Non-Standard Research Outputs: Their Merits, the REF, and External Funders
A one-day colloquium on 13 March 2024
De Montfort University in Leicester, England, is running a one-day colloquium on the topic of non-standard research outputs. We are thinking of all the kinds of outputs that don't fit into the usual categories of monograph and journal article and that for this reason need extra explanation and even justification when they are used as evidence of research achievement. Examples of such outputs include performances, the curation of exhibitions and digital datasets, the making of documentary and fictional films, creative writing, and development of software.
The REF has in the past required those making non-standard research outputs to write justifications for them, and it is not always obvious how to do this. Likewise, when trying to convince external funders of the merits of research it can be challenging to convey to experts in other disciplines just what practice-as-research and performance-as-research consist of and how they generate knowledge. This colloquium will bring together De Montfort University researchers from a range of fields to talk about their experiences in articulating the merits of non-standard research outputs to university managements, to external funders, and the REF. Our guest of honour and keynote speaker is Professor Miguel Mera of University of Southampton, a composer whose work in film and television has brought international acclaim.
Confirmed speakers include:
*'Funmi Adewole *Anoop Bhogal-Nair *Sally Doughty *Serena Dyer *Tracy Harwood *Leigh Landy *Miguel Mera *Jason Lee *Simon Perril
Venue
The event will be at De Montfort University, which is the middle of the city of Leicester in the middle of England. Fly in using a London airport (we're 100 miles north-west of it) or Birmingham airport (we're 35 north-east of it) or the regional East Midlands Airport (we're 20 miles south of it). Fast trains to/from central London take 65 minutes and sensible driving (100 miles straight up or down the M1 motorway) takes about 120-150 minutes (mainly in getting in/out of London).
The specific room on the De Montfort campus to head for is Heritage House HH 2.07, which is our United Nations Sustainable Development Suite in Heritage House, 61 Southgates, Leicester LE1 5RR. The map below shows where it is, and Heritage House will have a reception desk for the colloquium on the day.
Registration
Registration is now open: use the link on the left of this page. The colloquium is free and open to all who are interested, but booking is essential as places are limited. The colloquium includes a free light breakfast and free lunch and refreshments. Any questions about the event or the practicalities of attending it can be addressed to Professor Justin Smith <justin.smith@dmu.ac.uk> or Professor Gabriel Egan <gegan@dmu.ac.uk> who are co-organizing it. In the absence of special requests, our catering will be 50% carnivorous, 20% vegan, 20% vegetarian, and 10% gluten-free. If you want ensure that food from a particular category is reserved for you, or if you have a different dietary requirement, please email Professor Smith or Professor Egan to secure this.
Programme
All sessions take place in the United Nations Sustainable Development Suite in Heritage House.
WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2024
9.30-10am Coffee and pastries
10-10.15pm Introduction "How Praxis Makes Knowledge"
10.15-11.30am Session One. 4 presentations on PERFORMANCES:
Leigh Landy "Individual and Collaborative experimental sound-based composition and sampling" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
Sally Doughty "Practice research in Dance and multi-component outputs: Articulating them for REF" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
'Funmi Adewole "Creative Health Sector: Capturing artists' conversations" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
Jason Lee "Meeting the Skills Gap: Producing Films For Disability Equality" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
11.30-11.45am Coffee
11.45am-12.45pm Keynote Address: Miguel Mera
12.45-1.30pm Lunch provided
1.30-2.45pm Session Two. 4 presentations on NARRATIVES
Tracy Harwood "Large scale interventions and research outputs" [Slides as PDF]
Serena Dyer "Materialising the Past: Capturing Historical Garment Makers' Knowledge in Stitch and in Video" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT] [Recording of talk as MP4]
Anoop Bhogal-Nair "Embodying Research for Social Impact: Storytelling poetry, and artwork" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
Simon Perril "Making as Knowing: Some Thoughts on Articulating Creative Writing Practice" [Slides as PDF] [Slides as PPT]
2.45-3pm Coffee
3-3.30pm Roundtable Discussion "Lessons of the Day"
