Our Communities
To date (June 2021) the GW4 Alliance has invested over £3.1m in 112 collaborative research communities, which have generated nearly £50m in research income. This means that for every £1 GW4 spends on collaborative research communities, GW4 captures an impressive £16 in external research awards.
The GW4 Alliance has adopted the Russell Group Research Integrity Statement of cooperation in cross-institutional research misconduct allegations, which aims to support the efforts of researcher communities to foster research integrity (also known as good practice in research or the responsible conduct of research).
Explore our GW4 research communities by keyword or theme. (All communities are also listed below in alphabetical order).
Aerospace and Advanced Engineering
Creative and Cultural Economy
Digital Innovation
Living Well
New Energy Systems
Resilience, Environment and Sustainability
Climate Change Education Network
GENERATOR FUND
Awarded: July 2020
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Elisabeth Barratt Hacking, Lorraine Whitmarsh
University of Bristol: Paul Howard-Jones (PI)
Cardiff University: Christina Demski, Kat Steentjes
University of Exeter: Justin Dillon
Project overview
This project will establish a transdisciplinary network involving researchers across university disciplines working with teachers to orient and provide active support for research on Climate Change Education.
Moving Through Motherhood
GENERATOR FUND
Awarded: July 2020
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Dr Peter Rouse
University of Bristol: Dr Charlie Foster
Cardiff University: Dr Kelly Morgann
University of Exeter: Dr Richard Pulsford (PI), Dr Victoria Salmon, Dr Lauren Rogers, Dr Emma Cockroft
Project overview
The GW4 Moving Through Motherhood Community comprises researchers from different disciplines with a shared interest in supporting physical activity during pregnancy by establishing a regional multidiscipline and multisector network to steer research and resource development.
BUILDING A CLINICAL ACADEMIC TRAINING COMMUNITY ACROSS SOUTH WEST ENGLAND AND SOUTH WALES
accelerator FUND
GW4 community leads
University of Bristol: John Iredale (PI), Jeremy Tavare
Cardiff University: Paul Morgan
University of Exeter: Tamsin Ford
Project overview
By creating a vibrant cohort of young talented clinical academics across GW4 we will significantly enhance our collective abilities to translate our basic biomedical and population health research into an impact on patient care.
WALES AND SOUTH WEST RESPONSES AND PREPARATIONS FOR BREXIT AND UK TRADE POLICY
ACCELERATOR FUND
Project period: February – September 2019
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Maria Garcia (PI)
University of Bristol: Clair Gammage
Cardiff University: Jo Hunt
University of Exeter: David Thackeray
Project overview
This community brings together academics, business representatives and stakeholders in the region to raise awareness and understanding of the intersections between trade policy and other domestic policies and to consider and identify pathways to influence future UK trade policies.
SOUTH WEST AND WALES FACING THE WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EU: MAPPING NEEDS, STRATEGIES AND VOICE
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: January – March 2018
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Dr Maria Garcia (PI)
University of Bristol: Dr Clair Gammage
Cardiff University: Dr Jo Hunt
University of Exeter: Dr David Thackeray
Project outcomes
The project seeks to facilitate knowledge exchange between the region’s academic and business communities and to help map regional needs and a regional strategy in response to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and future trade policy.
GW4 TURING NETWORK: ENHANCED INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS TO BUILD CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY IN DATA SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE REGION
ACCELERATOR FUND
Project period: September 2019 – June 2019
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Andreas Kyprianou
University of Bristol: Kate Robson Brown (PI)
Cardiff University: Paul Harper, Irena Spasic, Jonathan Gillard
University of Exeter: Richard Everson
Project overview
This activity aims to support the data science and AI collaborations in the GW4 region and extend the successful interactions with the Turing Institute.
MOVING THROUGH MOTHERHOOD
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: February – June 2019
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Peter Rouse
University of Bristol: Charlie Foster
Cardiff University: Lucie Warren
University of Exeter: Richard Pulsford (PI), Victoria Salmon, Lauren Rogers
Project overview
The GW4 Moving Through Motherhood Community comprises researchers from different disciplines with a shared interest in supporting physical activity during pregnancy by establishing a regional multidiscipline and multisector network to steer research and resource development.
Plasticity and Robustness: cellular understanding of plant growth and defence
generator award
Awarded: July 2020
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Kit Yates
University of Bristol: Alan Champneys
Cardiff University: Veronica Grieneisen (PI)
University of Exeter: Mike Deeks
Project overview
This project will link the major developmental alterations caused by plant pathogens to the fundamental changes in cellular polarity that underpin all these responses.