Environment submissions database

DMU has suffered from being located in the first UK city to have an extended lockdown, from 29 June to 3 August 2020, which has delayed the return to campus and to research dependent on equipment and space. Responding to local demand and to the needs of students have become priorities since the outbreak. To put this in context, as a socially inclusive university we have a high proportion of students who need additional support at this time. We were one of six institutions to receive over £1,000,000 for student hardship in January from the Office for Students. Thus, a great deal of staff time has been diverted to supporting students and away from research. In the short term, impact-evidence gathering has not been possible in some cases, but research funding and postgraduate researcher (PGR) recruitment do not seem to have suffered. However, the long-term effects of the virus will be substantial, given delays to research projects and the prioritising of teaching. 1 Funded research Physical data collection (including full access to laboratories) was not possible due to lockdowns in the UK and overseas – these projects have had to pause. International collaborations have been affected, particularly work on Grand Challenges Research Fund projects which involve travel and face-to-face research. Some projects have experienced significant postponements, such as Talent25 (£2,800,000 jointly funded by DMU and ACE), which has had to halt face-to-face contact with parents and babies from March 2020. 2 PGR completions, interruptions and extensions While completions in this period are consistent with pre-Covid figures, in the first stages of the outbreak, a third of PGRs interrupted (173 awarded). We expect further extension requests as well. 3 Future plans Non-essential building plans, such as the major renovation of DMU’s library, have been suspended in order to prioritise conversion of spaces to accommodate social distancing. 4 Research and Innovation Allowance As at 1 October 2020, research time allocations to researchers have temporarily been reduced by 40% in order to support online teaching delivery. This will lead to a reduction in research projects, grant applications and events. 5 PGR recruitment The April 2020 PGR intake was suspended. Research culture In response to the international crisis, much of DMU research has been redirected to respond to Covid-19. In order to contribute research expertise to issues arising from Covid, DMU researchers have been providing online talks, roundtable discussions and questions and answers in regular public engagement events focused on Covid, among them World Environment Day, Palliative Care Day and National Homeless Day. Eight DMU researchers have given evidence in the UK Government’s ‘Life Beyond Covid Inquiry’. DMU has been investigating how Leicestershire can ‘Build Back Better’ with over 70 DMU researchers, 60 community groups, representatives from 40 businesses, senior council and local authority officials and a public consultation via the media. Recommendations on key areas of recovery, from the Environment to the Future City, are being produced to inform current thinking on policies on Covid-19 recovery.