AberCollab Report
Fostering collaborations between academics, businesses, policy makers and other sectors is key to our mission as a Dialogue Centre.
We do it because we know that working collaboratively can strengthen research outcomes, promote valuable knowledge exchange and make a positive difference to society.
To support the creation of better collaborations and knowledge exchange opportunities, we launched a new funding and training pilot programme on 1 March 2024 called AberCollab.
The initiative offered support for workshops and networking events which facilitated collaboration between the University’s researchers and external partners and helped progress research of benefit to the wider public.
AberCollab was open to researchers from all disciplines and included required training in leading collaborative workshops as well as support for holding a research event or project involving external partners and communities.
A total of 13 projects were funded from departments across the University’s faculties. These varied collaborations brought researchers and stakeholders together to:
- discuss barriers faced by marginalised writers and ways of diversifying participation in writing and publishing
- share knowledge and expertise on dealing with the invasive seaweed Undaria
- consider ways of improving the transition of pupils from primary to secondary school
- develop strategies for using creative writing to improve patients’ experience of fertility treatment, pregnancy and birth
- advance understanding and enable greater collaboration on applying intersectionality in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy practice
- maintain and develop new links with industry in the field of nanoelectronics and emerging next generation microchip technology
- exchange knowledge between academics and practitioners on alternative, compassionate approaches to health, weight, and wellbeing
- inform policy and promote a better understanding of current trends in the holiday-let and tourism economy in West Wales
- explore the priorities and concerns of refugee communities in Wales
- scale up an active European research project on glacial degradation and climate change
- look at using computational methods to prevent atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate
- strengthen engagement with local authorities on transport and health related issues.
Dr Jennifer Wolowic, Principal Lead of the Dialogue Centre, said: “AberCollab has been a great example of how dialogue and engagement with others can contribute to all stages of the research process – from idea generation and emerging projects to research programme expansion and uptake.
“The feedback from our first round of AberCollab funding has been extremely positive. Researchers have told us they found the process energising and that it has led to new connections and stronger ongoing relationships. Several will lead to future funding applications and all have helped clarify potential for future collaborations. I look forward to seeing how our researchers pursue next steps.”
AberCollab was developed as part of Aberystwyth University’s 2023-2028 Innovation and Knowledge Exchange Strategy, which receives funding from the Research Wales Innovation Fund.