BU Research Blog

Guidance, Info Days sastringer

The UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS) is a group of 14 UK government departments and research funders working in international development.

A small coordinating team (the Secretariat) brings this group together with researchers and other key organisations to share knowledge and identify opportunities for collaboration. By stimulating collaboration, UKCDS ensures the best science is funded and used to benefit international development, as well as the UK.

The UKCDS has a wealth of resources available to researchers. The ‘Researcher Hub’ provides inspiration from world-leading scientists (including case studies) and the tools to use your skills and knowledge to help tackle the world’s greatest challenges.

The ‘Funding Hub’ allows you navigate the UK funding opportunities in global development research. This includes a list of current calls. The list contains some of the key large funding sources within the UK funded by either a single funder (DFID, Wellcome Trust) or a group of funders (Newton Fund, GCRF, Ross Fund). Each page provides an overview of the funding topic areas, countries they fund, eligibility for both UK and international researchers and key funding programmes.

All of the funding opportunities shown (apart from the Wellcome Trust) are part of the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7 % of the UK’s Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance (ODA). To be accepted as ODA, this funding must meet certain criteria. Please view the Newton Fund and Global Challenges research Fund (GCRF) ODA guidance for more information to help you decide if your work is applicable and questions to consider.

The Funding Hub also contains useful documents on how to find and build effective partnerships across countries, disciplines and sectors for global development research projects, and H2020 topics suitable for international cooperation.

You can subscribe to their mailing list here.

March 30, 2017

Research & Knowledge Development Framework – give us your feedback

It’s been over six months since Bournemouth University launched its new Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, which was designed to offer academics at all stages of their career opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and capabilities.

Since its launch, over 30 sessions have taken place, including sandpits designed to develop solutions to key research challenges, workshops with funders such as the British Academy and the Medical Research Council and skills sessions to help researchers engage with the media and policy makers.

The Research & Knowledge Exchange Office is currently planning activities and sessions for next year’s training programme and would like your feedback about what’s worked well, areas for improvement and suggestions for new training sessions.

Tell us what you think via our survey and be in with a chance of winning a £30 Amazon voucher. The deadline date is Friday 21 April.

Upcoming sessions:

	4 April	Public engagement: an overview
	13 April	Getting started on applying for research funding
	25 April	How to update your Staff Profile Page using BRIAN
	9 May	Writing Academy – Writing Day
	10 May	Using social media to share your research
	18 May	Targeting high quality journals
	18 May	Writing an academic paper
	18 May	Writing a good abstract
	18 May	Dealing with editors
	24 May	Research Data Management
	24 May	Introduction to the Royal Society
	24 May	My publication story so far… Prof. Tim Rees
	25 May	Writing Academy – Writing Day

March 29, 2017

Need tips on developing a publication strategy?

BRIAN, Guidance, open access, Publishing, writing sastringer

Then come along to one of the Writing Academy’s “My publication story so far…” lunchbyte sessions.

The first of 2017, is happening today at midday led by Prof. Matthew Bennett.

Matthew Bennett will be talking about his personal publishing experience, his approaches to research and writing, his tips on developing a publication strategy and working with co-authors, reviewers and editors. He will talk about all types of publishing from journal articles, to books via edited compilations. Drawing on personal experience publishing in Nature, he will also focus on how you target high impact journals.

Future sessions:

Prof. Tim Rees – Wednesday 24th May, 12-1.30pm

Prof. Sara Ashencaen Crabtree – Wednesday 28th June, 12-1.30pm

March 24, 2017

Prof. Tim Rees – My publication story so far…

Guidance, open access, Publishing, writing sastringer

On Wednesday 24th May, the Writing Academy will be hosting a Lunchbyte session with Tim Rees. During the session Tim will talk about his personal publishing experience, his approaches to research and writing, his tips on developing a publication strategy and working with co-authors, reviewers and editors. He will talk about all types of publishing drawing on personal experience.

Aims:

Developing a Publication Strategy
Dealing with Co-Editors, Reviewers & Editors
Targeting high impact Journals

March 24, 2017

Dedicated Time and Space to Write…

BRIAN, Guidance, Publishing, writing sastringer

As part of the Writing Academy, a series of writing days have been organised to help support BU authors work on their publications by providing some dedicated time and space, away from everyday distractions.

The days will have a collaborative focus on productive writing with other BU authors, the RKEO team will also be on hand to provide authors with help and guidance on all areas of the publication process.

Writing Days have been scheduled on the below dates:

Tuesday 9th May
Thursday 25th May
Friday 9th June
Monday 19th June
Tuesday 20th June
Wednesday 5th July
Thursday 27th July

Spaces are limited so please only book on if you are able to commit to attending for the whole day.

March 23, 2017

Prof. Matthew Bennett – My publication story so far…

BRIAN, Guidance, Publishing, writing sastringer

writing On Wednesday 29th March, the Writing Academy will be hosting a Lunchbyte session with Matthew Bennett. During the session Matthew will talk about his personal publishing experience, his approaches to research and writing, his tips on developing a publication strategy and working with co-authors, reviewers and editors. He will talk about all types of publishing from journal articles, to books via edited compilations. Drawing on personal experience, he will also focus on how you target high impact journals.

Aims:

Developing a Publication Strategy
Dealing with Co-Editors, Reviewers & Editors
Targeting high impact Journal

Click here to book on!

March 16, 2017

RCUK statement on Apprenticeship Levy

RCUK have issued the following statement this week:

Any Research Organisation submitting an feC Proposal to the Research Councils can now recover the costs of the new Apprentice levy.

The Research Councils in informal consultation with the sector, have agreed that the cost of the Levy can be recovered by adding the levy charge through direct staff costs, for both Directly Allocated and Directly Incurred Staff. This should be added to any UK based salary at 0.5%. This would not apply to any staff based at overseas Organisations.

The levy charge can be included on all future applications submitted from this date, no amendments to applications or grants submitted or funded will be allowable, though the charge can be recovered through grant virement within the cash limits of the grant. Further details on how this can be entered into Je-S is attached here .

We will be working with TRAC Development Group (TDG) in the coming year in order to include the levy for indirect staff as part of the indirect cost and how the income can accounted for.

The RKEO Funding Development Team will be adding the 0.5% cost (where DA and DI staff are included) to all research council applications with immediate effect.

March 10, 2017

Prof. Matthew Bennett – My publication story so far…

BRIAN, BU Challenges, Guidance, Publishing, writing sastringer

On Wednesday 29th March, the Writing Academy will be hosting a Lunchbyte session with Matthew Bennett. During the session Matthew will talk about his personal publishing experience, his approaches to research and writing, his tips on developing a publication strategy and working with co-authors, reviewers and editors. He will talk about all types of publishing from journal articles, to books via edited compilations. Drawing on personal experience, he will also focus on how you target high impact journals.

Aims:

Developing a Publication Strategy
Dealing with Co-Editors, Reviewers & Editors
Targeting high impact Journal

Click here to book on!

March 8, 2017

So what?

RKEO have hosted two funder visits in the past three weeks (Interreg and Medical Research Council). Both funders highlighted the ‘So what?’ principle in terms of research ideas, i.e. what is the consequence of your work; who can benefit from your work in the long-term and what can be done to increase the chances of the work reaching those beneficiaries. Even if your proposal doesn’t directly address economic or societal impact you should be able to explain the pathway that links your work to – using the example of MRC – improving human health.

In order to describe the impact of your work, keep asking yourself ‘so what?’ or even better, describe your research idea to a colleague (or to take a step further, a member of the public) and get them to ask ‘so what’ at each point when you think you’ve finished explaining. RKEO had another funder visit today, the British Academy, and they used the phrase ‘Try not to be Gollum’, i.e. don’t be precious about your research and invite comments from others, share it and make it interesting.

Being able to fully explain the impact of your research will obviously increase your chances of being successful when applying for external research funds.

There are a vast number of resources available on strengthening your research proposals and developing impact. Most funders will have guidance on impact, for example, section 2.2.5 of the MRC funder guide provides tips on articulating potential impact. They may also have impact reports; links to all of the research councils impact reports can be found in the BU research blog’s Research Funder Guide. BU has an online toolkit to help support the development of your research impact. The toolkit explores what impact is, how you can go about creating an impact strategy, and looks at some commonly used pathways to impact, as well as examples of outstanding impact case studies.

For more information about impact, please contact the RKEO Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team or if you’re putting an application together and want advice on the impact sections, please contact the RKEO Funding Development Team.

March 8, 2017

BU Guide to Full Economic Costing

Last year, RKEO revised and re-published the BU guide to full Economic Costing, know as fEC (which some people choose to pronounce in a ‘Father Jack’ style). The full guide can be found on the BU intranet.

If you are applying for external funding for your research and knowledge exchange activities then you need to read the guide and understand what makes up the costs of a project. The guide fully explains what fEC is, how it’s calculated, the difference between cost and price, estimating staff time, and explanation of the terminology, i.e. what is directly incurred, directly allocated, estates, indirect costs, and exceptional items.

For more information and assistance with costing your external research or knowledge exchange application, please contact your RKEO Funding Development Officer.

February 28, 2017

External Bid Writing Support

Guidance emilner

RKEO are please to announce that as part of the Research Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, bid writing support is now available from external experts.

How can BU academics access this support?

Academics who wish to access external support need to consult with their faculty Deputy Dean of Research and Professional Practice (DDRPP). As a first step, please log into myBU and open the “External bid Writers” folder under the “Pathways” section of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework.

Please read the “Appointing an External Expert- Procedure” documents and complete the “External Support Checklist” along with an “Intention to Bid” form and send this to the relevant DDRPP. If the request is approved, the DDRPP will send the approved paperwork to RKEO who will then contact the external consultant. All contracts and legal/financial arrangements will be dealt with by RKEO.

For any questions on this process please contact Dianne Goodman (dgoodman@bournemouth.ac.uk).

February 27, 2017

EPSRC publishes Balancing Capability results

EPSRC_logo The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), after extensive engagement and dialogue with the research community, have published refreshed research area rationales as part of its Balancing Capability strategy.

The Council has reviewed all the research areas that form the building blocks of its portfolio and confirmed the suggested future strategies for these areas over the next five years.

See the full article, including comments from Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC‘s Chief Executive.

Each piece of evidence was considered in relation to the whole portfolio in order to make well informed decisions. Each research area is accompanied by a ‘rationale’ which states the reasons for the strategic direction for each research area.

The research area strategies have been developed to align with EPSRC‘s Delivery Plan and will help achieve a ratio, committed to by EPSRC‘s Council, of 60 per cent community-led and 40 per cent strategic intervention by 2021. This balance will be achieved by encouraging the research community to continue to work together, across disciplines, and to develop challenges and proposals that are less directed by topic-specific, time bound calls.

To help with planning a list of calls for 2017/18 (PDF) is available with further details to be added as plans become firmer through the main calls page of our website and through the calls alert. These have also been added to BU’s research blog ‘research toolkit, Research Funders Guide’.

EPSRC is confident that its strategies will result in the UK remaining one of the best places in the world to research, discover and innovate.

February 22, 2017

RKEO Academic and Researcher Induction – Last chance to register

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) invite all ‘new to BU’ academics and researchers to an induction.

This event provides an overview of all the practical information staff need to begin developing their research plans at BU, using both internal and external networks; to develop and disseminate research outcomes; and maximising the available funding opportunities.

Objectives

The primary aim of this event is to raise participants’ awareness of how to get started in research at BU or, for more established staff, how to take their research to the next level
To provide participants with essential, practical information and orientation in key stages and processes of research and knowledge exchange at BU

Indicative content

An overview of research at BU and how R&KEO can help/support academic staff
The importance of horizon-scanning, signposting relevant internal and external funding opportunities and clarifying the applications process
How to grow a R&KE portfolio, including academic development schemes
How to develop internal and external research networks
Key points on research ethics and developing research outputs
Getting started with Knowledge Exchange and business engagement

For more information about the event, please see the following link: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/research-lifecycle/developing-your-proposal/

The sixth induction will be held on Tuesday, 7th March 2017 on the 4th floor of Melbury House.

Title	Date	Time	Location
Research & Knowledge Exchange Office (R&KEO) Research Induction	Tuesday 7th March 2017	9.00 – 12.00	Lansdowne Campus

9.00-9.15 – Coffee/tea and cake/fruit will be available on arrival

9.15 – RKEO academic induction (with a break at 10.45)

11.25 – Organisational Development upcoming development opportunities

11.30 – Opportunity for one to one interaction with RKEO staff

12.00 – Close

There will also be literature and information packs available.

If you would like to attend the induction then please book your place through Organisational Development and you can also visit their pages here. We will directly contact those who have started at BU in the last five months.

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you.

Regards,

The RKEO team

February 15, 2017

RKEO Academic and Researcher Induction

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) invite all ‘new to BU’ academics and researchers to an induction.

This event provides an overview of all the practical information staff need to begin developing their research plans at BU, using both internal and external networks; to develop and disseminate research outcomes; and maximising the available funding opportunities.

Objectives

The primary aim of this event is to raise participants’ awareness of how to get started in research at BU or, for more established staff, how to take their research to the next level
To provide participants with essential, practical information and orientation in key stages and processes of research and knowledge exchange at BU

Indicative content

An overview of research at BU and how R&KEO can help/support academic staff
The importance of horizon-scanning, signposting relevant internal and external funding opportunities and clarifying the applications process
How to grow a R&KE portfolio, including academic development schemes
How to develop internal and external research networks
Key points on research ethics and developing research outputs
Getting started with Knowledge Exchange and business engagement

For more information about the event, please see the following link: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/research-lifecycle/developing-your-proposal/

The sixth induction will be held on Tuesday, 7th March 2017 on the 4th floor of Melbury House.

Title	Date	Time	Location
Research & Knowledge Exchange Office (R&KEO) Research Induction	Tuesday 7th March 2017	9.00 – 12.00	Lansdowne Campus

9.00-9.15 – Coffee/tea and cake/fruit will be available on arrival

9.15 – RKEO academic induction (with a break at 10.45)

11.25 – Organisational Development upcoming development opportunities

11.30 – Opportunity for one to one interaction with RKEO staff

12.00 – Close

There will also be literature and information packs available.

If you would like to attend the induction then please book your place through Organisational Development and you can also visit their pages here. We will directly contact those who have started at BU in the last five months.

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you.

Regards,

The RKEO team

February 6, 2017

Wellcome Trust changes to fellowship schemes

Find our more about Wellcome funding

Time restrictions based on the number of years since a researcher was awarded their PhD have been removed from Wellcome fellowship schemes.

They’re making this change to increase flexibility for researchers and so widen the pool of people who can apply for Wellcome support as they build a career in independent research.

They want to support the best researchers through their fellowships and believe the emphasis should be on the independence, achievement and vision of those who apply.

The reality of research is that it doesn’t always follow an anticipated timescale, and the application of time constraints can close doors for those who may have moved disciplines, for example from maths or physics to biological science.

The change will not disadvantage researchers who are in the early years of their career – applicants will be judged on achievements according to their experience.

February 1, 2017

RKEO Academic and Researcher Induction