Strategic Framework Task Groups
NHSF members help to deliver the Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK through four task groups focused on: Research priorities, Research translation, Workforce analysis, Measurement frameworks.
The Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK is a tool to help the heritage science community work together to address shared priorities in three strands of public value, excellent research, and an inclusive community.
You can find out more about the Framework and the areas the community has identified as needing action here: Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK
NHSF members are currently focusing on four areas, with a task group made up of members for each area.
Research priorities - this group is collecting information on recent research and mapping how it addresses research gaps identified in 2009. it is using this knowledge to identify where gaps remain and where new areas of research need have emerged. Next steps will involve consultation on how to make this body of knowledge more widely available to support research collaborations and thematic areas that are a priority for future research (and funding).
Research translation - this group seeks to increase the translation of research into practice, building on existing good practice and developing links with organisations outside of academia. It is doing this by using societal challenge case studies to explain the importance and benefits of heritage science to communities beyond the heritage science community. It is also working on the development of a Strategy for Research Translation with the goal of securing funding for work that will help to strengthen the culture of research uptake and evidence use, including communication and supported by training.
Workforce analysis - this group is addressing the related challenges of addressing the gap in evidence of who makes up the heritage science workforce, the capacity of the workforce and demand for the workforce, and evidence of the workforce's skills strengths and gaps. It has successfully advocated for funding for research to address these gaps in evidence and is now acting as the technical steering group to support Icon (NHSF member) in its AHRC-funded Labour Survey research for RICHeS (Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science).
Measurement frameworks - this group is addressing the challenge of 'developing consensus on what to measure and how to measure it'. It's exploring how heritage science delivers value, to whom, and how to measure it. The work involves links to the wider Culture and Heritage Capital framework and other evaluation and reporting systems, with a goal of understanding what data is being collected for which purpose, and whether data collection can be streamlined (to make it easier!) and whether data can be shared (to get greater value from it).
If you are working on these, or other areas of the framework, please add a note on what you're doing to our online noticeboards so that we can build up a community-wide picture of what is being achieved.