Sustaining a Supportive and Inclusive Environment

Researchers talking to each other at the Research Culture Day

Research Culture Week 2026

This years Research Culture Week took place between 28 September - 1 October 2026.

The week showcased initiatives, opportunities and good practices across the University around the four themes of the Research excellence Cutlure Action Plan (ReCAP).

The programme was designed for and by the research community - Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs), Research-only staff, Academic staff, Technicians, and Professional Services staff.

The Research Culture Week 2026 page has details of all the sessions held, and slides and other materials available.

Details and the presentations from the Research Culture Day 2024 and the Research Culture Week 2025 can also be viewed.

Research Culture Week 2026

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Inkpath, widening access to PGR and research staff development opportunities

As a Postgraduate researchers (PGRs) or member of research staff at Lancaster you now have access to Inkpath, an online platform which brings Lancaster’s professional and academic development opportunities into one place. It provides the ability to more easily find activities from across the whole institution, rather than just your local area, whilst reflecting on your own development and tracking progress.

Explore Inkpath

If you want to explore PGR development content, visit to create your profile and get started.

If you have content you would like to see added to Inkpath, please contact pgrtraining@lancaster.ac.uk for PGR and researchculture@lancaster.ac.uk for research staff opportunities.

Inkpath is funded through the Enhancing Research Culture allocation.

PGR students of differing genders and ethnicity studying in a library

Equitable practices in PGR communities

The Athena Swan and Research excellence Culture Action Plans both recognise the importance of inclusive practices and experiences for postgraduate researchers (PGRs).

This includes recruitment practices that increase the diversity of PGRs and ensuring that once on programme all PGRs have an equitable experience.

Case studies illustrating equitable practices in PGR communities have been put together. Click on the link to find out more.

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Gender-Awareness and Inclusivity in Research

The Guide to Integrating Gender Awareness and Inclusivity in Research has been created to support researchers and research enabling staff to incorporate gender awareness and inclusivity during four key stages of research:

  • Creating a gender-aware and inclusive research team
  • Designing a gender-aware and inclusive research project
  • Developing a gender aware and inclusive research methodology
  • Preparing a gender-aware and inclusive dissemination plan

Reflective questions are outlined in each stage that researchers and their teams can ask themselves to ensure due diligence.

All major funding bodies require effective practice with respect to EDI embedded in grant applications. This guide will help to inform the Gender Equality Statement as required by UKRI and Horizon Europe programmes.

The guide has been put together by academics in LU Management School for interdisciplinary research in business and management, but the reflective questions are applicable across all disciplines. For more information please see Horizon Europe 2020 Project .

Contact Us

We welcome input from our community and encourage colleagues to share their feedback on our research culture.

For any questions or enquiries, please feel free to get in touch via email at: researchculture@lancaster.ac.uk