An EPSRC Research
Network to support Research for Extending Quality Life (EQUAL)
The successful development of
EPSRC's EQUAL programme has resulted in a new but small community of
researchers, largely within universities, involved with inclusive design,
inclusive environments and rehabilitation. The researchers are adopting
interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches which fully embrace users, older
people and disabled people, and their intermediaries. In order to develop the
community further and to encourage strong links with those who can benefit most
from the initiative, EPSRC is providing funding to establish a network to bring
together the researchers with the wider community of practitioners and policy
makers who are involved with older people and disabled people. Whilst starting
with the new community of researchers it is intended that the network should
have a very broad appeal to all of those who are interested in using research to
extend quality life for older people and disabled people, for example, though
the design of better environments and products and more effective
rehabilitation.
Funding has been provided to support
a part-time coordinator (2 days a week for three years) who will work with
Professor Peter Lansley at the University of Reading, and advised by a Steering
Committee, to establish the Network and a programme of activities.
The aim
of the EQUAL Network is to improve the
living environments and hence the quality of life of older people and disabled
people by promoting interdisciplinary engineering based research and its
application.
The initial objectives
of the Network:
- to build on the community which has emerged as a result of the EPSRC EQUAL
initiative by focussing on the existing EPSRC themes of Inclusive
Environments and Inclusive Design (Buildings, the Built Environment, Product
Design and Design for All) and Rehabilitation
- to appeal to and engage a wider community of interest thus establishing an
inter-disciplinary network of researchers, policy makers, service providers,
users and user representatives, intermediaries, government, industrial and
commercial organisations.
The focus
of the Network:
- to develop greater awareness amongst key institutions of how
the needs of the community can be met through better research and more
informed education programmes
- direct interaction between those who influence and make policies
which affect the quality of the environment of living and those who
undertake and support research
- to create a better platform for application and dissemination
of current research
- to encourage high quality research through the sharing of
expertise.
The organisation
and activities of the Network:
- a secretariat (co-ordinator - two days a week, and director, at the
University of Reading) advised by a Steering Committee
- workshops for members and those they seek to influence
- special initiatives, including the creation of web-sites and databases
- encouragement and facilitation of projects
- dissemination of the outcome of workshops, initiatives and projects.
The benefits
of the Network will:
- relate to the needs of society, the economy, and the public purse and
especially those organisations involved with health care
- influence research agendas and researchers towards those issues most
beneficial to society
- facilitate the pursuit of value for money in research by improving
co-ordination and quality of research
- integrate findings from the fields of Inclusive Environments, Inclusive
Design and Rehabilitation with those from other fields of research
- provide a vehicle for presenting to users, representatives of users,
government, charitable bodies and a range of industries, the latest research
findings
- be a focal point for those interested in the extent to which research-led
practice can meet specific needs
- complement rather than duplicate the activities of other organisations.
The support
for the Network will be through:
- pump-priming funds from EPSRC
- modest membership fees subsequently
- sponsorship of key events
- contributions in kind, e.g. venues for meetings, organising events.
The prospective membership
will include:
- academic partners especially from physical science, engineering,
technology, health, medicine and the social sciences, as well as
architecture and design
- government - central, regional and local
- Members of Parliament
- Industry, in particular, construction, engineering, manufacturing,
telecoms, financial (pensions and insurance), pharmaceutical and health
care, architects and other design professionals
- professional bodies
- national and local charitable bodies
- national representative bodies.
For more details contact the Co-ordinator
8 October 2001
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