We help universities, institutes, funders and other clients to listen to their communities, co-design research culture strategies, and evaluate their impact.
Get in touch to find out how we can support you.
We founded CultureBase in 2022 to do our part in translating the growing appetite for reform into practical and lasting changes to research culture.
Working in this area for the last decade, we believe that progress flows from listening to communities, developing practical changes and openly evaluating impact.
We bring these principles to our work with clients across the world, to create environments where research and researchers thrive.
Karen is a research policy adviser, specialising in research culture and assessment. She is an expert in assessment reform including within the UK’s Research Excellence Framework, and in developing, implementing and evaluating research culture interventions such as narrative CVs and other tools.
Previously, Karen advised on research policy and leadership at the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry and RAND Europe. In 2022, Karen was the penholder for drafting the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, and remains a Vice-Chair of CoARA. She sits on the External Advisory Group of the University of Cambridge ‘Action Research on Research Culture’ project and sat on the institutional-level panel of the REF2029 People, Culture & Environment pilot.
Ben is a strategist and advocate in research policy, specialising in research culture, funding systems and political engagement. He brings extensive experience of engaging with different audiences, and has helped clients in the UK, EU and USA to develop and communicate programmes to strengthen research culture.
Previously, he was the architect of the Wellcome Trust’s Reimagine Research community engagement programme in 2019, and an external advisor to the development of the UK Government’s R&D People and Culture Strategy in 2021. Alongside his role at CultureBase, Ben is Director of Public Opinion at the Campaign for Science and Engineering, leading an extensive study of public attitudes towards R&D.
We offer a range of services to suit clients at different stages with their work on research culture. These can be offered as standalone services, or woven together into a bespoke programme to help your organisation achieve its goals.
Get in touch to discuss what your next steps might be.
We can help you engage with your communities to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, and co-design ideas for change that can help you build momentum.
We can help you articulate your organisation’s research culture goals, and map any existing initiatives to help inform decision making and target resources.
We can help you set clear evaluation goals, collect relevant evidence, and assess your organisation’s progress towards a stronger research culture.
We work with universities, research institutes, funders and other organisations across the world to help them listen to their communities, co-design effective research culture strategies, and evaluate their impact.
If you’re considering how to improve your organisation’s research culture, get in touch with either of us for a conversation.