“Research culture is everyone’s responsibility, but it must be strategically supported and collectively owned.”
Read Fi Wood's reflections on
University of Warwick's International Research Culture Conference 2025: tinyurl.com/ircc2025
(Photo by the Warwick team)
#IRCC25
Hidden labour was a strong theme at #IRCC25. At the conference Alys Kay ran a workshop showcasing System Shuffle (cocreated with Rika Nair, Andrew Moss, Ellen Cole and Nicola Simcock) which is all about the wide range of roles that contribute to research. Listen to the full episode buff.ly/tBStCUO
Join me for a wander around the International Research Culture Conference #IRCC25. The latest podcast episode is a report from the conference - topics include hidden labour in research teams, and professional development (or the lack of) for research adjacent roles. buff.ly/tBStCUO
Sometimes conferences can seem like a lot of hassle - the travel and time out from all the other stuff we have going on. But as Chandrika Nair shared in the latest podcast from #IRCC25, we can only solve big-sector wide challenges if we collaborate.
NEW EPISODE: Reflections from last weeks International Research Culture Conference #IRCC25 at University of Warwick organised by the National Centre for Research Culture featuring guests Chandrika Nair, Alys Kay, and Dolly Coates. Find it in your podcast app or here buff.ly/tBStCUO
🥔"The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg" was just one of many profoundly useful takeaways from the International Research Culture Conference last week, I'm so grateful to have been able to take part! #IRCC25
Heading home to Cardiff, feeling tired, but inspired by all the great work on research culture being presented and discussed at #IRCC25 Much food for thought.
Because building better research culture isn’t a side project - it’s the foundation of a healthier, fairer, more sustainable research future. 💡✨
#ResearchCulture #IRCC25
A huge thank you to #IRCC25, everyone who organised, supported & worked behind the scenes, and to all the brilliant speakers & poster presenters who made it such a rich, inspiring conference. 🙌
Grateful to be part of this community - and looking forward to seeing you all again next year! 🌟
Hey! 😭
#IRCC25
And we're wrapped - thanks to the whole research culture team behind the scenes and front of house for another brilliant conference!
#ircc25
Had a really powerful chat with Ellis Ryan (Warwick) - the projects coming out of this programme are super impressive, thoughtful, inspiring & full of impact. 👏
warwick.ac.uk/study/outrea...
#IRCC25 #ResearchCulture #Inclusion #SocialMobility
There was a typo on the number of article words on the slide mind you - 4000-8000 words for peer reviewed., or 1500-4000 for critical reflection pieces.
#editorialeye #ircc25
Oooooh Exchanges and me getting a mention.
Huzzah!
Hope the special issue for '26 is a great one (watch your in boxes for the CFP delegates!)
#ircc25
Onto to the wrap up now for the day - and it's awards for the 'People's choice award for RC posters today'
But strictly speaking they're all winners - some great posters and work going on.
#ircc25
One top tip for research culture actualisation?
'Get out there and talk to people, find out what the issues are and find the focus(es) need to be'
#ircc25
Practical, thoughtful & such an achievement! 👏
Check it out 👉 www.nottingham.ac.uk/science/equa...
#IRCC25 #EDI #ResearchCulture #Funding
'What's been challenging?'
-LOUD sectoral opposition
-Process, burdens, obstacles
-Funding uncertainty (feast/famine)
-Sheer scope of RC
Great talk to end on, thank you Cat!
#ircc25
The wonderful @soofougere.bsky.social presenting some findings from our research funding call + how to better build an equitable research culture. Well done Soo! #IRCC25
'What does "worked" mean for research culture?'
Meaningful 'metrics and measure' that people genuinely value, not simply league tables.
Pockets of excellence or raising everyone to an equitable level?!
#ircc25
'People love winning "awards" as well, so they can be a handy way to promote and gain buy in'
Paraphrasing Cat there a little, but again like the idea - people love being recognised for their efforts, and it does so engender positive vibes and perceptions too!
#ircc25
'If you want people to be interested in a thing, don't run a survey or a call for engagement, run a competition'
Love it - and will bear that in mind in my new post!
#ircc25
Thanks to Mireia Bes, Giovanni Biglino, Bec Gee, Dave Jarman, Vivienne Kuh & Valentina Vezzani (apologies for missing the names of our lovely facilitators in the session - I hope your names are above!) 😊
#ResearchCulture #Imagination #Creativity #IRCC25
Incidentally the 'research carousel' was a great idea - a series of intimate discussions and debates, framed by a key object from each speaker.
Honestly, I'd have loved a whole day of these sessions!
#ircc25
Prof Cat Davies (Leeds) now giving us an invigourating plenary on 'Improving Research Culture: What Works'
Ooooh, interesting!
Sneaky desire to know what doesn't work too...
#ircc25
Well it's been a glorious afternoon of chatter and discussion about research culture & publishing. Thanks everyone who came to chat with me on and around the Exchanges stand.
Now into the plenary session and great to see so many people here still. Really buzzing event as ever #ircc25
💪 Collective Action Against Employment Precarity 💪
Just had an amazing session with Mx Ash Collins (Nottingham) - feeling inspired, empowered, and buzzing with solidarity! ✨✊
Keep your eyes peeled for the working group… big things coming.
#ResearchCulture #EndPrecariousEmployment #IRCC25
Very lovely lunch followed by many fascinating conversations about Exchanges and publishing. So many in fact that I'm still talking to people 30 minutes into the afternoon's sessions.
Whoops!
Ah well, all good! 😀👍
#ircc25
It's not just the topic of Emily’s late-night ramblings, other institutions (here UCL and Koç University, Türkiye) also see a culture of care as inherent to positive research cultures! #IRCC25
