Environment submissions database

In response to Covid-19 GCU holds fortnightly Research Continuity Group meetings, constituted as a sub-committee of the University Research Committee and chaired by the PVC Research. The Group monitors all aspects of the crisis, including safe return to campus, PhD student welfare, IT issues, awards processes and project management issues, and has made recommendations to the University Executive for development and adaptation of policies and procedures. Commencing April 2020, monitoring involved estimating impacts on projects frozen or granted no-cost extensions, identifying affected research staff on fixed-term contracts, exploring potential for furlough, and assessing (via a survey) the impact on PGR students. In terms of immediate impact, severe disruption to our research and innovation activities centred around 104 live projects, 25 fixed-term staff and around 100 final-year PGR students (not including students at earlier stages of their studies). On 6th May 2020 the SFC Research Mitigation Fund of £75m was released to support the Scottish university research base; Glasgow Caledonian University was allocated £1,016,733. For research project staffing, funds were used for: ‘match-funding’ for staff furloughed due to suspended projects; costs of extending contracts for projects suspended or severely affected by Covid-19; additional costs that did not impact on fixed-term staff directly or affected fixed-term staff on fractional contracts; extension of contracts of REG-funded staff who had been unable to develop opportunities for further funding. For research students, our Research Progression and Awards Boards have approved extensions for 59 students, involving suspensions of fees and additional financial support for REG-funded and externally-funded students. Overall, the pandemic reinforced Glasgow Caledonian University’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals whilst galvanising our research community in responding to the crisis:? - Health: staff and students joined the frontline in hospitals and communities, staff took on research and advisory roles on topics ranging from infection prevention, effective contact tracing and hand hygiene, to nurse resilience and immunity testing.? - Diagnosis and coping: research focussed on immunity and recovery for particular groups such as chronic pain sufferers, loaning specialist equipment, hosting online movement sessions, urging continued funding for older people during discharge and rehabilitation, and supporting positive mental health during social distancing and self-isolation. - Using data science to combat Covid: researchers contributed their data skills to help to combat COVID-19 using publicly available data, for example the?Corona Hack. - Governance: researchers reviewed global leadership surrounding the pandemic, focusing on children’s rights, social media use and the UK Government’s strategic preparations for COVID-19. - Wider societal impacts: a specialised blog series took an in-depth look at a multitude of topics relating to COVID-19, including homelessness, working from home, enhancing public engagement, addressing inequalities and economic recovery. - Covid-19 and the economy: researchers monitored recovery from recession in marketing, retail and the tourism sectors, as well as recovery in Scotland's cities after lockdown and financial support for vulnerable families. - Researchers in the Covid Podcast series: topics covered include poverty and inequality, adapting to online learning, keeping active during lockdown, and the impact on the climate crisis.