Time for change: what researchers think about the culture they work in

‘It would be easy to look at the quality of UK research and its outputs – generally seen as good – and to conclude that UK research culture must be healthy’. But is it? Wellcome’s report published in January, What researchers think about the culture they work in, paints a very different picture. Rather, the report shows a research community which is overworked, harassed and concerned about job stability. Its findings are based on a review of current literature, views shared in 94 individual interviews, four workshops and data from over 4000 survey respondents. Together, they offer a comprehensive overview of the current UK research environment as experienced by those within it. Importantly, the report provides a base for further investigations into the aspects of research culture and what can be done to improve it. The volume of survey responses, while self-selecting, speaks of the high interest in the subject. The #ReimagineResearch project continues, providing resources for researchers to hold ‘Culture Cafes’ at their institution and running further workshop events, with a shift to focus on the steps required to change research culture.