Our Communities
The GW4 Alliance has invested over £2.9m in 93 collaborative research communities, which have generated over £46m in research income. This means that for every £1 GW4 spends on collaborative research communities, GW4 captures over £15 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
MODERN BRITISH POLITICS AND HISTORY
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: October 2014 – January 2015
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: David Cutts
University of Bristol: Mark Wickham-Jones (PI), Hugh Pemberton, Sarah Childs
Cardiff University: Peter Dorey
University of Exeter: David Thackeray
Project overview
The project will bring together a varied but coherent group of historians and political scientists to explore issues of common interest in British Politics and Contemporary British History.
URL – UNDERSTANDING RELIGION AND LAW: MUSLIMS, FATWAS AND MUFTIS IN THE UK
ACCELERATOR FUND
Project period: July 2016 – March 2017
GW4 community leads
University of Bristol: Julian Rivers
Cardiff University: Sophie Gilliat-Ray and Mustafa Baig (now Exeter)
University of Exeter: Robert Gleave (PI)
Project overview
Through the work of the project we aim to address the issues of how an inclusive, innovative and reflective society which recognises religious diversity might be further developed.
THE EVIDENCE INFORMATION SERVICE PROMOTING GW4 RESEARCH ON EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: September 2015 – January 2016
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Hannah Durrant, Julie Barnett
University of Bristol: Deborah Wilson, Georgina Brereton, Alexia MacDonald
Cardiff University: Andrew Kythreotis (PI), Chris Chambers, Gerard O’Grady
University of Exeter: Natalia Lawrence
Project overview
The overarching aim of this research is to determine the utility and feasibility of establishing a new UK Evidence Information Service (EIS). The primary goal of EIS would be to act as a rapid matchmaker to connect the UK academic community and policy makers (including parliamentarians) in the service of evidence-based public policy.
Centre for media and criminal justice studies
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: September 2015 – January 2016
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Sarah Moore (PI)
University of Bristol: Alex Clayton, Eleanor Rycroft
Cardiff University: Inaki Garcia-Blanco
University of Exeter: Sarah Cooper
Project overview
Our research community brings together academics from the social sciences, arts, and humanities to understand the production, distribution, and reception of as-live courtroom footage. From this we aim to identify how courtroom broadcasting might influence public confidence, trust, and knowledge about criminal justice.
WATER SECURITY ALLIANCE
INITIATOR FUND
Project period: July 2016 – November 2016
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Jan Hofman
University of Bristol: Thorsten Wagener
Cardiff University: Isabelle Durance (PI)
University of Exeter: Zoran Kapelan
Project overview
Our aim is to create the ‘Water Security Alliance’, a long-term alliance bringing together research excellence, infrastructure and partnerships from the GW4 institutions with expertise in water research.
THE GW4 PAY EQUALITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (PERC)
ACCELERATOR FUND
Project period: February – August 2016
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Susan Milner (PI after CW)
University of Bristol: Gregory Schwartz
Cardiff University: Alison Parken, Rhys Davies
University of Exeter: Carol Woodhams (initial PI), Emma Jeanes
Project overview
PERC will undertake a feasibility study for the development and operation of a secure sustainable pay data collection platform, which would facilitate multi-level research.
THE GW4 PAY EQUALITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (PERC)
SUSTAINING COMMUNITIES FUND
Project period: January 2019 to June 2021
GW4 community leads
University of Bath: Susan Milner (PI)
University of Bristol: Susan Harkness
Cardiff University: Melanie Jones, Alison Parken
University of Exeter: Emma Jeanes
Project overview
The aim of the project was initially to investigate how gender pay gap reporting regulations could be strengthened, and to look critically at the Equal Pay Act 1970 and Equality Act 2010 in order to identify gaps in the legislation and ways to strengthen it. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a major disruption to the labour market, with negative impacts for women. The project therefore redirected its focus to examine the impact of the pandemic and identify lessons for policy.