Environment submissions database

Durham began 2019/20 in a robust financial position, investing in its staff and infrastructure in line with it’s the Research Strategy. COVID-19 has had an impact on the short-term delivery of the Strategy but has not constituted an existential threat to or caused the University to change its mission; it has also catalysed improvements in some areas which will have long-term beneficial impacts. The key impacts in the REF period have been: - Impact, Engagement and Dissemination. Restrictions on travel and reduced operation of many of our partners has meant that some opportunities to disseminate research have been lost. Other dissemination activities have moved online. - Infrastructure. Issues with procurement and site access have delayed the completion of buildings including the new £40m Mathematics and Computing Sciences Building, which will now open in January 2021. Priority has been given to improvements to make the campus Covid-secure for staff and students. - Research activity. Laboratories and Library facilities were closed for three months and the level of activity has been depressed due to safety restrictions and occupancy limits. Research with human participants remains highly restricted and some specialist research facilities and collections remain closed. Most fieldwork is suspended. Where possible, research methodologies have been reviewed to allow research to continue. The University created a dedicated fund to support COVID-19 research and impact, which supported YY projects. Research applications increased by 20% From March to July 2020; with the number of female staff applications increasing disproportionately. - Researchers. Financial support was put in place to supportresearch staff whose contracts ended during lockdown and to ensure that all PhD students are able to complete their studies. Some PhD students have delayed start dates or started remotely. - Financial implications. COVID-19 resulted in a reduction of 20% in research income in 2019/20 compared to the forecast. Essential spending on research projects has been maintained throughout. The University has continued its Research Allowance / Research Incentive schemes and to co-invest in research grant applications where needed. Upgrade of existing equipment was limited to critical work only. Future impacts It is difficult to assess the long-term impact of COVID on the University but we expect the following in 20/21 and 21/22: - Teaching focus. The movement of teaching materials online and a need to adapt to new modes of delivery mean that a larger proportion of staff time will be devoted to teaching in 20/21. - Estate refresh and capital. Major estates projects are still expected to go ahead but over a longer timescale. Changing work practices will enable the University to think more flexibly about the use of space and lead to more efficient use of the existing estate. - Research activity. Travel for fieldwork and conferences is likely to remain affected well into 2021. Access to on-campus research activities is gradually being restored but research requiring close contact with human participants will remain difficult. - Recruitment. Plans to increase Faculty numbers may progress more slowly than planned.