Responsible research & innovation training: working in partnership with EPSRC

Catalyst Editorial Director, Dr Jane Alfred, worked with UKRIO and with EPSRC responsible research and innovation leads, Dr Claire Cox and Dr Michelle Lascelles, to co-develop and co-produce a programme of training on responsible research and innovation (RRI) for EPSRC portfolio managers. EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK, with a diverse portfolio that ranges from digital technologies to clean energy, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry.

We began our collaboration by exploring and understanding staff’s training needs and by engaging with EPSRC thematic leads on how they encounter RRI and what it means for the scientific communities and research fields they interact with. This initial work informed and shaped the training programme, enabling us to devise course content that was tailored to meet the requirements and expectations of EPSRC leaders, and to meet the training needs of EPSRC staff. Through our training programme, trainees learned about the history of RRI and EPSRC’s early engagement with RRI, they engaged with EPSRC’s AREA framework, to explore how it can be used by researchers to integrate RRI into their project designs and proposals, teams, processes and outputs.  Trainees explored how they encounter RRI in their roles, the challenges and opportunities it raises, and how to support their respective research communities to meet the RRI-related requirements and expectations of EPSRC. Using two co-produced, bespoke case studies, we also enabled trainees to apply their understanding and knowledge about RRI to real-world scenarios.

‘We really valued the positive and effective working relationship built with Catalyst Editorial and UKRIO over the course of developing and delivering this bespoke training programme. Throughout the process there was a strong emphasis on co-development and engagement, including a real desire to listen and understand the specific audience and context, as well as a willingness to refine and respond to feedback.  This, alongside Jane's professional, interactive and helpful training delivery style, ensured the programme was highly engaging, relevant, and useful for staff in their roles.’

Dr Claire Cox & Dr Michelle Lascelles

Responsible research & innovation aims to:

• Maximise the positive economic and social benefits of innovative research while foreseeing, mitigating and avoiding risks;

• Make research more open, transparent & inclusive;

• Engage societal stakeholders in the research process and enable them to influence the direction of research to benefit society;

• Ensure publicly funded research creates value for money and value for society in ethical, and socially and environmentally responsible ways.

To find out more about RRI and our reflections on RRI training, please read our accompanying blog.