Maximising impact of research

Two of Wales’s major institutions have joined forces to help maximise the impact of their work

Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales will work together in areas of shared research interest.

This could include joint research projects, staff training, exchange schemes, collaborative programmes of postgraduate study and PhD supervision.

Both institutions believe working more closely in areas of joint expertise will boost the impact and increase the capacity of their research.

The collaboration will also help develop skills and provide resources.

Cardiff University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan, and National Museum Wales Director General, David Anderson, have signed a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum commits to a long-term partnership “designed primarily to promote research and achieve public impact in areas of common strength and strategic interest, making a difference to Wales and beyond”.

Professor Riordan said: “I believe that establishing collaborations and partnerships like this will help us achieve our goal of becoming one of the top 100 universities in the world, as well as providing wider benefits for Wales.

“Harnessing the power of the University with that of one of the country’s most significant cultural institutions is very much part of our strategic approach and innovation agenda.

“I look forward to this collaboration bearing fruit, whether through major research projects, staff development opportunities or the sharing of facilities.”

Mr Anderson said:  “As Wales’s National Museum, we are committed to developing our research programmes in the arts, sciences and humanities, which are already internationally recognised. Signing up to this memorandum of understanding with Cardiff University will enable us to capitalise on new opportunities and see different ways of working as opportunities.”

The University and Museum already work together and have had some notable success with joint research.

Both organisations worked on the excavation of an early medieval crannog (artificial island) in Llan-gors Lake near Brecon.

The only site of its kind in Wales, the work of the Museum and University revealed it was an early medieval royal site of the ruler of the inland kingdom of Brycheiniog.

Scientists at Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru were also responsible for the discovery of the Cardiff Ghost Slug – a species that was both new to the UK and new to science.