Our research culture

At the University of Bristol, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive research culture where every voice matters. From researchers and technicians to research professionals and PGR students, we value the contributions of all those who drive innovation and discovery.

Our Research Culture Strategy and Vision

Research Culture Vision 2030

In our Research Culture Vision, we set out our aspirational, medium-term vision for research culture at the University of Bristol – the end state we hope to reach by 2030.

Research Culture Implementation Plan 2024-25

To move us towards realising our vision, the Research Culture Committee have published an annual implementation plan that will include specific areas of focus for that year, and how success will be measured against pre-defined criteria.

This annual plan will be overseen by Research Culture Committee, which will review progress against these objectives at the end of the year, and approve the plan for the next year. This will allow us to constantly refine our approach, and update our objective and indicators of success, as we as an institution progress and the sector evolves.

Research Culture Committee

In 2021, the University of Bristol created the role of Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research Culture in recognition of the importance of fostering and sustaining a positive environment for research, and supporting those engaged in the research process.

In 2022, the Research Culture Committee was established as the main body that now leads on research culture activity across the University. Made up of academic researchers, research professionals, technicians and others, the committee aims to ensure a positive research culture supported by a cycle of continuous improvement. It is responsible for creating a vision, strategy and annual action plan for improving
research culture.

There are various groups that feed into the Research Culture Committee, which itself feeds into the University Research Committee. This structure gives staff and post-graduate students the power to escalate their thoughts and concerns related to the research environment which can lead to institution-wide changes.

Research Culture Funding

We have received continued funding from Research England to support activity to improve research culture.

We received funds in 21-22, 22-23, 23-24 and will receive further funds in 24-25 academic year.

A number of diverse projects have been carried out thanks to this funding; you can find more information about our work across this page, including a list of the work we have funded to date.

Annual Festival of Research Culture

Each year we host our Festival of Research Culture to bring colleagues from across the University together for a day of talks, interactive sessions and networking.

We share our progress towards building and maintaining a positive research culture, give colleagues information on how they can contribute and invite attendees to view and contribute towards our ever-evolving vision and strategic plan.

• Vision for research and enterprise

  Our vision is to be an international powerhouse of learning, discovery and enterprise, whose excellence is acknowledged locally, nationally and globally.
• Supporting researchers

  Professional support, career development, involvement and information - just some of the reasons why Bristol has been singled out as the UK's best employer of researchers.
• Engaging with the public

  Engaging with the public about our work ensures it has impact and relevance beyond the University's walls and is informed by society's values and opinions.
• Research governance, integrity and ethics

  We have put a set of regulations, principles and standards of good practice in place to ensure our research is safe, ethical and methodologically sound.
• Responsible research assessment

  We have developed a position statement outlining our institutional approach to research evaluation and assessment, including the responsible use of quantitative metrics.
• Facilities and equipment

  Our facilities can help your business carry out testing, analysis, simulation and trials - either in partnership or with our expert technical support.
• Research Excellence Framework

  The results of REF 2021 highlight the outstanding quality and impact of Bristol’s research across all subjects and disciplines.
• Strategic alliances

  We are committed to building a global reputation in higher education and research. We will continue to improve our strong record of regional, national and international partnerships across our teaching and research base.
• Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation (DREI)

  DREI's multi-disciplinary teams of professionals provide advice, guidance and support to academic, student and entrepreneur communities, to help grow the University's research and impact.
• Research Development International

  We encourage idea exchange and diverse research relationships by supporting academics to develop international collaborations at different scales. We can also help academics to increase the impact of research through guidance on a range of international research funding opportunities.