Academics at Northumbria University,
Newcastle, have secured Government funding worth almost £1.2 million to conduct
research in support of the UK’s response to Covid-19.
The funding is part of the UK
Research and Innovation (UKRI) covid-19
rapid response funding, and is for three projects to be delivered over the next
18 months, with Northumbria as a consortium lead. Northumbria has also been
named as a co-investigator on a fourth project led by the University of
Stirling.
All successful research bids by the
University followed a rapid response call from UKRI seeking proposals to
address the challenges of the global pandemic. Northumbria’s work will focus on
collaborative support for a wide range of stakeholders including national and
local government, businesses, the police, and the voluntary sector.
Professor George Marston, Pro
Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Northumbria, believes winning
the funding from UKRI reflects the growing strength and expertise of the
University’s research which has already contributed significantly to the regional
and national response to Covid-19. He added: “Our world-leading research is
making a positive and lasting impact across society, economically, culturally and
through our work on health and wellbeing. We are helping businesses innovate
and grow, identifying and meeting future skill needs, and improving scenario
planning, problem solving and policy making - both in response to the pandemic
now and looking ahead to the future.
“There have been thousands of rapid
response bids to UKRI, so to be selected as the lead on three projects and a
co-investigator on another is a recognition of the quality of research at
Northumbria.”
UKRI works
in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses,
charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research
and innovation to flourish.
SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Mobilising Voluntary Action in the four UK jurisdictions: Learning from today, prepared for tomorrow. Funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Northumbria leading, with partners. (Northumbria lead: Professor Irene Hardill)
The
overarching aim of this four-nation comparative study is to critically evaluate
social welfare voluntary action responses to the pandemic, to help guide the UK
volunteer effort to support the national recovery and preparedness for future
crises, and in doing so inform UKRI research questions on inequality and
national recovery. A UK-wide team composed of
academics and the four key sector infrastructure bodies for each nation (England’s
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Volunteer Scotland, Wales
Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), and Northern Ireland’s Volunteer Now) have planned a four nation comparative study; with
the guidance of a Project Partner advisory panel (comprising professional
networks, organisations, and related ESRC investments). They are able to build
on and extend the mapping and knowledge-sharing work of the four infrastructure
organisations to offer insights into volunteering trends and experiences
across the whole of the UK.
Supporting the interviewing and legal representation of crime victims and suspects using digital communication methods: It is ‘remotely’ possible? Funding from ESRC. Northumbria leading, with partners. (Northumbria lead: Professor Gavin Oxburgh)
During worldwide pandemics, police investigations must continue, and victims, witnesses and suspects of crime must still be interviewed.
However, social distancing means that investigators are sometimes unable to
conduct interviews and third-party professionals (e.g., legal professionals) are
unable to communicate with clients in a traditional format. Remote
communication is one way currently being conducted across the UK – but it is
not standardised and the current research base to prove its efficacy is
extremely limited. The Northumbria-led research team will work with national
and international partners, including the National Police Chiefs Council, the
College of Policing, Northumbria Police, Metropolitan Police and South Wales
Police, Fair Trials, the National Appropriate Adults Network, the International
Criminal Court, the Commission for International Justice and Accountability,
and the Norwegian Police University College.
Observatory for Monitoring Data-Driven Approaches to COVID-19. Funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Northumbria leading, with partners. (Northumbria lead: Marion Oswald)
OMDDAC will provide a national,
public space for the consolidation of knowledge and understanding around
data-driven approaches to COVID-19, focused upon legal, ethical, policy and
operational challenges. Data-driven responses are being developed rapidly
across the public sector, academia and industry. These include combining
digital health datasets within a single dashboard, use of communications data
to map trends, monitoring of quarantine behaviour by drones and automated
number plate recognition, and access to Bluetooth data for contact tracing. 'OMDDAC's
interdisciplinary team will collate lessons learned throughout the pandemic by
way of stakeholder interviews, case study analysis, representative public
surveys and practitioner-focussed guidelines.'
Optimising Outcomes from Procurement and Partnering for Covid-19 and Beyond: Lessons from the Crisis. Funding from ESRC. University of Stirling leading, with Northumbria as co-investigator. Northumbria leads: (Professor Joyce Liddle and Professor John Shutt)
Procurement accounts for £100bn
(47%) of local authority (LA) spending (IoG,2018). Leveraging these resources
to the greatest social and economic effect is now crucial in promoting an agile
crisis response, maintaining community resilience and helping local businesses
stay afloat. Liddle and Shutt will be examining
procurement and commissioning in the North East, as a specific case within the
Northern Powerhouse, as well analysing the implications for Devolution. They
have the full support of the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Tees Valley
Combined Authority, local authorities, relevant public and private procurement
bodies/forums across the North, in addition to national and local professional
associations.
Social Distancing and Reimagining City Life: Performative strategies and practices for response and recovery in and beyond lockdown. Funding from AHRC. Northumbria University leading with Brunel University London (Northumbria lead: Dr Patrick Duggan).
Over the past six months social distancing has become part of everyday life for people around the world and could continue to be so for the foreseeable future as we find new ways of living with the challenge of Covid-19.But with reports that compliance with social distancing regulations is on the decline, new ideas are being sought to keep people engaged and ensure they adhere to guidelines in cities across the UK. Academics from Northumbria University, in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Brunel University London have identified an urgent need to understand how to practise, make sense of and sustain city life in the context of social distancing – and that the arts and arts research are vital to that work. They also aim to highlight the key role the arts have played during the pandemic, and the importance of arts education and research and the arts industry as a whole, especially at a time when the value of higher education is often judged on graduates’ incomes rather than the impact they make on society.
