you do in the REF exercise, which is split into different categories, actually has an impact on how much funding And that's why it's really difficult to separate this out from a competitive process.

Anything that is going to be linked to funding is by definition going to become a competition between institutions, but the PCE, the people, culture and environment part, we really hope will open up the doors to that shared learning, thinking about what institutions are doing and how we can learn from that rather than Making it competitive and trying to repeat what has or hasn't worked in other institutions.

But if we want a proper definition of REF and what it means, we have to go to our research impact guru. So over to you, Ged.

[00:21:03] Ged: So I think, you know, the interesting thing is, uh, probably a couple of years ago, we, the whole sector across the world was probably moving in a direction of more research assessment.

And I think that was one of the, from last year, one of the big changes, because in New Zealand, there was guidance about what their research assessment process would be. And then that was pulled. Um, and, and that was after Australia had paused there. Um, regular assessment process and we still don't know what that's going to be replaced by.

So, you know, it's interesting. It just feels like, you know, we were moving towards more assessment and now maybe we're moving further away from assessment and actually trying to, trying to be more about changing the activities. So there's also, you know, the things that Taryn mentioned about changes in funding is actually.

about changing behaviours, isn't it? That's, that's one of the big levers. So I think, I think that's where we're moving to where the funding streams and what they're, what they're for. So for instance, just recently in New Zealand, they've dropped arts and humanities and social sciences out of their big funding streams.

Marsden Fund, which is one of their biggest, um, competitive funding sources for what were all disciplines, you know, that's, that's really interesting in terms of what the behaviours will be about universities being influenced by funding rather than assessment.

[00:22:34] Emma: Nick?

[00:22:35] Nick: Yeah, I just wanted to sort of comment on a, from a library perspective as well, from what Ged was saying.

So, Open access compliance has always been a huge part of the REF, almost certainly will be again. We don't yet know as we were saying earlier. Um, and that is obviously an important aspect for us in the library in terms of ensuring open access to research papers, but it's only a Small part of the full picture in terms of open research and where we're trying to move towards Transparency and openness throughout the entire research life cycle and also how that relates to research culture more broadly as well And again, we're expecting something along those lines in the environment strand of the ref But all of this is a little unknown but it's interesting how it all sort of ties together in terms of the different perspectives that we're all coming from in our respective roles around the university

[00:23:23] Emma: Anyone else wants to add anything on the ref discussion?

And finally, I also predict that my amazing team and colleagues will continue to deliver this podcast. They will continue to deliver work in their respective areas, and they will continue openly sharing everything we do across the sector. So with that, I would like to ask them all to unmute again. And on the count of three, we're going to do a collective goodbye.

One, two, three.

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