Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Researcher Forum Committee
Meeting Notes : 9th January 2018, IV Coffee Bar, MSB
Present: Ruth Saunders (RS), Daniel March (DM), Gina Barnett (GB)
Apologies: Cat Pashley (CP) (maternity leave)
Action By:1 / Current Activity
The group reviewed the Terms of Reference for the Researcher Forum (RF) committee and current activities. Currently, the RF runs monthly Research Seminars (CP & RS) and we have recently set up some dedicated pages on the Departmental web space and a Yammer group. Any relevant College or University events are circulated to the RF by RS. / -
2 / Questionnaire
The group discussed whether there were other activities/events that we could organise, but that engagement seems a problem. It was decided to prepare a short questionnaire to send out to ask people what they would be interested. ACTION: everyone to think of possible questions and GB to collate – by end of Jan 2018 / ALL
3 / Email
Generic email address may be useful e.g. researcher3i for specific RF correspondence. ACTION: GB to enquire with admin team / GB
4 / Representation at Dept Committees
The group was unsure whether there is representation of RF at departmental management committee meetings. ACTION: RS to investigate (check with Mark Duffy) / RS
5 / New Starters
We need to ensure that appropriate new members of the Department are welcomed into the RF. ACTION: RS to ask Carole Patrick if it would be possible to flag up new starters. / RS
6 / Reps from all Sites
RS – Glenfield Hospital, DM-General Hospital. It would be good to engage a rep from MSB as Cat is on leave. ACTION: All members to think of suitable people to ask. / ALL
7 / Publicity
The poster GB prepared could be displayed around the department – possibly wait to see whether we can get an email address. / -
8 / Athena SWAN Action Plan
Many actions relevant to RF.ACTION: GB to go through the AS Action Plan to pick out specific items relevant to RF to see whether we can make progress in any of these actions. / GB
9 / HEA Fellowships
The group discussed HEA Fellowships as an item RF members may be interested in. ACTION: GB to check whether we have info on these on our webpages and add to questionnaire. / GB
10 / Communication
We have a Yammer group, but as this is not well used, would it be good to have other social media too? ACTION: DM to look at whether RF – type groups from other institutions have Twitter. / DM
11 / Frequency of Meetings
Group to meet again to review answers to the questionnaire – arrange by email. Agreed that the RFC should meet approx every two months. Next date TBC / -