Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) | Research Festival 2020

The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a five-year, £1.5 billion UK Government fund to support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries through:

• challenge-led disciplinary and interdisciplinary research
• strengthening capacity for research and innovation within both the UK and developing countries providing an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research need. 

Across the University, there are a wide range of health, science, engineering, arts and humanities projects that are working across disciplines, in country, to deliver meaningful change.

This half-day event will showcase current GCRF research at the University of Plymouth and collectively go on to explore how research evidence can be made accessible, beneficial and appropriate for end users to support practical application that delivers social and economic benefit and impact.

Programme

13:30 | Arrival and networking 

14:00–15:30 | Session one

Delivering robust and meaningful research evidence, chaired by Professor Iain Stewart 

Keynote: Professor Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Department for International Development 

Lightning talks from University of Plymouth GCRF awardees (round two) 

• Dr Tim Scott: 'Development of sustainable abalone ranching in South Africa' 
• Professor Jon Marsden: 'Sustainable prevention of foot ulceration secondary to diabetic and leprotic neuropathy in Nepal' 
• Dr Jian Wan: 'Develop capacity and capability to monitor coastal marine environments for sustainable development in Penang Island' 
• Dr John Martin: 'Collaborative multidisciplinary Research Leadership Summer School'
• Dr Karen Treasure: 'Challenges of change: learning from supporting the use of parabolic solar cookers to address fuel poverty and deforestation in rural Southern Province, Zambia'
• Mala Raman: 'Neonatal life support amongst health care workers in north-west Cambodia' 

GCRF One Ocean Hub by Dr Kerry Howell, University of Plymouth 

15:30 | Poster session and coffee

Posters from current and recent University of Plymouth, UKRI, GCRF and Newton Fund grants 

16:00–17:00 | Session two 

Embedding participatory action to bring lasting change, chaired by Professor William Blake 

Keynote: Dr Mona Nasseri, Faculty of Ecological Design Thinking, Schumacher College 

Roundtable discussions: How can the University of Plymouth strengthen our engagement with end users and communities?