Professor Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray are joined by Dr Siân Astley- Secrétaire Générale de EuroFIR AISBL

The group had a wide ranging conversation including:

The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, open science, and disseminating research to a broader audience was emphasised, particularly in the context of biology, medicine, and food research. They discuss the challenges and considerations in engaging with open science, including issues related to data privacy, intellectual property, and the need for balance in protecting contributors while ensuring progress. The conversation also touched on the potential benefits of self-publishing, the use of repositories for sharing research materials, and the importance of clear planning, communication, and understanding in small research projects.

They also discuss the changing landscape of research and development. They highlight that whilst there is now greater accountability and competition, there is still room for "big sky thinking" and creativity. The concept of "open science" was also introduced, defined as making research as open as possible while closing it only when necessary. This approach, which is favoured by the European Commission, was contrasted with traditional publishing models, and Sian mentioned that it has led to new alternatives for organisations, including self-publishing.

They also discuss the concept of fair data, which is meaningless without proper documentation, and the importance of data exchange and interaction between specialties. Thet further touch on the role of citizen science in this context, citing examples of successful collaborations in other fields like Astrophysics and Mathematics. They both acknowledged that the current academic assessment process and concerns around data privacy are hindrances to this open science approach.

They also discuss the challenges of predicting the impact of research proposals, with an emphasis on the role of individuals in contributing to open science.

They highlight the value of due consultation and the potential benefits of using creative commons licenses for a more flexible approach to data sharing agreements.

Finally they touch on the challenges and considerations in small research projects, outlining the need for clear planning, communication, and understanding the terms and conditions of existing research tools. Additionally, they deliberated on research impact, policy engagement, and potential future research directions, such as global competency development in China.

You can find out more about research coaching and gather some resources at aftassociates.co.uk

Professor Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss the importance of professional networks, the impact of research, and the need for openness and collaboration in their fields. They share success stories of collaborative research and the benefits of cross-sector collaborations, as well as the significance of actively disseminating research through various channels. Lastly, they emphasise the importance of open science, the use of open access repositories, and the shift in focus from the number of papers to the impact of research.

They also touch on collaborative case studies, and how to deal with Intellectual Property issues.

Annette shares her recent experience from an EU project where everyone was required to produce an estimate of their output's scale, and Annette highlights the importance of getting research out of the lab and into the public domain, as research that sits on a shelf doesn't contribute to knowledge. She also highlights the shift in focus from the number of papers an academic produces to the impact their research has. Finally, she encourages open science and emphasises the role of professional researchers in ensuring their research is used effectively.

You can find out more about research coaching and gather some resources at aftassociates.co.uk

Professor Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss the importance of authenticity, objectivity, and ethics in research, and the role of a critical friend in ensuring well-rounded research. They also discuss the significance of personal expectations, bracketing different perspectives, and the benefits of collaboration in research.

The various subject areas include:

Authenticity, Objectivity, and Collaboration in Research

Annette's Research Experience and Ethics

Authenticity in Research and Leadership

You can find out more about research coaching and gather some resources at aftassociates.co.uk

Prof Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss discuss a conceptual framework for research, emphasisisng the importance of defining purpose, impact, authenticity, and personal growth. They explore the need for a reflective approach, challenging assumptions, and considering positionality in research. Additionally, they touch upon supervisory practices, pacing work, and utilising community feedback.

Annette presents a simplified conceptual framework for research to designed to help students concentrate on the importance of their research rather than getting lost in methodological details

There should be a clear impact goal for any project or initiative before investing time and energy. They outlines the importance of authenticity and positionality in research including awareness of one’s own biases and how they influence the research process, particularly in STEM.

She explained that all five items: - relevance; purpose; beliefs; congruence, as well as connection and impact - are important and should be equally considered when formulating a research question. Annette also encourages people to consider the type of impact they want to make, whether it be through publications, workshops, or direct sales of their work.

Finally, they stress the importance of authenticity, personal significance, and structure in research. Annette emphasises the need to question assumptions, examine relevance, and challenge personal beliefs. She also highlights the advantages of being part of a community and the value of feedback.

You can find out more about research coaching and gather some resources at aftassociates.co.uk

Prof Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss the purpose and methods in research, emphasising its value in providing useful information and its role in decision-making. They also explore the growing significance of critical thinking in research, the process of pursuing a PhD, and the importance of building upon existing ideas.

Annette outlines that research is a systematic inquiry into something of interest, not just an academic pursuit. She points out that everyone is a researcher in some way, as they constantly seek information and solve problems in their daily lives. Annette also highlights the value of research in providing useful information that can be acted upon. They discuss the different types of research, including hypothesis-driven research and research that emerges from a need to understand a particular phenomenon. They agreed that research should serve a purpose and be driven by a passion for discovery and problem-solving.

Annette underscores the need for researchers to defend their choices and assess various viewpoints. They also explore the trend of practitioners engaging in research to verify information and test innovative solutions.

They discuss the value of building upon existing ideas and research rather than starting anew. They note, that while it may seem daunting to encounter similar concepts, it can be reassuring to know others have faced similar challenges. They emphasise the importance of adding individual perspectives and experiences to the ongoing 'conversation' of research, and highlight the usefulness of replicating experiments to ensure the validity of findings. Annette stresses that their goal is to make a contribution to the conversation, rather than simply answering questions.

You can find out more about research coaching and gather some resources at aftassociates.co.uk

Professor

Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discuss the evolving dynamics in the field of research and the concept of the ‘Research Box’. Annette shares her insights on the changing academic landscape, emphasising that it presents an opportunity rather than a restriction. They also discuss the importance of both technical and professional skills for researchers, including team collaboration, communication with interdisciplinary groups, securing research grants, and networking.

Annette shares her academic journey that began a little while ago! Her passion for inquiry led her to pursue a Ph.D. Despite initial struggles with no data in her second year. She eventually became a research scientist before shifting her focus to Professional Development. Annette's interest in coaching led her to become the chair and CEO of the Professional Development Foundation. She now works with students and professionals to help them learn and develop in the most suitable format for them.

The discussion emphasises the need for researchers to adapt to the changing research environment and encouraged them to explore available resources. She highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research teams, including academics, communicators, and commercial companies, to address complex societal issues. The discussion concludes with the agreement on the necessity for research to be open, transparent, and accessible to everyone. Annette also stresses the significance of research integrity, transparency, and open science, as well as the role of research ethics.

Lastly, they touch on the topic of coaching and its role in connecting different areas of research and research subjects. They are both passionate coaches and discuss the nature of coaching, specifically in the context of academic research. Annette emphasizes the importance of a coach's role in providing a fresh perspective and creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment for exploration and learning. She also highlights the value of joint publications and the importance of establishing a positive relationship between coach and student. The discussion ended with Annette sharing the website of her new initiative, aftassociates.co.uk which aims to provide support for qualitative research.

Professor Annette Fillery-Travis and Dr Russell Thackeray discussed the concept behind the Research Box podcast series.

It will cover a wide range of subjects including the evolving dynamics in the field of research, emphasizing the importance of team collaboration, communication with interdisciplinary groups, and securing research grants.

Annette shared her academic journey and her experiences from a four-year research project involving early career researchers, stressing the need to shift focus from individual to group-based skills.