Taking responsibility for research culture is good for all of us working in the research system and for the research that we produce. The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute’s focus on research culture reflects our view that fostering positive research culture is everyone’s responsibility. We’re now listening to ideas about how research culture can be supported in alignment with other initiatives across the University and invite colleagues to be part of this work to find new ways to foster positive research culture.
There are excellent publications and videos about what research culture is and why it matters. For instance, the Royal Society’s sector-shaping work on research culture is exciting, clear, relevant to all disciplines and well worth a look. Here in Bristol, it was brilliant to see Professor Marcus Munafò starting as the University’s Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Culture in 2022, prioritising culture in all of the University’s research (you can read his blog and find out about events in this space on the University of Bristol Research Culture Blog pages). And, working with colleagues across the UK, the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute is leading work to consider ways to democratise early stages of research design in work led by Professor Ian Penton-Voak.
Positive research culture underpins collaborative, engaged and high integrity research, but there is no single or uniform ‘research culture’. Instead, cultures are numerous, vary and overlap. The existence of numerous research cultures means that it can seem hard to define the core features or principles of a positive research culture. Nonetheless, there seems to be emerging consensus that a key attribute of positive research culture is focus on enabling everyone working in the research system to thrive and reach their potential. This recognises diversity of experience and background as well as the value of a range of contributions without which the research system could not function.
When I think about positive research culture I often hone in on the notion of ‘dignity’. I think that positive research culture should afford dignity for those working in it and for people who so kindly take part as research participants. This dignity means that we can all hold our heads high with a sense that the research we do is valuable, contributes to human knowledge and has achieved this in a way that has respected everyone and every part of the process.
If I go back to my disciplinary roots as an anthropologist and comb through my memories of anthropology, I start to consider the ways in which cultures can be visible and knowable. This reminds me to consider cultures as ever changing: whether though evolution, revolution or some mix of the two. The fact that it is normal that cultures change gives us opportunities to continue to make cultures even more dignified. Also, there may be ways in which culture, and culture change, can be enacted and developed.
In health and biomedical research we have material culture that we use and create including our technologies, materials, offices, and labs; our work has rhythms and routine; we work in collaboration and teams; our research is influenced by and can effect change in the hierarchies and structures; and the research we do is impacted by powerful ‘incentive’ systems that are themselves changing, including in how research contributions can be recognised in narrative CV formats and how referring to impact factor as a measure of journal and therefore an individual’s research is no longer the prevailing norm in many fields thanks to the work of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (‘DORA’), which will be ten years old this year.
Between now and May 2023 the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute will be working across the University to shape a new programme of work focused on research culture. We’ll then submit the programme for consideration by Wellcome. Many other Universities will be submitting their ideas to Wellcome too, and so we can’t be certain that ours will be funded. We can only shape the programme ideas with input from everyone involved in health and biomedical research, from all disciplines and professions. We know everyone’s busy, but if you have time, we’d love to hear how you think that that the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute can continue to support positive research culture in health-related research. What things do you think could help to foster positive research culture at the University of Bristol? What can the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute do to help? Let us know, we’re listening!