Environment submissions database

COVID IMPACTS: UWE BRISTOL UWE experienced considerable disruption to research, including postgraduate studies, as a result of COVID-19. This reflected temporary closure of laboratories and other specialist research facilities, disruption to domestic and international travel for field-research and collaboration, and impacts on conferences, other academic meetings, exhibitions and events including public engagement. Following initial closure, laboratories and other specialist facilities for research were among the first university facilities to re-open as COVID-secure spaces. UKRI COVID mitigation funding was deployed in line with the terms of this scheme to support UKRI-funded projects disrupted by COVID. Institutional funds were also used to provide equivalent support for other projects. Project teams were supported centrally by the University’s Research, Business and Innovation unit to agree extensions with funding bodies. Specific impacts of COVID on the University’s preparations for REF 2021 were however, relatively minor. There was some disruption to research impact which was reliant on public engagement, performances or exhibitions and other practice-based research outputs, despite the extension to the relevant period for impact reporting. There was some disruption to anticipated impact in three out of the 41 submitted impact case studies, related to cancellation or disruption of key exhibitions, conferences and events. In one case, COVID-related illness of a key researcher delayed case study preparation significantly. Only a small number of anticipated publications were delayed, one to the extent that it has been submitted with the appropriate mitigation. Postgraduate research students were granted automatic extensions for evidenced, COVID-related disruption. Institutionally-funded PGR students were provided with financial support equivalent to that provided by UKRI and hardship funds were made available to all PGR students. Vivas were successfully moved on-line, supported by training for independent chairs and examiners. Approximately 12 PGR submissions were, as a result, delayed beyond the REF census point leading to some reduction in reported completions in the final year of the REF period. The Chief External Examiner, in their 2019/20 report noted ‘the good and considered response by the University’s Research Degrees Award Board and supervisors to the COVID crisis.’ Additional, positive responses by UWE staff included, for example, the extension and deployment of anti-microbial and anti-viral technologies to provide enhanced protection in health-related and other public services including the police and ambulance services (Thorn and Reynolds, UoA 3). Professor McCabe (UoA 3) was appointed to the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s COVID-19 Legacy Nursing Steering Group as the Academic Representative for Nursing. Dr Gabor (UoA 17) was an expert witness to the European Parliament on the Economic Impact of COVID-19. Professor Hoskins (UoA 32) and Dr Wilkinson (UoA 34) were appointed as assessors for AHRC grant applications under the UKRI cross-council COVID-19 initiative. Professor Ritchie (UoA 17) advised a number of national statistical agencies on online data security training in the context of COVID-19. Professors Bolden and Jarvis (UoA 17) advised the NHS Leadership Academy in its work on the NHS People Plan and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minority staff.