Research Culture | Research | The University of Aberdeen

Research Culture

We envision our research culture as a community that brings together the diverse, vibrant cultures already thriving within our Schools, disciplines, and partnerships. Rooted in respect for these existing practices, our Community of Research Cultures centres around a collaborative approach that promotes effective ways of working to enhance collegiality, professional growth, and ethical standards. By embracing shared standards of excellence, fostering collective problem-solving, recognising diverse contributions, and using evidence to guide culture change, we create a cohesive yet flexible research environment that is distinctly Aberdeen. Together, we advance a research culture that is inclusive, adaptable, and prepared to meet the future needs of our University and the broader society.

Ways of Working

Working with shared standards of excellence

Guided by integrity, transparency, and openness, our shared standards ensure ethical, accessible research, fostering mutual trust, respect, and accountability across all levels.

Collective problem solving and sharing practice

Focused on sharing best practices across Schools, our approach fosters collaboration to address common challenges and boundaries to strengthen our research culture.

Recognising contributions & supporting career development

Acknowledging diverse contributions, our approach fosters career growth and inclusive leadership through development, reward, and recognition.

Developing an evidence-informed approach to culture change

Guided by evaluation strategies to assess engagement and impact, our approach enables continuous improvement through data-driven insights.

Ben Tatler, Dean for Research Culture

Ben's remit includes strategic responsibility for developing, implementing and evaluating initiatives designed to enhance the way we support a positive research culture for all. Working in partnership with Schools and Professional Services to co-design and deliver initiatives that support these priorities and foster an inclusive and open environment where people are valued for the diverse ways in which they contribute to the world-leading research we produce. Ben's work builds on the work of the research culture report 2022.