Research Culture

Flourish@Durham seeks to make research fun, fulfilling and fruitful for our communities

Developing a positive, supportive research culture is all about quality as much as about the right thing to do. We aim to support our community of researchers, technicians and those who lead, manage and administer research to thrive and develop flourishing careers. We seek to develop an environment that is serious about supporting everyone, enabled through a research strategy that is ambitious and sustainable.

Read our Vision, Values and Actions

Two female staff members looking a research culture mindmap

Our Vision

Flourish@Durham is committed to the cultivation of a research culture that is characterised by respect and care; where diversity of person, career track and role are valued, encouraged, and supported and collaboration and interdisciplinarity are cherished.

Flourish@Durham seeks to ensure research is carried out in an atmosphere of creativity, and fun where individuals and teams feel ambitious about their work and are enabled to achieve their potential.

Our core themes through the Flourish@Durham project are:

Creating the best environment for all to flourish
Ambitious in our research and positive in our culture
Respectful of everyone's role and investing in our community
Enabling structures that encourage collaboration and openness

Research Staff Association (DU login required)

Supported by Flourish, the RSA advocate for the needs and interests of the research community being well supported through activities such as mentoring, training, CPD, and career progression.
Technician Commitment

Working alongside the Technician Commitment Steering Group, Flourish is enhancing the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers at Durham

Research Staff Association (DU login required)

Supported by Flourish, the RSA advocate for the needs and interests of the research community being well supported through activities such as mentoring, training, CPD, and career progression.

Technician Commitment

Working alongside the Technician Commitment Steering Group, Flourish is enhancing the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers at Durham

research technician using next generation sequencing instrument

DU Research Culture SharePoint (DU login required)

Flourish@Durham

The culture within which we operate profoundly influences what we do and how well we do it. Listen to Professor Jane Macnaughton (Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Research) speak about our Flourish@Durham approach.

Our Research

Developing a Positive Research Culture

Research culture encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities. It influences researchers’ career paths and determines the way that research is conducted and communicated. (Royal Society).

Through consultations and workshops, we have tried to identify the characteristics of a positive research culture in our research environment and establish the priorities for action that would enable staff groups to Flourish.