Imagined Futures

What would it look like to research imagined futures? To seek the possible, the probable and the preferable, in order to shape a desired future through critical thinking and creativity. The UN estimates that 60 percent of the world population feels economically insecure in the face of global transformations that include escalating conflicts and climate change. From the rise of AI to demographic shifts, gender equality to public health, food security to the rising cost of living, imagining radically different futures offers a way for researchers to interrogate these complex and interconnected national and global challenges.

GW4 Crucible 2026 offers an opportunity for future research leaders across a broad range of disciplines to come together to converse, initiate new collaborations and create research that will imagine new futures. It will leverage the combined expertise from politics to computer science, from architecture to health, and from history to engineering, to generate innovative, multifaceted and radically interdisciplinary approaches to research which will shape future generations. If you are a GW4 researcher with an interest in or expertise applicable to any aspect futures research, we want to hear from you!

What is GW4 Crucible?

Celebrating its 10 year anniversary in 2026, GW4 Crucible brings together 30 competitively selected future research leaders to explore how you can enhance your career by working with researchers in radically different disciplines on a themed research topic.

The hybrid programme will include two in-person residential (two-day) labs, as well as four online masterclasses (see below for dates)*. Through these, you will explore working collaboratively with peers from vastly different disciplines to your own, while also connecting with expert guest speakers, enhancing your professional networks and visibility.

GW4 Crucible is an excellent opportunity for you to consider new approaches to your research and its impact, to enhance your leadership potential and career development, and to network with peers and experts from across GW4 and beyond.

The programme will provide you with the following benefits to help you make the next steps in your career:

• • Enhanced ability to think creatively and innovatively about your approach to your research and its wider impact.
  • Increased understanding of advocating for change and how you can impact change processes through your research.
  • Enhanced understanding of your own personal impact and effectiveness, and how to use your skills to further your career aspirations.
  • Increased visibility amongst a range of connected, thought provoking and influential people, including senior research and external stakeholders in the GW4 institutions and beyond.
  • Opportunity to start building collaborations across radically different disciplines bringing a transdisciplinary perspective to your research.
  • Opportunity to understand and develop the key leadership skills needed to lead confidently in a collaborative environment.

If you would like to discuss GW4 Crucible and how participation will help you make the next steps in your career, your local development teams would be happy to discuss this with you.

• • University of Bath: Annali Bamber-Jones (abj30@bath.ac.uk)
  • University of Bristol: Lydia Klimecki (lydia.klimecki@bristol.ac.uk)
  • Cardiff University: Rhiannon Robinson (jonesr47@cardiff.ac.uk)
  • University of Exeter: Chris Wood (c.b.wood@exeter.ac.uk)

Eligibility criteria

You are eligible to apply for GW4 Crucible 2026 if you are:

• The holder of a PhD (or equivalent) and see yourself at the cusp of research independence (see application guidance for more information)
• Employed at one of the GW4 universities for the duration of the GW4 Crucible programme (until June 2026)
• Able to commit to attending all the workshops. There will be two in-person labs (two-day residentials), as well as a short series of online masterclasses.  It is a requirement of the Crucible programme to attend all the below programme elements in full:
• • Lab 1 – 10 & 11 February 2026 in Cardiff
  • Lab 2 – 28 & 29 April 2026 in Bath
  • Online masterclasses – 10:30am-12:00pm on:
    • 27 February 2026
    • 13 March 2026
    • 27 March 2026
    • 24 April 2026

Accessibility

An important principle of the GW4 Crucible is that it provides a welcoming, supportive environment which enables future research leaders to grow and flourish. As such we want to make sure that the GW4 Crucible programme is accessible to all, including all aspects of our hybrid online and in-person workshops. If there are any factors which you feel would impede your access or full participation in any of the online or offline elements of this programme (i.e., caring responsibilities, accessibility requirements, etc.), please get in touch with us at talentandskills@gw4.ac.uk. We are keen to offer options that will help you best participate in GW4 Crucible.

How to apply

To receive an application pack, contact the GW4 Talent and Skills Team (talentandskills@gw4.ac.uk). Please include a little information about your current role, your area of research and one or two lines on why you are interested in applying, which will we consider to be your expression of interest.

The expression of interest is not a formal part of your application and will not be included with your application when it is sent to the selection panel. We request this information merely to confirm that you fulfil the criteria listed above.

The deadline for expressions of interest is Wednesday 15 October 2025. The final deadline for completed applications is 12noon on Wednesday, 22 October 2025.

You will need to secure written endorsement from your line manager to participate in the programme, which will need to be submitted as part of the application form. Please ensure that you leave enough time for your line manager to complete their section of the form as applications missing line managers approval and endorsement will be considered as incomplete and not accepted.