MSCA for Researchers at Risk 2021
Lead Research Organisation:
Council for At-Risk Academics
Department Name: Executive Board
Abstract
Inspireurope+ will strengthen and coordinate support in Europe for researchers at risk. Building on the work undertaken by Inspireurope (launched under MSCA in 2019), Inspireurope+ proceeds from the view that excellence in research depends upon free and open scientific debate and requires a diversity of perspectives and methodologies to flourish. The need to expand support for researchers at risk is urgent, and the value of a coordinated effort across countries and institutions that is dedicated to providing support for researchers at risk has never been clearer.
Researchers at risk are scholars, scientists and researchers who face threats to their life, liberty, or research careers, including those who have been displaced because of such threats. Persecution, harassment, intimidation and violence directed at scholars, scientists and researchers not only place individual lives and careers in jeopardy. Such threats and abuses also put the very future of research at stake. Inspireurope+ will combine forces across national and institutional boundaries to respond. Through guidance, training and consultations with over 300 researchers at risk, Inspireurope+ will help to build up the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate access to European, national and institutional funding and support. Through guidance and advice for over 400 employers in the academic and non-academic sectors, Inspireurope+ will increase institutional capacity and preparedness to support researchers at risk. Through policy input to the national and European levels, Inspireurope+ will facilitate and encourage the development of new support programmes and improve the policy environment in Europe for researchers at risk. Project partners will leverage their vast networks to bring project outputs to over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries. Inspireurope+ will consolidate, diversify and multiply efforts to improve lives and career opportunities, together with researchers at risk.
Researchers at risk are scholars, scientists and researchers who face threats to their life, liberty, or research careers, including those who have been displaced because of such threats. Persecution, harassment, intimidation and violence directed at scholars, scientists and researchers not only place individual lives and careers in jeopardy. Such threats and abuses also put the very future of research at stake. Inspireurope+ will combine forces across national and institutional boundaries to respond. Through guidance, training and consultations with over 300 researchers at risk, Inspireurope+ will help to build up the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate access to European, national and institutional funding and support. Through guidance and advice for over 400 employers in the academic and non-academic sectors, Inspireurope+ will increase institutional capacity and preparedness to support researchers at risk. Through policy input to the national and European levels, Inspireurope+ will facilitate and encourage the development of new support programmes and improve the policy environment in Europe for researchers at risk. Project partners will leverage their vast networks to bring project outputs to over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries. Inspireurope+ will consolidate, diversify and multiply efforts to improve lives and career opportunities, together with researchers at risk.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Stephen John Wordsworth (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | 13 Feb 2023: Training Workshop 1: 'Publishing: How to choose the right journal for your manuscript' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This training workshop, held on 13 February 2023, was a continuation of the 6 December 2022 webinar on publication strategies and provided additional focus on how researchers at risk can approach journal selection. The workshop was led by Dr Harry Shirley from Springer Nature and was an interactive, closed session with 12 participants. This number was slightly lower than the 18 initially identified but allowed for active engagement. The workshop was not recorded, to allow participants, some of whom are rightly anxious about disclosing their identities in public fora, the opportunity to speak freely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | 14 March 2024, Training: 'Navigating new academic environments' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Result Description The third training workshop led on from the previous webinar on 'The Power of Networking' and was led by Dr Karly Kehoe, Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities at Saint Mary's university in Canada, with extensive experience as a recognised research leader at both national and international levels. The session focussed on information and guidance on navigating new academic environments. The session was attended by a total of 15 researchers at risk. The workshop was not recorded, to allow participants, some of whom are rightly anxious about disclosing their identities in public fora, the opportunity to speak freely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | 2 June 2023: Training Workshop 2 'Research ethics and integrity while conducting research' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The second training workshop led on from the 21 April 2023 webinar on 'Understanding Research Integrity and Ethics: Webinar for Researchers at Risk' and was led by Dr Julia Vilstrup Mouatt, previously Head of the Web of Science Academy (Clarivate) and now the Research Development Manager at the University of Auckland. The interactive training session focussed on the topic in the context of conducting research. This session was attended by 23 researchers at risk out of a total 28 referrals. The workshop was not recorded, to allow participants, some of whom are rightly anxious about disclosing their identities in public fora, the opportunity to speak freely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | 21 June 2024, Training: 'Practical Networking' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The fourth training workshop led on from the previous webinar on 'Making Friends and Influencing People' and was led by Darcey Gillie, a qualified careers practitioner in higher education for 15 years, specialising in working with research staff and research students. The session focussed on the practical side of networking, looking at the what and how of networking, and tools and techniques to use. The session was attended by a total of 25 researchers at risk. The workshop was not recorded, to allow participants, some of whom are rightly anxious about disclosing their identities in public fora, the opportunity to speak freely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/making-friends-and-influencing-people-for-researchers-at-risk/ |
| Description | 29 January 2025, Training: 'Employment Opportunities outside of academia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The fifth training workshop led on from the previous webinar on 'Identifying Employment Opportunities Outside of Academia' and was led by Sam Oliver, founder of Jems, a modern headhunter hiring leadership roles for some of Europe's fastest growing technology businesses. The session provided researchers at risk with information and guidance on how to use and grow your LinkedIn to support career development. The session was attended by a total of 18 researchers at risk. The workshop was not recorded, to allow participants, some of whom are rightly anxious about disclosing their identities in public fora, the opportunity to speak freely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Training-on-identifying-employment-opportunities-out... |
| Description | Webinar, 17 October 2023: 'The Power of Networking for Researchers at Risk' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for at-risk researchers, delivered through the Inspireurope+ programme, to help them move forward in their academic careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/the-power-of-networking/ |
| Description | Webinar, 20 March 2024: 'Making Friends and Influencing People' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for at-risk researchers, delivered through the Inspireurope+ programme, to help them move forward in their academic careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/making-friends-and-influencing-people-for-researchers-at-risk/ |
| Description | Webinar, 21 April 2023: 'Understanding Research Integrity and Ethics: Webinar for Researchers at Risk' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for at-risk researchers, delivered through the Inspireurope+ programme, to help them move forward in their academic careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/understanding-research-integrity-and-ethics-for-researchers-at-risk/ |
| Description | Webinar, 29 October 2024: 'Employment Opportunities outside of Academia for Researchers at Risk' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for at-risk researchers, delivered through the Inspireurope+ programme, to help them move forward in their academic careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/employment-opportunities-outside-of-academia-for-researchers-at-risk/ |
| Description | Webinar, 6 December 2022: 'Publication Strategies for Researchers at Risk' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A webinar for at-risk researchers, delivered through the Inspireurope+ programme, to help them move forward in their acaemic careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://sareurope.eu/events/inspireurope-webinar-publication-strategies-for-researchers-at-risk/ |