AHRC Infrastructure HSCR Fellowship
Lead Research Organisation:
British Museum
Department Name: Scientific Research
Abstract
"The aim of the AHRC Infrastructure Policy and Engagement Fellowships is to undertake research and engagement around three thematic areas, to inform and facilitate the design of a national research infrastructure in heritage science and conservation research (HSCR), creating an evidence base to inform strategic vision and investment. We are looking for heritage science and conservation researchers in UK IROs and universities who are keen to develop their skills in policy and cultivate an in-depth understanding of the HSCR landscape through data analysis and community engagement."
"Fellows will compile a literature, capacity and capability review of their thematic area, assessing the current UK heritage sector and university-based HSCR facilities, the relevant skills pipelines (or lack thereof) and potential points of synergy and collaboration with the wider scientific research community. Working closely with one another, with experts drawn from the heritage science community, and with colleagues within AHRC and across UKRI, successful Fellows will make recommendations for future action and investment, and produce a strategic delivery plan for the research infrastructure and its associated programme."
"Fellows will compile a literature, capacity and capability review of their thematic area, assessing the current UK heritage sector and university-based HSCR facilities, the relevant skills pipelines (or lack thereof) and potential points of synergy and collaboration with the wider scientific research community. Working closely with one another, with experts drawn from the heritage science community, and with colleagues within AHRC and across UKRI, successful Fellows will make recommendations for future action and investment, and produce a strategic delivery plan for the research infrastructure and its associated programme."
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rebecca Stacey (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
| Description | The three fellows created a large dataset of responses to questions regarding the priorities of the Heritage Science practitioner community for future infrastructure investment. Through a series of structured workshops and a questionnaire, the team identified gaps in provision of services, skills and technology that require investment for the Heritage Science discipline to thrive in the UK commercial and academic sectors. The team made a series of recommendations to the AHRC relating to RC investment in UK heritage science based on these findings. Following the recommendations of the Fellowships and follow up work by AHRC, a Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) has been added to the UKRI infrastructure portfolio. It will comprise a network of facilities and expertise in the interdisciplinary field of heritage science creating an ecosystem in which multidisciplinary research and innovation can thrive. The project is projected to start in 2024 with first funding calls opening in spring/summer 2023 (Funding is subject to business case approvals.) |
| Exploitation Route | The stakeholder insights collected, and the recommendations presented in the fellows' joint report (see publications), will be used to increase the robustness of the AHRC case for infrastructure investment in UK heritage science. When the RICHeS project is live, the report will provide a useful information resource for the strategic development of the infrastructure and for research organisations and heritage practitioners seeking to obtain funding from it. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/what-we-offer/creating-world-class-research-and-innovation-infrastructure/funded-infrastructure-projects/ |
| Description | Influence on UK research infrastructure investment |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | AHRC |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The AHRC funded myself and two other Fellows (Dr Freya Horsfield, Durham University and Dr Ben Edwards, Manchester Metropolitan University) to undertake scoping and engagement work on the requirements for Heritage Science infrastructure in the UK over the next 10 years. The collaboration developed evidence-based recommendations to AHRC on its proposed major, 10-year investment in heritage science infrastructure. Each Fellow focused on a different thematic area; my contribution examined the fixed and mobile scientific technologies used for Heritage Science in the UK. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The AHRC funded and commissioned the research and organized the research programme. |
| Impact | A report prepared by the Fellows (see publications) was submitted to AHRC in 2021. The report was deployed within AHRC to strengthen the case for the proposed investment, and within UKRI (to UKRI Executive Committee, UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee and UKRI Strategy Committee). At the time of writing, sections of the report are expected to be deployed instrumentally in making the proposed investment case to BEIS. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Durham University |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Department | Department of Archaeology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project overall was based on collaboration between researchers based at 3 institutions: myself at the British Museum, Dr Edwards at Manchester Metropolitan Museum and Dr Horsfield at Durham University. Each Fellow focused on a different thematic area; my contribution examined the fixed and mobile scientific technologies used for Heritage Science in the UK. Dr Horsfield focused on governance and access. My work on landscape mapping of the Heritage Science infrastructure defined the scientific scope and opportunities that the governance and access strategy needed to address. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Horsfield has career experience in government policy and impact. This was crucial to framing our proposals and recommendations in a persuasive format, so that the joint report could perform as an effective instrument for AHRC in supporting the case for investment. |
| Impact | A report prepared by the Fellows (see publications) was submitted to AHRC in 2021. The report was deployed within AHRC to strengthen the case for the proposed investment, and within UKRI (to UKRI Executive Committee, UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee and UKRI Strategy Committee). At the time of writing, sections of the report are expected to be deployed instrumentally in making the proposed investment case to BEIS. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Organisation | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project overall was based on collaboration between researchers based at 3 institutions: myself at the British Museum, Dr Edwards at Manchester Metropolitan Museum and Dr Horsfield at Durham University. Each Fellow focused on a different thematic area; my contribution examined the fixed and mobile scientific technologies (FIXLAB/MOLAB) used for Heritage Science in the UK. Dr Edwards focused the ARCHLAB/DIGILAB theme which was concerned with archives and digital infrastructure for Heritage Science in the UK. The two themes are strongly interlinked, and we worked together to develop a database mapping the infrastructure landscape. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The FIXLAB/MOLAB and ARCHLAB/DIGILAB themes are interdependent components of the UK Heritage Science infrastructure landscape. Dr Edwards knowledge and expertise in digital infrastructure and archiving were vital in making the case for investment in the interconnectivity of these resources. |
| Impact | A report prepared by the Fellows (see publications) was submitted to AHRC in 2021. The report was deployed within AHRC to strengthen the case for the proposed investment, and within UKRI (to UKRI Executive Committee, UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee and UKRI Strategy Committee). At the time of writing, sections of the report are expected to be deployed instrumentally in making the proposed investment case to BEIS. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Engagement with UK heritage science community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of structured workshops were held, followed up by a questionnaire, to gather evidence from the Heritage Science practitioner community about the gaps in provision of services, skills and technology that require investment for the Heritage Science discipline to thrive, both in the UK commercial and academic sectors. The results of this consultation were incorporated into the recommendations report submitted to AHRC in 2021. The report was deployed within AHRC to strengthen the case for the proposed investment, and within UKRI (to UKRI Executive Committee, UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee and UKRI Strategy Committee). At the time of writing, sections of the report are expected to be deployed instrumentally in making the proposed investment case to BEIS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |