How We Support Research Activity
Annual Doctoral Colloquium
The Annual Doctoral Colloquium (ADC) is a cornerstone event at the School of Law, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the diverse research conducted by our postgraduate researchers (PGRs).
The ADC is designed to give PGR students the opportunity to practice and enhance their presentation skills, as well as to obtain feedback on their research. PGR students make presentations in panels comprising PGR students dealing with related areas of work. Each presentation will be followed by a feedback session, provided by two discussants.
The ADC is intended to be an enjoyable social occasion where all participants get a chance to discuss their research with staff and colleagues.
Research Champion
The role of Research Champion contributes towards the school’s work in supporting research. It is a role that involves listening to colleagues, including in one to one meetings, to gain a better understanding of research support needs within the school. It is also a role that involves organising events that foster research.
In September 2023, the school organised a ‘Festival of Rejection’, based on an idea from the Business School. This event aimed to ‘normalise’ the idea of rejection as part of the journey for submitting articles, grant applications, book proposals, and to see this as something that should not be feared, as all researchers, including senior researchers, have faced rejection at some point in their career. Colleagues from the school talked about their experience of rejection and how they turned things around, their experience having to reject submissions from other researchers, what makes a good 'rejection'. They shared their 'top tips' for success. Then, Petra Milarova, an NHS-accredited well-being coach, talked to us about how to approach rejection in a positive way.
In May 2024, the school held a ‘Demystifying Funding’ Workshop, which focused on grant applications and support. The idea was based on support needs identified by Early Career Research (ECR) colleagues, as part of the one to one research meetings conducted at school-level. The speakers were colleagues from the school, who shared their experience in applying for research grants and the Senior Research Development Manager, who provided guidance on the support available at faculty level regarding grant applications. The session was open to all law staff and law PGR students.
The school Research Champion is also part of the Faculty Research Staff Committee. (Abstract by Dr Eliza Varney)
Internal funding for research activities
The School of Law provides internal funding via its strategic research fund to support the research activities of individual colleagues, as well as those of its various research centres, groups and seminar series. The funding available may vary depending on the overall research budget assigned to the school by the Faculty of Social Sciences and by the research margin generated from external grants.
Activities must support the school’s research priorities, strategy and action plan (for example, the development of high quality outputs or impact case studies, the development of research funding applications, or the collaborative national, international or inter-disciplinary research), aligning with the wider faculty and university RKE strategies (see the university's Research Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-27).
Professor Paul Torremans
ICL conference 2024
Individuals can apply for funding to support, for example, conference attendance, engagement of research assistance, support for impact and KE work, purchase of specialist equipment. Research centres and groups can apply for funding, for example, to host workshops and guest lectures.
In addition, the school supports attendance of its academics at national and international conferences that it considers strategic for the reputation and representation its scholarship.
Equally, special support is given to research events that showcase Nottingham as a focal point for expertise in a specific are of legal scholarship.
Research Away Day
The Research Away Day at the School of Law is an integral event designed to foster community, enhance collaboration, and reflect on our shared identity. Held annually, this event gathers law academics, postgraduate researchers (PGRs), and staff to engage in meaningful discussions and presentations.
The Away Day emphasises the importance of community, recognising that while we share broad research interests, smaller groups within our school focus on specific topics.
It provides a platform for formal and informal interactions, encouraging the sharing of ideas and building of synergies across different research centres and disciplines.
Research Away Day 2022
Participants benefit from a variety of sessions including reflections on our research identity, strategies for enhancing collaboration, and practical actions to support our research community. Discussions often cover the balance between individual research pursuits and collaborative projects, the role of physical presence in building community, and the challenges of time and space in fostering research activities. The event also highlights the need for greater inclusion of PGRs in our research environment, ensuring they are integral members of our academic community.
By creating opportunities for informal interactions, dedicated spaces for discussion, and strategic collaborations, the Research Away Day aims to strengthen the School of Law's research culture. It is a day of reflection, connection, and inspiration, ensuring that we continue to support and advance our collective research endeavours.
Support for funding applications and research projects
Extensive support is available throughout the research project lifecycle, with ample guidance and resources provided by the school and faculty RKE teams.
In the school, support is provided by the Directors of Research, the Research Champion and the APM RKE Team. They signpost available funding opportunities and support peer review by colleagues, from the earliest idea development stage, through to review of application drafts.
Within the Faculty of Social Sciences, a Senior Research Development Manager provides specialist support for the School of Law, matching research ideas to funding opportunities and supporting academics on their research project journey. The faculty facilities interdisciplinary collaborations within the university and organises numerous funding events. They also provide internal funding opportunities to support research and impact activities, for example, through the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.