Two new interdisciplinary research projects investigating how to prepare for epidemics and volcanic eruption are receiving funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The funding forms part of the first round of UKRI's new cross research council responsive mode pilot scheme, designed to stimulate exciting new interdisciplinary research, which has pledged £32.4m for 36 projects.
Dr Liz Fearon (UCL Institute for Global Health) is leading a project that seeks to improve the integration of public voices into epidemic response modelling. Receiving close to £960,000 from the UKRI, the project will bring together epidemiology, mathematics, social sciences, human-computer interaction and corpus linguistics with research co-production expertise. Co-leads include Dr Shema Tariq and Dr Emily Nicolls (both UCL Institute for Global Health), Niccola Hutchinson-Pascal (UCL Culture, Co-production Collective), Dr Beth Malory (UCL English Language & Literature), and colleagues at the University of Manchester.
Infectious disease models represent complex interactions between biological and social processes. The project aims to develop methods to enable members of epidemic-affected communities to co-produce models used to inform decision-making.
Dr Fearon explained: "Co-production is an approach in which researchers, practitioners and the members of the public with lived experience work together, sharing power and responsibility as equal partners in the generation of knowledge. This approach has been applied to numerous fields including in health, but there is an absence of tailored guidance for co-production in infectious disease modelling, despite its potential value.
"The effects of epidemics are not felt equally, so including the people who may be most affected when we develop models and research questions, to help us challenge our assumptions and learn from different perspectives, could be highly impactful."
Another project brings together a team of volcanologists, theatre practitioners and social scientists, to employ participatory theatre to help scientists who are monitoring the behaviour of Campi Flegrei, an active volcano in a suburban area near Naples, Italy, which last erupted in 1538. Led by Professor Christopher Kilburn (UCL Earth Sciences) and receiving over £575,000 in funding, the core team includes experts from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Portsmouth.
Professor Kilburn explained: "Eruptions with the greatest impact on society have occurred from volcanoes that have been silent for centuries. When they become restless again, forecasting their behaviour involves scientific uncertainty, because we cannot see directly what is happening underground. We end up with a range of outcomes to choose from under time-limited conditions, and opinions often differ.
"We believe that participatory theatre will help to resolve conflicting opinions by revealing the emotional and cognitive factors that drive disagreement. If we're right, our project will demonstrate the value of combining expertise from the arts and sciences to improve our approach to managing natural hazards."
The UKRI cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot scheme is supporting new and creative interdisciplinary ideas emerging from the research community.
The scheme:
- unlocks new research, approaches and methods that would not be possible from established disciplinary thinking
- encourages new and unexpected types of interdisciplinary research not currently funded through existing UKRI responsive mode schemes
- supports research that will be potentially transformative for the participating disciplines or lead to the creation of new disciplines
Professor Alison Park, UKRI CRCRM Champion and Deputy Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) said: "The perspectives of different disciplines, working together in collaboration, are vital to solving some of the most pressing problems we face as a society.
"The UKRI cross research council responsive mode scheme is designed to break down silos and champion research that transcends, combines and significantly spans traditional discipline boundaries.
"The projects announced today will drive progress across diverse fields by creating fresh approaches to research questions, methodologies and ways of working.
"We were all excited to see the innovative and bold approaches being adopted to tackle major issues ranging from climate change to global healthcare and look forward to following their progress."
