Strategic Priorities 2020-21

In these challenging times, the Forum's strategic priorities are under continuous review by Trustees to enable us to serve our members and the wider heritage science community well.

The National Heritage Science Forum (NHSF) brings together the leading organisations that create and use heritage science research. Members work together to build the community of heritage science in the UK and demonstrate its public benefit.

The Forum achieves this by:

  • Sharing knowledge, ideas and innovations amongst its members
  • Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Strengthening the infrastructure to support future research and access to it.

In 2020-21, NHSF will focus on the following priorities:

  • Involve more organisations in the delivery of the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK and in doing so, raise NHSF's profile, develop its strategic partnerships and grow its membership.
  • Work in partnership with AHRC, E-RIHS.uk (UKRIHS) and IROC to secure investment in UK heritage science infrastructure.
  • Develop a toolkit to support the community in demonstrating the value of heritage science.
  • Articulate the social relevance of heritage science and encourage the heritage science community to show how its research helps to address the issues that matter to people.
  • Establish a framework for emerging professionals' networking and skills development to strengthen the identity of heritage science and address anticipated skills shortages now that the UK has left the European Union.
  • Effect a transition to a new governance and operating structure so that the Forum continues to serve its members and the heritage science community well and develops as a resilient organisation.

People from NHSF member organisations work together through three working groups to deliver the outcomes of the strategic framework. Our 'research' group is leading on societal relevance, our 'community' group on the framework for emerging professionals, and our 'impact' group on the resource to help demonstrate the value of heritage science.

Find out more about our work here: What we do