Brigstow Institute Funding
The Brigstow Institute funds research projects that bring together a breadth of expertise and experience to explore societal issues though a radically interdisciplinary approach and transform ideas into real world impacts.
Our research foregrounds understanding the experience of human relationships with each other, technology, the environment and other beings.
What are we looking for in a Brigstow project?
The project should address a gap in existing knowledge. It may be that the topic has been researched before, but by bringing in different expertise and people, you are generating new insights that take the research forward.
Funds are available to undertake early-stage, explorative research pilot projects.
We expect all research projects to be driven by a research question that is co-created by, and intended to benefit, everyone involved in the project, and so is likely to need a range of disciplines from the University (interdisciplinarity) and expertise from a diverse range of partners from beyond the University. Projects should be collaborative at all stages of the research process – so co-created, co-designed and co-led.
Bringing together people with different knowledge, expertise, skills and ideas. We are particularly interested in bringing University researchers from different schools or faculties together for the first time to use different methods and approaches.
Creative processes and critical making are valued as part of the research process so should be included as part of your approach. These approaches move beyond talking together, to making together as a valued process in the research project.
We encourage project teams to aspire to equity amongst team members throughout the research process, from inception through to delivery. This means everyone’s expertise is respected, and there is trust and open communication across the team.
How does our funding model work?
Brigstow Institute funding works in year long thematic cycles around a co-produced topic that will emerge from the collective interests of our community. You can be involved in some, or all stages of the process. The cycle is broken up into three stages:
- Stage 1 –Collaboration; a chance to engage with new partners for collaboration and ideation
- Stage 2 – Connections funding; developing and solidifying ideas, partnerships and plans
- Stage 3 – Exploratory research funding; the opportunity to apply for a pot of funding of up to £30,000.
What research themes are we currently funding?
The research themes for our funding are coproduced with our community responding to the energy and ideas held by you. Find out the scope of our current themes, and how you can become involved: