📢Open Lunch is back🍕🌮🍰 Open to collaboration: supporting #OpenResearch at the University of Leeds leeds.libcal.com/calendar/ope... All welcome, though this event will mostly be relevant to staff and students at the University of Leeds.

‘student politics’ is what they say when they know they’re beaten on grounds of morality

More politicians accusing @zackpolanski.bsky.social with playing student politics. First it’s such a lame argument that shows they’ve nothing better to say. Second it patronises young people’s views. Third students know much better how to protect their futures than the people who ruined it for them.

📢 We are Leeds Institute for Societal Futures – connect with us at our launch event. 🗓️29/9/25 ⏲️ 3-5pm 🚩@universityofleeds.bsky.social 🔗http://bit.ly/3Ie3ka1 - please register Society needs to change - let's change it together. societal.leeds.ac.uk #Leeds #InstituteForSocietalFutures #LISF

I had a great time at the International Research Culture Conference at Warwick yesterday seeing the great work happening across the sector. But there were two things I did for the first time that I wanted to chat about in the context of research culture: I skipped a session and I took a nap.

It will be of no surprise that I have some FEELINGS about the REF "pause". Important to remember: 1. positive research cultures *enable* research excellence and impact; 2. the idea of "excellence" often takes a traditional view on knowledge production/exchange, which can be inherently exclusionary.

Both show how research culture thrives when tech, creativity & community come together. 💡✨ #THEAwards #ResearchCulture www.techniciancommitment.org.uk/outstanding-...

🚀 Leeds has been shortlisted for TWO @timeshighered.bsky.social Awards! 🌐 HELIX – our £3.2m digital innovation hub – is up for Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year. 🔬 Helena Brown, a brilliant technician driving equality & outreach, is up for Outstanding Technician of the Year.

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

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

Something smells funny… 👃 Not Tom’s post-conference feet, but the brilliant Dept of Imagination reminding us to disrupt the normal! 💡✨ Fab session on collaborating with artists to seed imagination for more creative, resilient & sustainable research cultures.

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

Practical, thoughtful & such an achievement! 👏 Check it out 👉 www.nottingham.ac.uk/science/equa... #IRCC25 #EDI #ResearchCulture #Funding

✨ EDI in Funding Applications: Researcher-Focused Toolkit ✨ Funding apps stressing you out? 😅 Big shout-out to Tave Burnett & Rachel Van Krimpen (Nottingham) for creating this amazing resource to help embed equity, diversity & inclusion into bids.

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

🌍Co-Creating Inclusive Research Spaces🌍 The Social Mobility Student Research Hub opens doors for under-represented students - including care-experienced, estranged & asylum-seeking - with funded projects, research training & PGR mentors to explore widening participation, social mobility & inclusion

Soo! Soo! Soo!

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! 🌟

🎲 System Shuffle: The Research Recognition Pathway 🎲 Really enjoyed this session with Alys Kay (Liverpool) & Dr Rika Nair (Warwick)! An interactive game exploring how research culture is shaped by roles, systems & choices. Who gets included? Who advances? How do external factors change the game?

Co-created by Liverpool, Durham, Warwick, Northumbria & Newcastle. (Available at all good toy stores 😉) #ircc25 #ResearchCulture #TeamScience

Fascinating talk from Sarah Campbell at Bristol about their Working Well Together resource: workingwelltogether.co.uk The self-serve resource supports groups and teams working to enable research to create and celebrate positive research practices and environments at local levels #IRCC25

The Leeds research culture crew spotted at #IRCC25 👀 we’re friendly, we just look like we’re buffering sometimes… come say hi and rescue us from standing in a weird circle 🙃 #ResearchCulture @emilyennis.bsky.social @tomflint.bsky.social @soofougere.bsky.social

Health inequality. Migration. Mobility. Belonging. A new institute is coming soon to Leeds to tackle society’s biggest questions. Stay tuned. #Leeds #InstituteForSocietalFutures #UniversityOfLeeds #LISF #HealthInequality #Migration #Mobility #Belonging

Society needs to change, let's change it together #Leeds #InstituteForSocietalFutures #UniversityOfLeeds #LISF #HealthInequality #Migration #Mobility #Belonging @universityofleeds.bsky.social

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day - a reminder that small conversations can save lives. Let's keep building spaces where it's we discuss mental health, and feel okay asking for help 💛 📌 Staff support at Leeds: hr.leeds.ac.uk/info/6/suppo...

🔗With news of the REF 'pause' we want to remind you that we're here to support + strengthen research cultures. This matters because: 1. Positive research cultures enable research excellence and impact. 2. “Excellence” is too often defined in narrow, traditional terms, and can be deeply exclusionary.

🎊 Confetti’s gone, but the buzz from Research Culture Community of Practice Event is still electric⚡ Talks, big ideas, brilliant projects… and yes, one emotional breakdance finale 🤸🪩✨ Recap here 👉 researchculture.leeds.ac.uk/research-cul... Same time next year? We're gonna need a bigger tent! 🎪❤️

Our fab colleagues in the Research & Innovation service have launched a new home for Leeds research stories 📚 researchatleeds.leeds.ac.uk Follow for more: 🔹 LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/showcase/res... 🔹 Bluesky – @researchleeds.bsky.social #ResearchCulture #ResearchAtLeeds #LeedsUni #OpenResearch

Such a thought-provoking piece! « Achieving perfection is the most efficient way to discover how little it offers. » | Turns out, as Jamison’s @newyorker.com interviewees show: mattering beats perfection. And I am so in on this idea. Focus on mattering.

Congrats to Hulk Hogan for making it 7 days without using the N-word.

Happy #YorkshireDay! Whether you’re a student, staff member, alum, or visitor, we hope Yorkshire has found a place in your heart, just as it has in ours❤️ Take a moment today to enjoy a Yorkshire brew and reflect on your favourite memories here!

❗Today is the last day to sign up for our Research Culture Community of Practice event on 14th July!!! The event is open to anyone working or studying at Leeds, or anyone who works closely with Leeds. Spaces are vanishing rapidly so don't miss out.

🎉 Final call! Today’s your last chance to register for the 2025 Research Culture Community of Practice event! 📅 Mon 14 July | 📍 Nexus, Leeds 📝 Register by the end of TODAY – 4 July! Expect keynotes, films, lightning talks, and workshops, focused on building a better, inclusive research culture.

🔊Registration is NOW OPEN for OpenFest 2025, the annual open research event led by Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam unis. 2nd-5th September - all welcome. This year's theme is Open Research & Equity, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - in all the meanings of those terms. More details and registration:⬇️

Last week to grab your tickets for the Research Culture CoP event! 🎟️ Big brains, good vibes, real talk about making research better. Don’t get stuck watching from the window 😬

This Pride Month, we’ve been spotlighting projects we’ve funded and initiatives we’ve taken to improve research culture for LGBTQ+ colleagues. From fieldwork guidance to postgraduate belonging programmes and equity-driven funding, we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken ...

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Equity is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s keep pushing for change - together. #PrideMonth #DiversityInResearch #InclusionInResearch #ResearchEquity #Intersectionality #TransRightsAreHumanRights #InclusiveAcademia

This Pride Month, we’re spotlighting the REDI Fund - an initiative that advances equity in research careers through an intersectional lens.

If you've not already followed the cool trans nature experts in this starter pack, you're really missing out. Also, it's Pride! Get some more trans voices on your timeline!

Excited to see our LGBTQ+ inclusive fieldwork resources being shared again 🏳️‍🌈 Full videos and written info at inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk

Zebracki, M., Hayward, R., Gill, F., Wimpenny, S., Watson, C. S., & Brown, H. (2025). PRIDE Fieldwork Guidelines: Pointers for Research that is Inclusive, Diverse and Equitable for LGBTQ+ fieldworkers. Environmental Humanities, Knowledge Commons. doi.org/10.17613/59d...

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Further reading: - inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/pride/ - environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news... - environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/news...

A stronger research culture means everyone is able to do their work without compromising who they are. #ResearchCulture #InclusiveResearch #PrideMonth #SaferFieldwork #LGBTQInAcademia

Fieldwork can carry risks not equally shared. This project is about ensuring LGBTQ+ researchers—whether exploring urban environments or remote regions—have tools to navigate fieldwork safely, and with dignity. It also invites allies to engage with inclusion in practical ways.

The PRIDE Guidelines project, led by Martin Zebracki @zebracki.bsky.social in collaboration with Robin Hayward @canopyrobin.com , Fiona Gill, Sam Wimpenny, C. Scott Watson and Helena Brown, is developing inclusive fieldwork guidance for LGBTQ+ researchers.

This Pride Month, we’re spotlighting projects we’ve funded to strengthen the research culture and working environment for LGBTQ+ colleagues.

Led by a team from the School of Geography, this initiative creates opportunities for LGBTQ+ PGRs to engage across faculties, reflect on shared experiences, and build community.