AHRC has been unanimously elected as chair of the HERA community.
This notable coalition of 24 nationwide funding companies is devoted to main and creating funding alternatives for arts researchers throughout Europe.
This milestone underscores the significance of collaboration and innovation within the humanities, and I’m honoured to have been elected to this place in my capability as Director of Analysis at AHRC.
Fostering collaboration and innovation
It displays the collective power and imaginative and prescient of the AHRC group in fostering collaboration and innovation.
Above all, I view this as an vital platform on which to construct a transparent and daring voice to advocate for the humanities throughout these transformative instances and within the lead as much as the European Fee’s subsequent Precedence Framework Programme.
Since taking up the chair function (and interim chair over the previous 12 months) my focus has been on strengthening partnerships inside the community and increasing the attain of the HERA community.
Now we have held conferences with over 20 member international locations to deepen relationships and collect insights on the way forward for HERA.
Shared priorities
These discussions have revealed shared priorities round fostering interdisciplinary analysis, increasing inclusivity inside the community, and exploring new funding alternatives to handle international challenges.
They’ve additionally highlighted the necessity for stronger connections with rising analysis communities to make sure HERA stays dynamic and forward-thinking.
These conversations haven’t solely helped formed the community’s priorities and methods however have additionally paved the way in which for increasing HERA’s attain.
As a testomony to the community’s power and imaginative and prescient, now we have prolonged our community to incorporate as observer members:
- Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Analysis Council
- the Nationwide Analysis Basis of Ukraine
- Greece’s Common Secretariat for Analysis and Expertise
That is an thrilling step ahead, and we sit up for welcoming them into our dialogue and maybe as full members within the close to future.
Supporting information trade
The appointment of the HERA Information Change Fellow (KEF) is a major milestone for collaboration throughout the community.
Jenny Wüstenberg, Professor of Historical past and Reminiscence Research at Nottingham Trent College and chair of the COST Motion on Sluggish Reminiscence, has been chosen following a aggressive evaluation course of involving six purposes from three international locations.
Information Change for Sluggish Hope
As HERA KEF, she is going to lead a three-and-a-half-year information trade programme titled Information Change for Sluggish Hope.
Drawing on previous analysis this initiative centres on the tenet that tales of hope are indispensable to any disaster response.
It goals to carry collectively researchers, HERA funders, and exterior stakeholders throughout Europe to boost collaboration and construct capability.
The programme’s three principal targets are:
- facilitating information trade: enhancing the influence of analysis and advocating for the very important function of humanities in addressing societal challenges
- constructing abilities and capability: equipping initiatives with the abilities wanted to reply successfully to each anticipated and unexpected crises
- establishing sustainable networks: creating partnerships that may outlive the preliminary funding interval and appeal to extra sources
The programme will start with its kick-off convention in late 2025.
This occasion will carry collectively researchers, funders, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and encourage innovation.
The convention will deal with establishing shared targets for addressing crises, showcasing greatest practices in interdisciplinary analysis, and constructing a roadmap for sustainable partnerships that stretch past the preliminary funding interval.
HERA analysis grants: main in disaster scholarship
The profitable launch of the Disaster – Views of the Humanities Analysis Grants programme marks one other important achievement.
This funding initiative obtained over 200 define proposals, with 36 full proposals assessed, ensuing within the funding of 10 distinctive initiatives.
These initiatives contain 46 analysis groups from 19 international locations, with seven of the ten initiatives together with participation from widening international locations, reflecting HERA’s dedication to inclusivity.
Key highlights embrace:
- collaborative excellence: AHRC is proud to assist seven of the ten funded initiatives, the best variety of any HERA funding companion. These initiatives reveal the ability of worldwide collaboration, with partnerships spanning Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Eire, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK
- various disciplines: the funded initiatives showcase the breadth of humanities analysis, encompassing anthropology, historical past, archaeology, philosophy, cultural research, arts, linguistics, and media and communication
- impactful analysis: these initiatives exemplify how humanities analysis not solely leads in its personal proper but additionally convenes cutting-edge interdisciplinary scholarship on crises. As an example, one venture examines the norms in language-based human-artificial intelligence interplay, one other explores spiritual responses to (geo)political crises, and a 3rd research coastlines as zones of ecocultural disaster, shaping resilience by way of transnational performance-based arts
Trying forward
Within the UK, we have to suppose strategically to make sure now we have a nationwide functionality for arts and humanities which contributes to and underpins the broader science agenda.
And this requires sustaining a broad ecosystem of curiosity pushed open name funding, alongside a strategic deal with essentially the most urgent problems with our time.
In my function as chair of the HERA community, I stay dedicated to fostering collaboration, – which stays key for each curiosity pushed and strategic analysis – throughout Europe and past.
With a rising community, modern research-led programmes constructed on creativity and perception, and impactful information trade initiatives, HERA continues as an vital collaborative and inclusive community.
Along with our companions throughout Europe, now we have a rare alternative to form a transformative future for arts analysis.
Prime picture: Audio system at a earlier HERA assembly. Credit score: Jamie Davies
