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Bristol Clear Bulletin- 16th February

Posted on by josie.dunne

Your development matters!

Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear

Focus on

Supporting researcher career development – Research Staff Development Fund (RSDF)

Applications for the  Research Staff Development Fund (RSDF) are now invited. The RSDF supports Research Associates, Senior Research Associates, and Research Fellows in implementing initiatives to enhance collaboration and communication within research teams.

As part of the University’s commitment to researcher career development, applicants can request up to £400 for activities such as specific development initiatives, networking, and conference travel. Preference is given to proposals benefiting multiple individuals and focusing on transferable skills, leadership development, morale improvement, local practices enhancement, communication, and collaboration.

Applications, due by Friday 1st March, can be submitted online. The RSDF does not cover staff time or project-specific conference travel

Upcoming workshops

Places are now available on the following workshops:

  • 20 February 10:00-12:00- Thriving in a Part-Time Role
  • 20 February 11:00-12:00- An introduction to Public Engagement with Research: involving the public in your research
  • 26 February 09:30-12:00- Discovering Career Support for Researchers at Bristol
  • 27 February 10:00-11:30- Intro to Research Funding [Sci+Eng]
  • 27 February 09:30-12:00- Managing Research Teams (in person)
  • 28 February 14:00-15:00- Intro to Research Funding [Health and Life Science]
  • 28 February 09:30-13:00- Healthy and Sustainable Productivity Habits- Part 1
  • 29 February 09:30-12:30- Working Towards a Lectureship- in person
  • 05 March 14:00-15:00– Closing Down a Research Project
  • 12 March 11:00-12:00- Introduction to Research Ethics
  • 13 March 10:00-12:30- Working Towards a Fellowship [Arts & SSL] 
  • 13 March 11:00-12:00- Recruiting Research Staff 

To book, please sign in to Develop now and search the catalogue for these course titles. To book a place when registration has closed, please email sd-course@bristol.ac.uk

To see a full list of Bristol Clear and Research in Practice workshops, please see our webpage.

Research-related events and initiatives

Bristol Women’s Mentoring Network 2024 – Call for Mentees and Mentors

Supporting academic and professional services colleagues, we are launching a new round for 2024. We are inviting:

  • New mentees (academic or professional services women or individuals who identify as female, grades J, K, L and M) to apply
  • New mentors (anyone from academic, professional services & University of Bristol Alumni, grades K, L, M & X). 
  • Returning mentors can express their interest by emailing uob-mentoring@bristol.ac.uk.

Please visit Bristol Women’s Mentoring Network for more details. Please circulate to any colleagues who may be interested. 

Sign up to information sessions on Develop 

Community Fellowship Opportunity – From the Personal to the Planetary: Interaction, Activism and Futures

The Brigstow Institute and Cabot Institute for the Environment are collaborating on an initiative called From the Personal to the Planetary: Interaction, Activism and Futures. The initiative seeks to activate a broad range of people and stakeholders in considering climate change and responding to the climate emergency.

  • Deadline: 10:00am, 19th February 2024
  • Funding available: £5,000 per fellowship (VAT inclusive)
  •  Number of fellowships available: a total of eight P2P Community Fellowships positions (four academic fellowships drawn from the University of Bristol only, four fellowships for those beyond the university)
  • Timescale of fellowships: fellowships begin June 2024 for 10 months with some flexibility.

Find out more about the fellowships and application process: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/brigstow/funding/p2pfellowships/

EBI Director Role- Applications open

The University is seeking to appoint a Director of the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. This is an opportunity for an existing member of staff within the University to lead the Institute when the current Director ends her term of office on 31 July 2024. The role has a 50% FTE time allocation in which the post-holder is released from School and Faculty duties by agreement with their Head of School. Further details including Job Description and how to apply can be found on the University job pages here.

Closing date for applications: 23:59 GMT on Monday 26 February 2024

Collaborating with the NHS and the future of healthcare: An Enterprise Masterclass with Maria Kane, OBE

Join Maria Kane, OBE and Chief Executive of North Bristol NHS Trust for the next Enterprise Masterclass. Maria will share insights on agility, innovation, and collaboration within large organizations like the NHS. She will delve into the impact of AI and digital technologies on healthcare and offer practical advice for academics seeking to collaborate with the NHS.

Secure your place via Develop and feel free to share this invitation with interested parties.

For inquiries, contact claire.wrixon@bristol.ac.uk. External attendees should also contact Claire to reserve their place.

Career Development Residential Retreat

This retreat offers Research Associates and Senior Research Associates without an established position at the University of Bristol a chance to focus on career development and connect with peers. Through two days of workshops, participants will clarify their goals, gain confidence, and identify actions to advance their careers. Priority will be given to those facing barriers, including those impacted by Covid-19, and applicants from Black heritage backgrounds. Interested individuals should email Claire Wrixon (Claire.wrixon@bristol.ac.uk) with a 1-page expression of interest. Expenses, including travel and childcare up to £150, can be claimed via the school budget, see the expense policy. Limited spaces available; allocation will be via lottery if oversubscribed.

 Tuesday 14th (overnight) and Wednesday 15th May 2024 (please hold in your diary if you’d like to express interest).

Invitation to attend Arts, Law and Social Sciences health & social care research networking event on Tuesday 27 February 2024

You are invited to an interdisciplinary networking event hosted by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. This will be an opportunity for health and wellbeing researchers across the university who adopt social sciences, arts and humanities research methods to get together, learn about current research at Bristol in this space, find out what expertise is available and make new connections. The networking event will be held in-person over lunch on Tuesday 27 February 2024, 12:00 – 14:00, in the Arts Complex, Humanities Cinema Room G.H01, 7 Woodland Road. Light lunch will be provided in the Research Space on the first floor above G.H01 and participation is free. To register please complete a short registration formby midday on Monday 19 February 2024. Full details and agenda can be found here.

GW4 Event- Tuesday, 12th March

Join the GW4 team at the Claverton Rooms, University of Bath from 13:00- 15:00 on 12th March 2024 for an informative and engaging session, where you can learn more about GW4’s strategic priorities, programmes of work, funding schemes and the audience groups who they work with and support. For further information see https://gw4.ac.uk/events/gw4-roadshow-2024-university-of-bath/

Free lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please register to attend by 5th March 2024.

The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Lunchtime LINKS

Join The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (EBI) for their upcoming EBI Lunchtime LINKS sessions, designed to foster learning, innovation, networking, knowledge sharing, and support among researchers. Their next session will focus on integrating public engagement into research projects, featuring a guest speaker and Q&A session. Join them on Wednesday, 13th March,  from 12:00 to 13:30 at the Verdon Smith room in Royal Fort House. After the talk, enjoy a light lunch and networking opportunities with peers and representatives from EBI and the Division of Research, Enterprise, and Innovation (DREI). Visit the EBI Events page for more details and to sign up. Stay updated on future EBI LINKS sessions through our intranet site.

SWIMM Programme 

The SWIMM (South West Institutions’ Middle Manager) programme is a 2-day residential programme involving up to 7 other universities from the southwest of England and Wales. SWIMM is designed to allow ‘middle managers’ the opportunity to reflect on their role, develop key management skills and network with peers in similar roles across the sector. Delegates learn tools and concepts in a supportive atmosphere, away from the workplace. The programme is aimed at Academic and Professional Services staff who are ‘middle’ managers and who are new to their role or who wish to further develop their management skills.

Programme dates: Thursday 14th March & Friday 15th March 2024

For further details and information for how to apply, please click this link to the SWIMM webpage.

Training from other providers

Research Lives and Cultures Podcast

Join Dr. Sandrine Soubes from Tesselle Development as she interviews researchers, academics, and professionals about their journeys through research careers and professional transitions on our podcast. These stories highlight the diversity of approaches in navigating the complexities of the research environment, demonstrating that there is never a set path for research careers.

Listen now!

Bristol Clear Bulletin- 02nd February

Posted on by josie.dunne

Your development matters!

Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear

Focus on

Prosper: Explore

Prosper is a portal filled to the brim with great resources for postdocs, managers of researchers and institutions to aid researcher career development.  

In the “Explore” section, you can find resources and tools to help you develop your self-awareness and identify your career goals, including articles, assessments, and exercises.

Action for you: Set aside time to Explore and identify 1-2 resources that can help you become clearer about your next career step.

In the next bulletin, we will focus on “Act”

Upcoming workshops

Places are now available on the following workshops:

  • 05 February 11:00-12:00- Drop in Q&A on the Research Project Life Cycle 
  • 05 February 10:00-12:30- Bristol Clear 1:1s
  • 06 February 14:00-15:00- Introduction to Post-Award research finance – monitoring and budgeting 
  • 08 February 10:30-12:30- Advanced influencing policy:​ How to engage with policymakers and the policy-making process  
  • 09 February 09:30-12:30- Engaged Research: why and how to embed Public Engagement in your research (in person)
  • 13 February 09:30-13:00- Narrative CV writing workshop (in person)
  • 20 February 11:00-12:00- An introduction to Public Engagement with Research: involving the public in your research
  • 26 February 09:30-12:00- Discovering Career Support for Researchers at Bristol
  • 27 February 10:00-11:30- Intro to Research Funding [Sci+Eng]
  • 27 February 09:30-12:00- Managing Research Teams (in person)
  • 28 February 14:00-15:00- Intro to Research Funding [Health and Life Science]
  • 28 February 09:30-13:00- Healthy and Sustainable Productivity Habits- Part 1
  • 29 February 09:30-12:30- Working Towards a Lectureship 

To book, please sign in to Develop now and search the catalogue for these course titles. To book a place when registration has closed, please email sd-course@bristol.ac.uk

To see a full list of Bristol Clear and Research in Practice workshops, please see our webpage.

Research-related events and initiatives

Bristol Women’s Mentoring Network 2024 – Call for Mentees and Mentors

Supporting academic and professional services colleagues, we are launching a new round for 2024. We are inviting:

  • New mentees (academic or professional services women or individuals who identify as female, grades J, K, L and M) to apply
  • New mentors (anyone from academic, professional services & University of Bristol Alumni, grades K, L, M & X). 
  • Returning mentors can express their interest by emailing uob-mentoring@bristol.ac.uk.

Please visit Bristol Women’s Mentoring Network for more details. Please circulate to any colleagues who may be interested. 

Sign up to information sessions on Develop 

Community Fellowship Opportunity – From the Personal to the Planetary: Interaction, Activism and Futures

The Brigstow Institute and Cabot Institute for the Environment are collaborating on an initiative called From the Personal to the Planetary: Interaction, Activism and Futures. The initiative seeks to activate a broad range of people and stakeholders in considering climate change and responding to the climate emergency.

  • Deadline: 10:00am, 19th February 2024
  • Funding available: £5,000 per fellowship (VAT inclusive)
  •  Number of fellowships available: a total of eight P2P Community Fellowships positions (four academic fellowships drawn from the University of Bristol only, four fellowships for those beyond the university)
  • Timescale of fellowships: fellowships begin June 2024 for 10 months with some flexibility.

Find out more about the fellowships and application process: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/brigstow/funding/p2pfellowships/

Invitation to attend Arts, Law and Social Sciences health & social care research networking event on Tuesday 27 February 2024

You are invited to an interdisciplinary networking event hosted by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. This will be an opportunity for health and wellbeing researchers across the university who adopt social sciences, arts and humanities research methods to get together, learn about current research at Bristol in this space, find out what expertise is available and make new connections.

The networking event will be held in-person over lunch on Tuesday 27 February 2024, 12:00 – 14:00, in the Arts Complex, Humanities Cinema Room G.H01, 7 Woodland Road. Light lunch will be provided in the Research Space on the first floor above G.H01 and participation is free. To register please complete a short registration form by midday on Monday 19 February 2024. Full details and agenda can be found here.

Library Services New Scholarly Works Policy

Library Services are excited to announce that we have a new Scholarly Works Policy. This is an important step to ensuring free and open access to all of our research outputs, and to enabling authors to retain the rights for their work, without unnecessary admin. More information can be found on their blog, as well as their new open access pages.

The Inclusive Research Toolkit

It can be difficult to know where to begin with inclusive research. You know you want to do something… but what?

The Inclusive Research Toolkit provides a framework to start thinking about equity and inclusivity in your own research, with lots of resources, case studies and activities along the way.

How it works: The toolkit is organized into sections according to the stages of the research process. These sections each contain several key topics about different inclusive research practices. The toolkit is set up as a self-guided learning resource on Develop, and is supported through an interactive pdf workbook (which you can download and print).

Training from other providers

Research Adjacent Podcast

The Research Adjacent is a podcast that shines a light on everything that goes into making research successful, except the research. Including public engagement, knowledge exchange, outreach, project management, research communications, publishing, funding, events, training, partnerships, facilitation, and the rest.

Too often, all we hear about are the researchers and the research outputs. Well, not here! In the podcast Sarah McLusky talks to amazing research-adjacent professionals about what they do and why it makes a difference. Tune in to find out why we think the research-adjacent space is where the real magic happens.

Listen now!

Bristol Clear Bulletin- 15th September

Posted on by josie.dunne

Bristol Clear logo

Friday 15th September 2023

Your development matters!
Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear@bristol.ac.uk

In this bulletin:

UKNPAW 2023- Creating connections and rediscovering joy
Announcements
Training from other providers

UKNPAW 2023- Creating connections and rediscovering joy

What is a “Postdoc”?

How similar/different is this across different disciplines, and with the increased focus on interdisciplinary research, how can we communicate and connect across divides?

Starting with a take on the nuances of words by best-selling author and comedian Dave Chawner (https://www.davechawner.co.uk/), followed by conversations and discussion panel led by Prof Ian Sabroe and Dr Dieter Declercq, hosts of the podcast ‘Conversations about Arts, Humanities and Health’, on how to create collaborative environments, break preconceived ideologies, and rediscover the joy that drives us forward with what we do! On the panel will be researchers Dr Claire Burridge (University of Sheffield, history of health and medicine), Dr Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril (University of Edinburgh, philosophy and bioethics), and Dr Mukti Sigh (University of Manchester, protein structure and function).

When: 18th September, 10.30am (expected run time around 1.5 hours, the event will close latest at 12.30pm)

How: Register here https://lovepostdocs.azurelive.net/registration/creating-connections-rediscovering-joy/

Remember you can catch up on previous recorded events as well! Check out the website https://uk-postdoc-appreciation-week.webnode.co.uk/.

person holding a megaphone

Announcements

Changes to how researchers are costed, appointed and developed

The University published principles and guidance on how Research Associates (RAs) and Senior Research Associates (SRAs) are costed on project proposals, and on how roles are designed with scope for development. The key principles are:

  • Identify what type of researcher role a project requires
  • If in doubt, cost researcher roles at Grade J/level b as a minimum
  • Engage with role profiles to recruit to the right level
  • Design roles with scope for development

Connected to the principles and guidance is the change from the process of “Movement from Level a to b” to Promotion up to Senior Lecturer / Senior Research Fellow from 1st April 2024. In the interim period, all line managers of RAs (grade I/ level a) are encouraged to review if the role and responsibilities of the RA are still commensurate with the role profile a for RAs, or if they actually align with the role profile b for SRAs. If the latter is the case, line managers can make a case for Movement from Level a to b for their RA  by  completing and submitting this form until 31st October 2023.

Forging Successful Collaborations with Industry: An Enterprise Masterclass with Anke Te

Are you engaged with industry or enterprise activity? Would you like to get some advice and guidance on how to build effective partnerships? If so then this event might be of interest:

Anike is the Chief Strategy Officer and member of the Strategy Management Group of Lucideon, an international materials design, development, and commercialisation consultancy. In this global-facing role, Anike advises Lucideon on long-term strategic direction and how to develop and commercialise key new activities around technology trends and drivers of the future. As an Aegis Professor for Engineering Biology at the University of Bristol, Anike helps to facilitate cross-disciplinary and collaborative working. She works with the Bristol BioDesign Institute (BBI) as industrial advisor for the translation of synthetic and engineering biology to applications in industry.

Anike has a wide range of experiences in different sectors and positions, various leadership roles and an extensive international network across a variety of industries, academia, and institutions. In this Enterprise Masterclass, Anike will discuss her career and experience working in various sectors and positions, the importance of partnerships between universities and industry, and how to develop successful partnerships.

Thursday 28th September 10:15- 13:00, Beacon House BS8 1SE. Room 4.06

You can secure your place via eventbrite

Please send any queries relating to this event to claire.wrixon@bristol.ac.uk

Career Journeys: discovering careers outside of academia- 28th September
If you’re considering how to progress your career outside of academia and would like to hear from others who have done just this, then this event is for you!
This informal session is focused on the speaker’s personal stories which demonstrate a variety of approaches of transitioning their career from being an academic to using their skills and experience working in a different field.

This month’s speaker will be Dr Jenny Oliver:

  • Jenny completed an undergraduate master’s in pharmacology (with industry placement year) and PhD at Bath University, before undertaking a 3-year laboratory-based postdoctoral research position at Keele University.
  • She joined Bristol University in 2010 as a Research Coordinator for the Bristol (Children’s) Vaccine Centre where she was initially responsible for facilitating several paediatric vaccine trials and establishing the Immunity and Infection Research Tissue Bank. As the team grew, she took on more managerial responsibilities, overseeing staff as well as research projects, and handling all operational aspects from feasibility assessments through to study completion.
  • Jenny now leads the research support team (“admin team”) arm of the Bristol Vaccine Centre, currently consisting of some 50+ staff, and manages the financial, HR and operational planning across all BVC areas.

Thursday 28th September 12:00-13:00, online

Sign up on Develop now!

An Introduction to Co-Produced Research

Do you want to find out more about co-produced research? Thinking of applying to Brigstow for seedcorn funding?

Join Brigstow and Hannah Mumby for a workshop to explore how to use co-produced approaches in research. This event is aimed at anyone wanting to find out about co-produced research and who might also be thinking of applying for seedcorn funding from Brigstow.
More information and registration.

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:30 – 16:00. Room 1.68, Queen’s Building, University Walk Bristol BS8 1TR

How can we improve research culture at Bristol

If you have a suggestion, or any thoughts or comments about research culture at Bristol, let us know through this suggestions box.
Contact: If you’d like to discuss research culture, get in touch with Marcus Munafò, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Culture at marcus.munafo@bristol.ac.uk

Research Culture Uncovered Series

Leeds University are posting weekly podcasts on all matters relating to research culture. During these conversations, Research Culture Uncovered will be asking what is Research Culture and why does it matter?

Recent episodes include:

  • Industrial Research Fellowship and the Research Co-Culture podcast
  • The Future of Research Impact Culture
  • The Research Adjacents

See all Research Culture Uncovered Podcasts– also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and Google

Enhancing Research Culture: post-project case studies

Over 30 research projects were funded by Research England to enhance the research culture at the University. These projects are now reaching their conclusion, and the Enhancing Research Culture team are looking forward to sharing further information on their findings over the next couple of months. Three project case studies are now available to read: Untold Stories – Challenging research behaviours for study of the past; The Inclusive Research Collective; and Supporting Neurodivergent Research Culture. To learn more, visit the Enhancing Research Culture website.

Training From Other Providers

Follow the link above for details on online training courses currently available

Bristol Clear Bulletin

Posted on by josie.dunne

Bristol Clear logo

Friday 19th May 2023

Your development matters!
Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear@bristol.ac.uk

In this bulletin:

Bristol Clear 1:1s

Upcoming Bristol Clear opportunities

Announcements

Training from other providers

Bristol Clear 1:1s

Do you have a work-related issue that you would like to talk through with someone?
Or would you like to take some time to review your career options?

Bristol Clear offer 30-minute coaching-style sessions to researchers on Pathway 2 to give you an opportunity to talk through work/career issues with an impartial member of the Bristol Clear team.
These sessions give you the space to reflect and consider solutions.

Researchers who have made use of our offer have fed back that they value the opportunity to talk through their issue and feel an enhanced clarity about what next steps to take.

Book an appointment now! 

Upcoming Bristol Clear and Other Opportunities

Places are now available on the following courses:

  • 24 May 09:30-13:00- Working Towards a Lectureship (in person)
  • 06 June 09:30-12:45- Being Strategic About Your Career as a Researcher
  • 07 June 14:00-15:30- Intro to Research Funding [Arts & SSL)
  • 12 June 12:00-13:00- Promotion and End of Contract Q&A
  • 14 June 13:30-17:00- Strong Roots (in person) 
  • 15 June 10:00-13:00- Interview Confidence
  • 20 June 10:00-13:00- Developing Your Career Plan (in person)
  • 21 June 13:30-17:00- Working Towards a Lectureship (STEM) in person
  • 28 June 14:00-15:00- Intro to Writing a Grant Proposal (Arts + SSL) 
  • 29 June 10:00-12:30-  How to Peer Review Manuscripts for Journals (in person)

To book, please sign in to Develop now and search the catalogue for these course titles.

To book a place when registration has closed, please email sd-course@bristol.ac.uk

person holding a megaphone

Announcements

How can we improve research culture at Bristol
If you have a suggestion, or any thoughts or comments about research culture at Bristol, let us know through this suggestions box.
Contact: If you’d like to discuss research culture, get in touch with Marcus Munafò, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Culture at marcus.munafo@bristol.ac.uk

Handling Challenging Conversations
Wednesday 24th May, 09.30-12.30
This course will support you to have effective and positive conversations both face-to-face and virtually. We will focus on adopting a coaching approach to these conversations and will use a range of practical tools and techniques to develop confidence. Enrol via Develop.

SETsquared Idea2Pitch event
Do you have a great business idea, but don’t know where to start? Or are you unsure what to do in order to grow your technology company? SETSquared Bristol’s Idea2Pitch will help hone your ideas, and shape them into a pitch for gaining interest or support in your venture. Reserve your free spot here!

Histories of Tobacco
Watershed, 1 Canon’s Road Bristol BS1 5TX
2PM – 5PM
The use and trade of tobacco has a long and complex history, and is intertwined with a number of national and global social issues. The history of tobacco provides an insightful and though-provoking perspective on the past, but also a reminder that what is uncontroversial today may be viewed very differently in the future.

We are delighted to be joined by experts in the field including: Ian Tyrrell, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of New South Wales, who brings a wealth of expertise and academic insight into the sociopolitical history of tobacco use, advertising and subsequent health reforms, and Patricia Nez Henderson, a University of Yale alumna and indigenous North American scholar, who became the first indigenous President of the Society for Research on Nicotine or Tobacco.

Join us to learn about:

  • Tobacco as a sacred product, and its colonization
  • The social history of tobacco
  • The (re)discovery of tobacco’s harms and subsequent education campaign

Register via Eventbrite

Celebrating Technicians
Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building
11:30AM – 2PM

Technicians are a vital part of the research process, supporting and furthering innovative and ground-breaking research endeavours across all Schools and Faculties at the University of Bristol. This event focuses on the past, present and future of the role of technicians in academia.

We’ll be joined by Kelly Vere MBE, Higher Education Engagement Manager and Technician Commitment Programme Director, along with Andy Connelly, writer for Technician Journey, and Catrin Harris, Technical Community Research Fellow for the Talent Project, University of Nottingham. Hear three talks on the role of technicians contributing to the success of research projects across the U.K.’s research landscape.

Join us to;

  • Celebrate the excellent work carried out by technicians in the research space
  • Join the discussion with an expert panel on the importance of technical support in research
  • Network with academic, technical and professional services colleagues and forge new links across the University

Catering (canapes, drinks and snacks) will be provided at this free event.

Register via Eventbrite

MRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2023 – Deadline 5th July

The MRC IAA is now open for applications! Applicants can now apply for funding that aims to support the translation of scientific discoveries in Bristol’s portfolio intervention with broad, lasting impact on human health.

Translational research is the application of fundamental research to create innovations in the diagnosis, treatment, management, or prevention of disease.  Applicants can apply for up to £100,000 for translational projects lasting 6-12 months.

If you would like to apply and read more about the scheme, please visit out SharePoint page here. If you would like to speak to one of the team about your project and whether it is eligible for the scheme, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk

Working with Industry – exciting development opportunity for those who want to work with industry!

We are excited to announce that we will be holding a valuable set of workshop series for technicians and researchers who want to work with Industry. The workshops will be focusing on how to utilise an opportunity with to work with industry, how to engage with industry and how to effectively communicate with industry partners. These workshops are open to technicians and researchers who are interested in furthering their relationship with industry or want start a new one. These workshops are free to attend and have been funded by the Impact Development team.There are three workshops available to attend in June which will be online via Zoom, for more information and a chance to sign up for this extremely beneficial opportunity, please visit this eventbrite page

Any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk.

Research Culture Uncovered Series
Leeds University are posting weekly podcasts on all matters relating to research culture. During these conversations, Research Culture Uncovered will be asking what is Research Culture and why does it matter?
See all Research Culture Uncovered Podcasts– also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google and Develop.

BBSRC FTMA Tools and Technologies Translational Support Fund
Gain exclusive access to an external expert to help you to develop plans for the translation or commercialisation of research tools and enabling technologies arising from research in the BBSRC remit. If you have a research tool or enabling technology project that you would like to progress, this is a unique and worthwhile opportunity for project teams that sit within the BBSRC remit (which must include and ECR) to access 1:1 mentoring with our new Entrepreneur in Resident Tajinder Mattu expert in the relevant field.

We are looking for innovative technologies to address current challenges/bottlenecks in human health & disease, agriculture, and animal health. Supported activities might include:

  • Developing translational plans
  • Understanding industry needs
  • Support for introductory conversations with potential project partners
  • Exploring applications of technologies and markets

If you would like to benefit from this exciting opportunity, please download the application form which can be found on the Sharepoint Page. If you have any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk and susie.maier@bristol.ac.uk 

Gain exclusive access to an external expert to take your research to the next level!
Would you like to have a free 1-2-1 expert consultation with one of our Experts in Residents?
Taj Mattu and Richard Seabrook are available to offer you specialist advice and support to develop your research through the translational pathway. They both have a combined wealth of crucial knowledge, having experience working in industry and directing their own businesses (360 Biomedical Ltd, Nidor Diagnostics). Both Taj and Richard are more than happy to talk to researchers to help advance their research and offer any advise on licensing, IP and academic translation.
If you would like to set up a consultation with Richard or Taj, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk

Researcher support tools
The Research Application and Award Lifecycle describes the processes to follow from having an  initial idea for a research project, to securing funding, through to project delivery and using project outputs. To clarify, simplify and strengthen the current process, a suite of researcher support tools is now available on the RED SharePoint site.
These tools will be piloted until early 2023 when engagement will be reviewed with a view to rolling out permanently. If you have any questions or feedback about the tools or the wider End-to-End project, please contact the project manager: katie.glenton-wall@bristol.ac.uk.

Enhancing Research Culture: post-project case studies
Over 30 research projects were funded by Research England to enhance the research culture at the University. These projects are now reaching their conclusion, and the Enhancing Research Culture team are looking forward to sharing further information on their findings over the next couple of months. Three project case studies are now available to read: Untold Stories – Challenging research behaviours for study of the past; The Inclusive Research Collective; and Supporting Neurodivergent Research Culture. To learn more, visit the Enhancing Research Culture website.

Training From Other Providers

Follow the link above for details on online training courses currently available

Bristol Clear Bulletin

Posted on by josie.dunne

Bristol Clear logo

Friday 05th May 2023

Your development matters!
Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear@bristol.ac.uk

In this bulletin:

Access to Teaching Opportunities: please let us know about your experience

Upcoming Bristol Clear opportunities

Announcements

Training from other providers

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Access to Teaching Opportunities: please let us know about your experience

Have you been involved in teaching activities? Would you like to teach but have not had any opportunity to do so?

Please let us know about your access to teaching opportunities by completing this short survey.

This survey is open to all research staff in a Pathway 2 (P2) role at the University. The focus of this survey is to collect data on access to teaching opportunities for research staff to monitor the implementation of the Policy on teaching opportunities for P2 staff.

 Upcoming Bristol Clear and Other Opportunities

Places are now available on the following courses:

  • 09 May 11:00-12:15- Intro to Research Funding (Health & Life Sciences) waiting list
  • 11 May 10:00-13:00- Presenting with Confidence for Researchers
  • 16 May 19:30-16:30- Project Management Tools for Managing your Research Project (in person)
  • 16 May 10:00-12:00- Optimising your LinkedIn Profile (in person) waiting list
  • 17 May 10:30-15:30- Networking for Researchers- A Strategic Approach (in person) 
  • 18 May 12:00-13:00- Career Journeys: Discovering Careers Outside of Academia 
  • 24 May 09:30-13:00- Working Towards a Lectureship (in person)
  • 06 June 09:30-12:45- Being Strategic About Your Career as a Researcher
  • 07 June 14:00-15:30- Intro to Research Funding [Arts & SSL)
  • 12 June 12:00-13:00- Promotion and End of Contract Q&A
  • 14 June 13:30-17:00- Strong Roots (in person) 
  • 15 June 10:00-13:00- Interview Confidence
  • 20 June 10:00-13:00- Developing Your Career Plan (in person)
  • 21 June 13:30-17:00- Working Towards a Lectureship (STEM) in person
  • 28 June 14:00-15:00- Intro to Writing a Grant Proposal (Arts + SSL) 
  • 29 June 10:00-12:30-  How to Peer Review Manuscripts for Journals (in person)

To book, please sign in to Develop now and search the catalogue for these course titles.

To book a place when registration has closed, please email sd-course@bristol.ac.uk

person holding a megaphone

Announcements

How can we improve research culture at Bristol
If you have a suggestion, or any thoughts or comments about research culture at Bristol, let us know through this suggestions box.
Contact: If you’d like to discuss research culture, get in touch with Marcus Munafò, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Culture at marcus.munafo@bristol.ac.uk
Developing Effective Conversations (Coaching skills)
This interactive programme (2 x face-to-face half days and 1 x 2hr online session) will empower and equip you to use this style in your management/leadership role. For more information please click here.

Workshop dates (3 parts)
•    Workshop 1 (face-to-face): Tues 9 May, 9:30am-1pm
•    Action Learning (online): Mon 12 June, 11am-1pm
•    Workshop 2 (face-to-face): Thurs 20 July, 2pm-4:30pm

BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account – deadline for applications 11th May 
The Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation are pleased to announce the BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account call is now open for 2023. Two competitive awards will support projects which de-risk early translation, explore potential markets, advance the translation of research or engage relevant partners.  All pathway staff may apply.  Funding must be spent by 31st March 2024. The application form and guidelines can be found on the SharePoint page here.

  • Concept Development Award – Concept development awards of up to £10,000 for pilot studies to demonstrate the concept of a proposed solution to a societal need.
  • Impact Plus Award – Awards of up to £40,000 For projects with a clear opportunity and route to market; and for projects with a clear route to external funding such as BBSRC Follow On Fund. Projects will be developed with our Commercialisation Managers and will include a statement on commercial potential and IP position, cash/in-kind contributions from industry and/or a market analysis to ensure value for money and a strong position for further investment..

If you have any questions regarding the call, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk.

Grab a slice of the media limelight…
Are you an academic, researcher or PhD candidate who wants to highlight your research and expertise to a global public audience?
The Conversation is a popular news analysis and evidence-based opinion website featuring content written by academics, with editorial support from professional journalists. The articles, routinely picked up by other major national and international media titles, have a monthly audience of 14 million in the UK and more than 64 million across the world. To help you make the most of this great opportunity, a one-hour online media training session is being held on Wednesday, 17 May at 2pm and everyone is welcome.
The interactive session will:

  • Give pointers on how to create a winning written pitch
  • Explain different approaches and article types
  • Offer tips on style, tone, and structure for writing the piece.

Plenty of examples will be provided for illustration and you’ll also be walked through The Conversation’s editorial process. The session is free to attend – simply sign up here to secure your place. Numbers are limited so book in now!

Healthtech social 17th May 
To celebrate the first theme in this year’s Event Series exploring all things healthtech, join DREI on Wednesday 17th May for an informal get together with folk from the cluster. Come along to share your healthtech related thoughts, challenges, asks and advice, all helped along with refreshments and pizza.

Whether you’re a digital health startup looking to make new connections, a biotech scaleup seeking investment, a funder seeking promising projects, or an academic looking to collaborate with industry innovators, register today to connect, innovate and collaborate.

To sign up for this event, please visit this eventbrite page.

Handling Challenging Conversations
Wednesday 24th May, 09.30-12.30
This course will support you to have effective and positive conversations both face-to-face and virtually. We will focus on adopting a coaching approach to these conversations and will use a range of practical tools and techniques to develop confidence. Enrol via Develop.

SETsquared Idea2Pitch event
Do you have a great business idea, but don’t know where to start? Or are you unsure what to do in order to grow your technology company? SETSquared Bristol’s Idea2Pitch will help hone your ideas, and shape them into a pitch for gaining interest or support in your venture. Reserve your free spot here!

Rapid Research funding for interdisciplinary health research
The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute has short-term funding available to support interdisciplinary health-related research activities (including development of approaches and connections, coordination work or research) in preparation for external grant applications.
Full details and application form are on the Institute Funding page. Application deadline is midday 25 May 2023 and funding needs to be spent by 31 July 2023. We are supporting health-related research in any context, encourage participation of colleagues from all Faculties and are particularly interested in the following areas:

  • equitable and sustainable health
  • climate, environment and health
  • infectious disease research
  • mental health

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Nina Couzin, to discuss ideas, or Sarah Blackmore on ebi-health@bristol.ac.uk for process queries.

Working with Industry- exciting development opportunity for those who want to to work with Industry
We are excited to announce that we will be holding a valuable set of workshop series for technicians and researchers who want to work with Industry. The workshops will be focusing on how to utilise an opportunity with to work with industry, how to engage with industry and how to effectively communicate with industry partners. These workshops are open to technicians and researchers who fit within the BBSRC remit, and who are interested in furthering their relationship with industry or want start a new one. These workshops are free to attend and have been funded by the Impact Development team. There are three workshops available to attend in June which will be online via Zoom, for more information and a chance to sign up for this extremely beneficial opportunity, please visit this eventbrite page.

Any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk.

Research Culture Uncovered Series
Leeds University are posting weekly podcasts on all matters relating to research culture. During these conversations, Research Culture Uncovered will be asking what is Research Culture and why does it matter?
See all Research Culture Uncovered Podcasts– also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google and Develop.

BBSRC FTMA Tools and Technologies Translational Support Fund
Gain exclusive access to an external expert to help you to develop plans for the translation or commercialisation of research tools and enabling technologies arising from research in the BBSRC remit. If you have a research tool or enabling technology project that you would like to progress, this is a unique and worthwhile opportunity for project teams that sit within the BBSRC remit (which must include and ECR) to access 1:1 mentoring with our new Entrepreneur in Resident Tajinder Mattu expert in the relevant field.

We are looking for innovative technologies to address current challenges/bottlenecks in human health & disease, agriculture, and animal health. Supported activities might include:

  • Developing translational plans
  • Understanding industry needs
  • Support for introductory conversations with potential project partners
  • Exploring applications of technologies and markets

If you would like to benefit from this exciting opportunity, please download the application form which can be found on the Sharepoint Page. If you have any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk and susie.maier@bristol.ac.uk 

Gain exclusive access to an external expert to take your research to the next level!
Would you like to have a free 1-2-1 expert consultation with one of our Experts in Residents?
Taj Mattu and Richard Seabrook are available to offer you specialist advice and support to develop your research through the translational pathway. They both have a combined wealth of crucial knowledge, having experience working in industry and directing their own businesses (360 Biomedical Ltd, Nidor Diagnostics). Both Taj and Richard are more than happy to talk to researchers to help advance their research and offer any advise on licensing, IP and academic translation.
If you would like to set up a consultation with Richard or Taj, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk

Researcher support tools
The Research Application and Award Lifecycle describes the processes to follow from having an  initial idea for a research project, to securing funding, through to project delivery and using project outputs. To clarify, simplify and strengthen the current process, a suite of researcher support tools is now available on the RED SharePoint site.
These tools will be piloted until early 2023 when engagement will be reviewed with a view to rolling out permanently. If you have any questions or feedback about the tools or the wider End-to-End project, please contact the project manager: katie.glenton-wall@bristol.ac.uk.

Enhancing Research Culture: post-project case studies
Over 30 research projects were funded by Research England to enhance the research culture at the University. These projects are now reaching their conclusion, and the Enhancing Research Culture team are looking forward to sharing further information on their findings over the next couple of months. Three project case studies are now available to read: Untold Stories – Challenging research behaviours for study of the past; The Inclusive Research Collective; and Supporting Neurodivergent Research Culture. To learn more, visit the Enhancing Research Culture website.

Training From Other Providers

Follow the link above for details on online training courses currently available

Social Media – What value for me, and my career?

Posted on by mg2990

What value for me?

If you are itching to Tweet and Post and B/Vlog and Snap and Tik and… you might want to go straight on to the next section.

However, we think that, before you do, it’s a good idea to pause and consider how Social Media can benefit you and your career. That’s because, although Social Media can support you at all stages of the research cycle, it requires an investment of time (although not as much as you may fear). So, it’s important to minimise confusion and wasted time by working out why you might engage with it, so that you can engage most effectively.

A useful analogy for many of the sites we’ll consider is to view them as an empty room into which you will invite people or a room full of people with a shared interest. You have control over who to invite into your empty room and control over which rooms you enter, but little control over what people say in them – just as in physical environments.

What do you need?

With this in mind let’s start by thinking about what you need to hear and see in those rooms to help you.

  • Do you need to find out how to be a researcher, meet others who will support you to move to research independence, or address an audience of people eager to hear from you as a leader in the field?
  • Are you looking to discover and join academic and other professional networks? Share knowledge with them? Or recruit people to help set up new networks from scratch?
  • Are you trying to explain your ideas to a new audience? Challenge existing ideas?
  • Do you need to be recognised for what you share? Or are you just ‘giving things away’?

Where you’re up to in your career, and where you want to go next will shape what you do… for example:

Doctoral researchers need to manage the demands of their PhD, keep on top of literature and developments in their field, disseminate their work, maintain their momentum, develop their employability, write a thesis, prepare to defend their work in the viva and prepare for the transition into whatever will follow.

  • Who could help you find ways to tackle these demands?
  • What information would help you understand academia and research?

Postdoctoral and contract based research staff need to develop a research profile, develop their independence, disseminate their work and ensure it has maximum impact, understand the funding landscape, develop links to future collaborators, be aware of opportunities and again, be ready for the end of their contracts and what will follow.

  • Who needs to be aware of you and your work?
  • What information or opportunities would help you be more successful?

Established researchers need to develop new research ideas, publish work which is important and influences their field, attract new students and staff, build relationships with partners to enhance impact, manage their time and prioritise effectively, add value to their institution and research community, find partners for projects and proposals and demonstrate their esteem in their field and community.

  • What individuals or communities do you want to connect with? 
  • What kind of influence and impact would you like to have?

Deepening your knowledge of academic careers

Given that you will be building your profile and contributing material potentially for many years, you also need to look ahead in your career and think about future challenges and demands.

Many online resources are available to help you think about these demands and broaden your thinking about your current situation. Note that these aren’t solely focused on social media although we discovered them through social media – either through the individuals or organisations that produced them or seeing them recommended and discussed by others.

The University of Manchester’s “An Academic Career” site includes advice and insights into the demands and opportunities ahead.

Jobs.ac.uk includes a substantial careers advice section with many different articles and a series of e-books on different aspects of academic careers

Oxford University’s Apprise site brings together resources from a range of projects aimed at those in the early stages of an academic pathway and includes prompts for personal reflection.

The Wellcome Trust offers a guide detailing the kinds of things to think about for those returning to academic careers after a break, or other time away.

Vitae, a national organization for researcher development, has published a series of reports on the destinations and subsequent career paths of doctoral graduates.

There are also offline sources, like Liz Elvidge, Emma Williams and Carol Spencely’s “What every postdoc needs to know” (summary here) – a book that breaks down the whole postdoctoral career journey, and asks challenging questions that you might want to consider.

What are the challenges that you’re facing now? At the next stage? In 5 years? In 10 years?

With these challenges in mind, if you now feel ready to explore the role of social media in your career, the next section will provide an overview of social media and the platforms available.

If you aren’t ready to move on yet, you can work through the more detailed questions in the worksheet and arrange to discuss your thoughts about your career challenges with a colleague or mentor.

Social Media – A series for researchers

Posted on by mg2990

Social Media offers researchers huge potential to communicate with a range of audiences. Researchers who have developed an effective social media presence will talk about the ease with which they can engage people, strengthen their networks and receive key information. Reaping the benefits requires an investment of time, but just as with established networking, there are strategies to hit the ground running, to benefit more quickly and have a greater impact.

Current limitations on social interaction, and focus on working from home means that not only is Social Media particularly useful now to maintain visibility for present and future posts, but that researchers may have more time than before to engage in developing a Social Media presence.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing a series of blog posts to help researchers to better understand the potential of social media to enhance their research activities and develop a strong, credible profile. We’ll look at the key sites and tools, and guide you through a process to evaluate any new networks you encounter.

If you’re familiar with social media, the posts will help you reflect on your communication style and career objectives, investigate unfamiliar platforms and learn from the experiences and advice of other researchers.

The posts are structured into five sections. Each will include an overview, links to resources which explore the topic in more detail and a worksheet designed to help you reflect on your approach and set clear objectives. The sections are written to help you:

  1. Reflect on your career and how social media might add value
  2. Navigate both generic and research-based social media options
  3. Relate the potential of social media to your career and research goals
  4. Communicate effectively, efficiently and appropriately online
  5. Evaluate and develop your online impact and ambitions

This resource is designed be a relatively concise starting point to the world of social media, so it covers the headlines for each topic and where necessary points to the detail available in a range of articles, books and guides on the web. These will all vary in depth, perspective and age, so you can choose how much to dig into the detail.

Watch this space for the next post… !

Online Writers’ Retreats… what you do when you can’t meet up!

Posted on by mg2990

If you search the Internet for writing retreats, you’ll find all kind of images that involve groups of people sat, with laptops, around a table… like this:

group of writers around a table, each with their own laptop

There’s a very good reason for this. When Rowena Murray did her initial work on structured retreats back in 2009, she found that key to success was the ‘doing together’ that comes from all being in the same place at the same time.

Writers on our retreats have told us the same.

“It helps me push through, when I get stuck and I might get distracted and give up, being with others who are also writing means I don’t stop… I keep trying, and eventually I work out how to get past the problem and I can move on.”

What do you do, then, when – like now – you can’t be in the same room? (more…)

Creating the best culture for researchers to thrive

Posted on by claudia.gumm

…is the aim of the recently updated “Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers”. In an earlier blogpost we offered some of our reflections and thoughts on what the 2019 version of the Concordat might look like. Now that the updated Concordat is published, and we as the University of Bristol have signed up to it, what does it actually mean?

We are all responsible for creating a positive environment to thrive in

The Concordat sets out that the responsibility for implementing the Concordat, and therefore the responsibility for creating a positive culture in which researchers can thrive, is a joint responsibility. We are all responsible for creating this change. We, that is institutions (the University), funders, managers of researchers (PIs, Heads of Schools), and last but not least researchers (you!).

This means that the University of Bristol will be working to create the work environment, policies and practices which will allow researchers to thrive. The University is developing an action plan for the implementation of the Concordat, which it will be held accountable for.

We will be working with managers of researchers to offer support and information to help them support you effectively.

And we will be supporting you as researchers directly, by continuing to offer you development opportunities, career support and clarity, and by working closely with you to identify what support you need the most.

But no support, no policy, no action plan will make any difference if individuals don’t play their part in the story. Only if we all work together towards this goal of creating a positive and supportive culture is there a chance for it to become reality.

 

What can you do?

As a first step, familiarise yourself with the Concordat and reflect on its expectations of you. Start having conversations with your PI/manager about the Concordat, and explore together how you can use this as a framework to create this positive environment, and to develop your career.

You may want to map your skills against the Researcher Development Framework and use this as a starting point for your continuing development. Check for staff development opportunities, 1:1 appointments, find mentors if you haven’t got any already (you may want to use the Bristol Clear Mentoring Scheme which has 2 cohort intakes per year), and talk to your Rep if you have any suggestions or would like to highlight any issues.

We believe that together we can make a difference, so we are looking forward to continuing to talk to, and work with, you over the coming weeks and months.

 

Find your Why…

Posted on by Katie Manktelow

We all know that we’re researchers… and that researchers research stuff… But, if I asked you to tell me why you do what you do in one sentence, could you tell me?

If you can’t – then perhaps you need to find your why.

‘Find your Why’ is a concept created by Simon Sinek who believes that each of us has a ‘why’ at our core. Our ‘why’ affects the decisions we make and is the inner driver for why we do what we do. Our ‘why’ is the reason we get out of bed in the morning, the thing that makes our lives worth living.

Sinek believes that most of us know what we do…. “I’m a Research Associate”

He believes that we know how we do it … “I run tests in a lab / I create new technologies /I look at the worlds history/ I study the earth etc….”

But most of us never stop to think about why we do what we do.

Finding your ‘why’ is all about digging deep to explore who you are as a whole and find that unique ‘why’ that makes you tick.

Why is ‘why’ Important?

Why is important for you on a personal level because you’ll find energy a lot more sustainable if you act in harmony with your why. When you are faced with choices, if you are making a decision that aligns with your why, then that decision is likely to bring you greater fulfilment and contentment than a decision that goes against your ‘why’. Knowing your why can help you to show up as who you want to be in the world.

But why is also very important for us as researchers because the ‘why’ of research is what hooks people’s interest and gets them to back what we do.

Consider these examples:

“I analyse microbes. My research is ground-breaking. It could change the world.”

“I change the world. I do it by carrying out groundbreaking health research. I analyse microbes.”

Who would you rather listen to?

How to discover your why…

Whys are strange things – because they tend to float to the surface in everything that you do.

Simon Sinek’s why is “To inspire people to do the things that inspire them so that, together, we can change our world”, and this has come out in all the different areas of work that he’s been involved in.

So, sometimes it’s enough to just look back and see if there’s a common thread.

Mike – for example – has worked in education, in a bank, for a charity, with children, and now with researchers… but in all those situations, he’s found himself challenging people to recognise that the way things are isn’t the way that they have to be… and to see that change is possible.

Katie – for example – has worked in a museum, for a council, as a self-employed artist, and now as a researcher development advisor… but in all those situations, she’s gravitated towards supporting people to make the most of the opportunities that they have.

What if it’s not that simple?

If you can’t see a common thread, then you can start to ask yourself…

What do you do?

… Why?

… And why is that important?

… And why is that important? 

… And… (guess what?)… why?

Or start to ask yourself deep questions (!)

“If you knew you were about to die, what’s the one message you’d like to leave behind for people to think about?”

Or more superficial ones.

“If you went to work in a [insert completely different sector here], what’s the job that you’d really like to do there?”

Try and write a ‘Why statement.’

When you have some ideas, then try and write a ‘why statement’.

Mike: “I believe Higher Education could be radically different… so I try to model new forms of research environment at the UoB… I work in researcher development”.

Katie: “I believe that people are important… so, I set up opportunities for people to develop… I organise the Bristol Clear mentoring scheme”.

You: “I believe that… so I …. I do…  ”

Start living your why

Some people may find their ‘why’s’ quite quickly but for others it may not be so obvious or instant (Katie still struggles to find hers). It may be something you need to explore for weeks, months or years in order to clarify it, and that’s ok.  The closer we get to finding our ‘why’s’ then the more we can live in harmony with it.

Finding your why can potentially be quite alarming. You may find that you have strayed away from your why and that you are doing something that you don’t want to do or behaving in a way you don’t want to behave. It may require you to make a change in some area of your life which can be scary. However, by taking steps towards living our why it will always lead to a more purpose filled life.

So next time you have a big decision to make, an event where you’ll be networking with others or you’re thinking about how to start your grant application… consider starting with why.

Resources:

Simon Sinek webpage

Find your why Book – by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek – Ted Talk