What is Research Culture?

Research culture describes the values, behaviours, and systems that shape how research is conducted, supported, and communicated.
A healthy research culture promotes openness, fairness, inclusion, and integrity.

🔗  What is Research culture? YouTube video

How research is managed and undertaken

Focuses on responsible research practices, governance, and sustainability. It includes transparent methods, research integrity, and effective leadership.

   🔗 UKRI Concordat for Researcher Development

   🔗 Royal Society: Research Culture

   🔗 R&D People & Culture Strategy

How people are supported

 Explores working conditions, development opportunities, and recognition. It highlights inclusive environments and reward systems.

🔗Research Culture Institutional Action Plan

🔗Professional Services Recognition Scheme

🔗Russell Group: Realising Our Potential

How individuals engage with others

Emphasises collaboration, inclusive leadership, and empowering junior researchers. Good research culture values kindness, mutual respect, and honest communication.

🔗 10 Simple Rules for a Supportive Lab (Pike et al.)

🔗 Essay: Being Kind (Bernhardt)

🔗 Essay: Four Things About Research Culture (Gadd)

How research ensures value

Focuses on recognising contributions, ensuring research openness and impact. Encourages diverse outputs and transparent assessment.

🔗 DORA: Declaration on Research Assessment

🔗 REF Guidance on Research Culture

🔗 Blog: My Research Culture is Better Than Yours

Blog posts:

🔗 First Research Culture Wednesday Lunchtime Seminar: Collaboration Across Scales

 

Research culture Wednesday lunchtime seminars

Duncan Astle: The challenge of scale: what is it like to be in a big research team?

 

What’s next

We, the Research Culture Working Group at the CBU, are regularly involved in events and seminars, such as at WLTS .

📅 Our upcoming event: WLTS seminar ,Wednesday 21st January.

Collaboration Across Cultures – speakers: 

1. Kasia Lanucha (University of Cambridge and Kasia Lanucha Consulting)
2. Professor Caroline Trotter (Department of Veterinary Medicine and Director of Cambridge-Africa). 

📚 For more updated resources, check our list.

📬 For more information and other inquiries, feel free to contact: saskia.frisby@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk 
or estherina.trachtenberg@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.