Posted on 17 March 2023

Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair at Research England, visited the University (16 March) to learn more about our important research projects and being a University for public good.

Dame Jessica (second left) speaks with academics from the University of York about our research

Ethical innovation

As part of the visit, Dame Jessica was given a tour of the facilities at the Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) – a new flagship facility at the University of York for research in the fields of safe and trustworthy robotics, autonomous systems and AI.

Following her tour of ISA, Dame Jessica visited the Department of Biology and heard about BioYorkshire – a partnership between the University of York, Fera Science and Askham Bryan College.

The initiative aims to transform York and North Yorkshire into the UK’s first carbon negative region and be a hub for green innovation, skills development and inward investment.

She also heard about the work of the Global Bioeconomy Institute, as well as meeting with academics from the York Biomedical Research Institute.

Research impact

Research England is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI),the biggest research funder in the UK.

The University of York’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dame Jessica to the University.

“The University leads ambitious research in areas that make a difference to the world we all live in and it was fantastic to introduce Dame Jessica to just some of this work and some of the talented people making an impact.”

Public good

Dame Jessica also heard about the work done by the York Graduate Research School, the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education, and The York Policy Engine. These projects are central in shaping the University’s research culture and our vision to be a University for the public good.

The York Graduate Research School connects and supports more than 2,000 postgraduate research students while The York Policy Engine provides dedicated support to help strengthen academic-policymaker engagement and to facilitate the adoption of research generated at York into policy.

The Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education is a collaboration between five Yorkshire universities, 12 UKRI-funded Doctoral Training partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training and a number of external partners dedicated to equity at doctoral level.

Dr Andrew Jackson, Director of the University’s Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange team which is responsible for supporting and developing research and impact activities said: “The research culture of the University enables our curiosity-driven and action-oriented research. We were pleased to introduce Dame Professor Corner to some of the formal support in place for researchers that helps them develop and thrive.”

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