Environment submissions database

University research and impact has been affected by COVID-19 in various ways. Some effects are generic across all subject areas and others are discipline specific. Examples include: • Significant impact on REF Impact Case Studies (ICS) and showcasing research outputs in some areas. This is especially the case for arts and humanities, where exhibitions, workshops and face-to-face activities have been cancelled and venues closed. For example, 7 of the 13 ICS studies in the School of Music, Humanities and Media have been affected. • Collection of testimonials for Impact Case Studies has been problematic where some external stakeholders have made staff redundant or furloughed. • International visits, exchanges (staff and PGR), exhibitions and conferences have been cancelled impacting on the delivery of joint international research projects, presenting research outputs at meetings and developing wider reaching impact from research projects. • Closure of laboratory facilities has caused significant issues for staff and PGR. Some underpinning research has been affected and several industry-led short-term projects were halted. Some on-going, long-term testing has also had to be terminated and re-started. • On-going limited access to laboratory space is slowing research activity especially where activity requires access to equipment outside an immediate research group bubble such as for interdisciplinary research. • We have noticed a reluctance, in some areas, of industry and external partners to commit to collaborative research bids due to the lack of uncertainty in the current climate. • Limited access to campus for equipment vendors to install and more importantly carry out repairs to critical equipment, has impacted and slowed delivery of research. • Public Engagement activities have effectively ceased and this is having a negative impact on end-user research and our commitment to the Concordat for Public Engagement with Research. At the outset of the pandemic, the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise agreed to re-allocate some of the University Research Fund (URF) to support academic staff developing COVID-related research projects. Approximately £150k URF was allocated to support projects across all 7 schools many of which are linked to local communities. Relevant projects have been shared with local authorities and fed into place-based recovery plans. University academic researchers have participated in a Yorkshire Universities/West Yorkshire Combined Authority PERN (Place-based Economic Recovery Network) webinar series on key areas identified for regional recovery. Building on the success of PERN, the University and other partner institutions have agreed to support and sustain the collaborative network feeding research directly into local policy and to key decision makers. A dedicated Covid response website has been established which provides an update on all our staff and student responses to the pandemic. It includes a series of student blogs, research stories etc. Overall, the impact of COVID-19 on research has been substantial but academic staff have been proactive and opportunities are being taken forward. The major uncertainty is the timescale for full return to campus and in the meantime many activities have moved on-line. We will continue to work with external partners to sustain research and engagement activities.