Research Culture Uncovered

Research Culturosity, University of Leeds
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At the University of Leeds, we believe that all members of our research community play a crucial role in developing and promoting a positive and inclusive research culture. Across the globe, the urgent need for a better Research Culture in Higher Education is widely accepted – but how do you make it happen? This weekly podcast focuses on our ideas, approaches and learning as we contribute to the University's attempt to create a Research Culture in which everyone can thrive. Whether you undertake, lead, fund or benefit from research - these are the conversations to listen to if you want to explore what a positive Research Culture is and why it matters. Unless specified in the episode shownotes, Research Culture Uncovered © 2023 by Research Culturosity, University of Leeds is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This license requires that reusers give credit to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. Some episodes may be licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0, please check before use.

  1. 6d ago

    (Episode 161) Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Research Culture in the UAE and Beyond

    The #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast team is excited to share our latest episode featuring a fascinating conversation with Professor Adel Ahmed. Adel worked in the UK higher education for over 20 years before moving to the United Arab Emirates in 2015. Join host, Ged Hall, as he reconnects with his former colleague to explore research culture in the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 🔹 Discover how higher education in the UAE is strategically designed rather than historically inherited — built around national development priorities, societal impact, and economic diversification, not just rankings and publications. 🔹 Learn about the UAE's ecosystem of federal, semi-government, private, and international branch campus universities, and how this model is spreading across the MENA region. 🔹 Hear how outcome-based evaluation frameworks are reshaping what research success looks like — moving beyond citation counts to measure real-world impact, industry collaboration, and student participation in research. 🔹 Explore what it's really like to move from the UK to the UAE as an academic, and why breaking down silos, embracing interdisciplinary working, and thinking globally while acting locally are at the heart of research culture in the region. Listeners can connect with Adel on LinkedIn Items mentioned in the episode: Overview of the UAE Higher Education Sector: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) https://www.mohesr.gov.ae/En/pages/home.aspxUAE’s quality assurance agency: Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) https://www.caa.aeInformation Related to the Outcome-Based Evaluation Framework (OBEF) –https://www.caa.ae/Pages/Guidelines/Outcomes-based-Evaluation-framework-University-Guide.aspxOBEF University Guide (PDF) full details https://www.caa.ae/PORTALGUIDELINES/OBEF%20University%20Guide%20(Version%2011.5)%20(English).pdfUAE Licensure and Accreditation Framework https://www.caa.ae/Pages/Guidelines/Licensure-and-Accreditation.aspx All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn) and Alix Brodie-Wray (follow Alix on LinkedIn)Research Impact Heroes with Ged HallOpen Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research talent managementMeet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research co-productionResearch evaluation

    45 min

  2. May 27

    (Episode 160) Meta-Research Uncovered: The Role of Research Enablers

    What does it mean to do research on research — and what role do professional staff play in it? In this episode, Alix Brodie-Wray is joined by Dr. Chris Daley (LSE) and Dr. Amy Milligan (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford) to explore the world of meta-research and why research managers, administrators, and enablers have a vital part to play. We cover: 🔬 What meta-research actually is (and why it matters) 💡 How professional staff bring unique, ground-level expertise to the field 📊 The growing investment in meta-science — including the UK Meta-Science Unit's funding tripling to £49 million 🎓 Whether you need a PhD to get involved (spoiler: you don't) ⚖️ The very real time pressures and how to navigate them 🌍 What the future holds for research enablers in this space If you work in research support, management, or administration and have ever wondered whether your skills could contribute to something bigger — this one's for you. 🎧 Listen now: [link] Contributors Alix Brodie-Wray (follow on LinkedIn) Dr Amy Milligan (follow on LinkedIn) Dr Chris Daley (follow on LinkedIn) Links and Resources: Research on Research Institute video on ‘what is metascience?’ Past, Present and Future of UK Metascience. Short history of metascience in the UK context Association of Research Managers and Administrators: Meta-Research Special Interest Group: Meta Research – ARMA Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here) @openresleeds.bsky.social @researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) 📩 If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode: researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    37 min

  3. May 13

    (Episode 159) Careers and Skills for Data-driven Research (CaSDaR): a comedy podcast with Dr Louise Saul

    In this episode Nick talks to Dr Louise Saul, Network+ coordinator for CaSDaR (Careers and Skills for Data Driven Research), a UKRI-funded initiative aiming to professionalise and build community around data stewardship in the UK. They discuss shared work through the Open Research Competencies Coalition (ORCC) and Louise’s previous UKRN role as an ORCA (Open Research Coordinator and Administrator) at the University of Southampton, supporting open research training and implementation. Louise discusses using stand-up comedy to communicate research and open research ideas, and outlines her career path from biotechnology and a PhD in protein crystallography through multiple postdocs, teaching, and into open research and data. She explains meta-research as “research on research,” including a study on what authors include in methods sections and implications for reproducibility. Louise shares some of her data-management "horror stories," and highlights sector-wide challenges: unclear career pathways and progression for research-enabling roles, which CaSDaR addresses via funding, events, and resources. Links: CaSDaR (Careers and Skills for Data Driven Research)Ruby Carr ComedyUK Reproducibility Network(Episode 129) UKRN Train the Trainer: accelerating the uptake of open research practices across academic disciplines(Episode 123) Valuing Diverse Research Outputs: The Hidden REF and the 5% Manifesto with Simon HettrickSonrai - Irish Data Stewardship Network If you have enjoyed listening to this episode, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast app, via Podchaser, or by submitting an online review form. ✍ Podchaser ✍ Online Review Form All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research Impact Heroes with Ged HallOpen Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research talent managementMeet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research co-productionResearch evaluationResearch leadershipResearch professionalsAcademic failure with Taryn Bell (follow Taryn on Bluesky and LinkedIn) Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here too). If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    54 min

  4. May 6

    (Episode 158) How to Turn Your PhD Into a Book?

    Episode title: How to Turn Your PhD Into a Book Podcast: Research Culture Uncovered Host: Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths (Researcher Development Advisor, University of Leeds) Episode overview Turning a PhD into a book is rarely a straightforward process. It’s not simply about rewriting or revising a thesis — it involves rethinking purpose, audience, and identity as a researcher. In this episode, Heledd speaks with Dr Hilary Potter about the challenges and opportunities involved in transforming doctoral research into a book. From the emotional weight of returning to high-stakes work, to developing confidence and recognising your own expertise, the conversation explores what it really means to “turn” a PhD into something new. Hilary also shares insights into her activity-based approach, the role of creativity and writing by hand, and how her portfolio career — including teaching, translation, and periods of precarity — has shaped both her thinking and her book. Together, this episode highlights how developing authorial agency can shift not only how researchers write, but how they see themselves and their place within (and beyond) academia. Featured contributor Dr Hilary Potter — Project Officer, CERIC (Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change) University of Leeds. Academic background in German Studies, with experience across teaching, research, and roles inside and outside higher education. Author of How to Turn Your PhD into a Book: A Pocket Guide (Peter Lang, 2024). 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-hilary-potter-1495262b 🦋 Bluesky: @hilarypotterphd.bsky.social Key themes explored • The challenge of reconceptualising a PhD beyond its original purpose • Why turning a PhD into a book is not simply rewriting or revising • The shift from being supervised to working independently • Developing authorial agency and recognising expertise • Creative and tactile approaches to writing (including writing by hand) • The influence of portfolio careers, teaching, and precarity on academic work • Writing for different audiences and purposes Memorable ideas • A PhD is written to be examined — a book is written to be read • Distance from your thesis can be essential before returning to it • Creativity and physical engagement (writing, drawing, mapping ideas) can unlock thinking • You don’t need permission to be the expert in your own work • Research careers are rarely linear — and that can be a strength Related episode The Art of Saying No: Power, Permission, and Research Culture This earlier episode explores how agency, confidence, and decision-making are shaped by power, culture, and career stage in research environments — themes that connect closely to this conversation around authorial agency and recognising your expertise. 🔗 Listen here: The Art of Saying No Leave a review If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a rating and a short review — it helps others find the podcast. Podchaser Online Review Form Follow and connect Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social; @openresleeds.bsky.social; @researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) Want to contribute to a future episode? We’d love to hear from you — especially if you have reflections on research culture from any career stage or role. researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    32 min

  5. Apr 29

    (Episode 157) The Gentle Academic: Reimagining Research Culture

    If you asked an academic to describe the culture in which they work, 'gentle' is not a word that most would use. But what if academia could be gentler? What would this look like, and how can we get there? In today's episode, host Taryn Bell is joined by Christine Grove, co-editor of the recent volume 'The Gentle Academic'. They discuss what gentle academia is, what it's not, and how both individuals and academics can become 'gentler' in their ways of working. Far from offering 'lip service' to the idea of culture change, The Gentle Academic offers actionable insights for both individuals and the institutions they work within. Want to learn more? Read The Gentle Academic: Reimagining the Contemporary University Culture with Principles of Community, Leadership, and CareGet in touch with Christine via LinkedIn or her RMIT and Monash webpages, or with her co-editor, Kelly-Ann Allen If you have enjoyed listening to this episode, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast app, via Podchaser, or by submitting an online review form. ✍ Podchaser ✍ Online Review Form All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research Impact Heroes with Ged HallOpen Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research talent managementMeet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)Research co-productionResearch evaluationResearch leadershipResearch professionalsAcademic failure with Taryn Bell (follow Taryn on Bluesky and LinkedIn) Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here too). If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    25 min

  6. Apr 22

    (Episode 156) Valuing Voices: How to Make Research Equitable and Responsible

    In this week’s episode, host Emily Goodall speaks with Karen Glerum‑Brooks and Lucy Cheseldine about the Valuing Voices project — a Wellcome-funded initiative co‑created by the University of York and Mahidol University in Thailand that’s helping researchers rethink what equitable, collaborative and responsible research can look like in practice. Episode highlights: A practical toolkit for culture change: How the Valuing Voices online tool supports researchers worldwide to design and deliver equitable and responsible research — grounded in the principles of Engagement and impact, Equity and diversity in teams, Strategic risk mapping, Environmental sustainability, Reflection and learning. Equity, diversity & working together: Why diverse teams and inclusive practices matter, and how simple approaches such as fair attribution and inclusive meetings help dismantle hierarchies and strengthen collaboration in research environments.The Living Lab in action: Karen and Lucy share how experimenting within their own team — from distributed leadership to sustainable conference materials — led to creative, people‑centred ways of modelling equitable research culture.Empowering researchers at every career stage: From early‑career researchers in Uganda to new PIs in the UK, hear how the Valuing Voices principles empower people to plan, collaborate and deliver meaningful, impactful research everywhere they work. You can explore and use the Valuing Voices Tool for free, wherever you are in your research journey. Join the movement and follow the Valuing Voices project on LinkedIn. Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here)@openresleeds.bsky.social@researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode: researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    30 min

  7. Apr 15

    (Episode 155) What Shapes a Researcher? Reflections from a Worldwide Universities Network Series

    🎙️ In our latest episode of Research Culture Uncovered, host Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths explores a deceptively simple question: what actually shapes a researcher? Drawing on reflections from a Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) series, this episode brings together voices from across global research development sessions — exploring research vision, impact, careers, culture, and identity. 🔹 Why research vision matters — and why it’s so hard to articulate Hear insights from Dr Jim Baxter on developing long-term direction, and why the pressures of funding, publishing, and short-term goals can pull researchers away from the bigger picture. 🔹 What counts as “impact” — and who decides Explore reflections from Ged Hall on how impact is shaped by discipline, national context, and institutional priorities — and whether researchers follow or challenge those systems. 🔹 Research culture beyond the buzzwords Dr Marjorie Boissinot unpacks the complexity of research culture across global contexts, and why much of what shapes culture isn’t always labelled as such. 🔹 Creating space to think — even in busy, online environments From Taryn Bell’s session, discover how meaningful reflection can happen even in large-scale virtual settings — and why researchers are more ready for these conversations than we might assume. 🔹 Visibility, identity, and showing up as a researcher Through Ruth Winden’s work, explore how researchers navigate professional identity — balancing authenticity, visibility, and the expectations of academic and non-academic audiences. 🔹 The emotional side of research we don’t always talk about From Heledd’s own session on rejection, this episode reflects on the shared emotional realities of research — and how creating space to acknowledge them can shift how we move forward. 💡 If you’re thinking about your own direction, identity, or place within research — this episode offers space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters. Links and resources 🔗 Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) https://www.wun.ac.uk/ 🔗 LinkedIn (contributors) Jim Baxter – (follow Jim on LinkedIn) Ged Hall – (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn) Marjorie Boissinot – (follow Marjorie on LinkedIn) Taryn Bell – (follow Taryn on Bluesky and LinkedIn) Ruth Winden – (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn) Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here) @openresleeds.bsky.social @researchcultureuol.bsky.social Connect on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) 📩 If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode: researcherdevelopment@leeds.ac.uk

    21 min

  8. Apr 8

    (Episode 154) Cripping research culture: podcasting, disability justice, and counter archives (with Dr Élaina Gauthier Mamaril)

    “What if all we have is the now? […] the now is generative and worthwhile.” — Dr Élaina Gauthier‑Mamaril Host Dr Emily Ennis sits down with Dr Élaina Gauthier‑Mamaril – a disabled philosopher of disability and Research Associate on the Wellcome‑funded Anti‑Ableist Research Culture project at the University of Sheffield – to explore podcasting as method, community, and counter‑archive. In this conversation: Podcasting as a research method. From Massively Disabled to Cripping Research Culture, Élaina experiments with sound, affect, and “epistemic brokering” to amplify disabled knowledges and blur the subject/object divide, especially around COVID and long COVID.Rigour with care. Podcasting isn’t “less scholarly”, it’s differently-rigorous. Élaina talks positionality, disclosure, and even choosing to leave audible pain in‑track to honour labour and embodiment, while pushing for broader vocal inclusion (accents, speech impairments) in HE audio.Access by design. Why transcripts are non‑negotiable, when BSL interpreting is added, and how audio meets listeners in bed, on tough clinic days, or when isolation bites, turning parasocial connection into real community.Beyond “academics only”. Inside the Sheffield project’s “third spaces,” including a sector survey with NADSN and webinars (curated with Quiplash CIC) for disabled professional services staff, because research culture is everybody’s work.Recognition matters. Podcasting is work, not a weekend hobby: it deserves to be planned, supported, and credited like any other research/engagement output.What’s next. A protocol for collaborative podcasting (data, consent, copyright, co‑editing), research on disability doulas and long COVID, and a creative project with Khairani Barokka adapting Annah, Infinite with Indonesian/Javanese voices and community co‑creation. 🎙️ Referenced Podcasts Cripping Research Culture podcastMassively Disabled podcastAccentricity podcast (run by Sadie Ryan) 📚 Books & Publications So You Want to Start a Podcast – by Kristen MeinzerBlack Disability Politics – by Sami SchalkGauthier-Mamaril É. Podcasting as a Recreational Scholarship Praxis. Hypatia. Published online 2026:1-20. doi:10.1017/hyp.2025.10055Annah, Infinite – by Khairani Barokka (for the creative project) 🏛️ Projects, Grants, Networks & Organisations Wellcome-funded Anti-Ableist Research Culture Project (University of Sheffield)National Association for Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN)Quiplash (community interest company supporting disability-led events/webinars)

    41 min
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About

At the University of Leeds, we believe that all members of our research community play a crucial role in developing and promoting a positive and inclusive research culture. Across the globe, the urgent need for a better Research Culture in Higher Education is widely accepted – but how do you make it happen? This weekly podcast focuses on our ideas, approaches and learning as we contribute to the University's attempt to create a Research Culture in which everyone can thrive. Whether you undertake, lead, fund or benefit from research - these are the conversations to listen to if you want to explore what a positive Research Culture is and why it matters. Unless specified in the episode shownotes, Research Culture Uncovered © 2023 by Research Culturosity, University of Leeds is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This license requires that reusers give credit to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. Some episodes may be licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0, please check before use.

Information

  • Creator
    Research Culturosity, University of Leeds
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Unless specified in shownotes, Research Culture Uncovered © 2023 by Research Culturosity, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Reusers must give credit to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license under identical terms.
  • Show Website
    Research Culture Uncovered

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