Exchanges Interdisciplinary Research Journal

This is also the end for me as Exchanges Chief Editor. Farewell for now (or until I get a University of Warwick Press bluesky account live soon).

In the meanwhile you can find the 'real' me over at @legionofllama.bsky.social (although I talk a lot less about publishing & a whole lot more hiking!)

And we're wrapped - thanks to the whole research culture team behind the scenes and front of house for another brilliant conference!

#ircc25

There was a typo on the number of article words on the slide mind you - 4000-8000 words for peer reviewed., or 1500-4000 for critical reflection pieces.

#editorialeye #ircc25

Oooooh Exchanges and me getting a mention.

Huzzah!

Hope the special issue for '26 is a great one (watch your in boxes for the CFP delegates!)

#ircc25

Onto to the wrap up now for the day - and it's awards for the 'People's choice award for RC posters today'

But strictly speaking they're all winners - some great posters and work going on.

#ircc25

One top tip for research culture actualisation?

'Get out there and talk to people, find out what the issues are and find the focus(es) need to be'

#ircc25

'What's been challenging?'

-LOUD sectoral opposition
-Process, burdens, obstacles
-Funding uncertainty (feast/famine)
-Sheer scope of RC

Great talk to end on, thank you Cat!

#ircc25

'What does "worked" mean for research culture?'

Meaningful 'metrics and measure' that people genuinely value, not simply league tables.

Pockets of excellence or raising everyone to an equitable level?!

#ircc25

'People love winning "awards" as well, so they can be a handy way to promote and gain buy in'

Paraphrasing Cat there a little, but again like the idea - people love being recognised for their efforts, and it does so engender positive vibes and perceptions too!

#ircc25

'If you want people to be interested in a thing, don't run a survey or a call for engagement, run a competition'

Love it - and will bear that in mind in my new post!

#ircc25

Incidentally the 'research carousel' was a great idea - a series of intimate discussions and debates, framed by a key object from each speaker.

Honestly, I'd have loved a whole day of these sessions!

#ircc25

Prof Cat Davies (Leeds) now giving us an invigourating plenary on 'Improving Research Culture: What Works'

Ooooh, interesting!

Sneaky desire to know what doesn't work too...

#ircc25

Well it's been a glorious afternoon of chatter and discussion about research culture & publishing. Thanks everyone who came to chat with me on and around the Exchanges stand.

Now into the plenary session and great to see so many people here still. Really buzzing event as ever #ircc25

Very lovely lunch followed by many fascinating conversations about Exchanges and publishing. So many in fact that I'm still talking to people 30 minutes into the afternoon's sessions.

Whoops!

Ah well, all good! 😀👍

#ircc25

Moving now to a panel discussion (always a favourite of mine) - on 'Exploring Global Perspectives on Research Culture'.

Suspect this will be a highlight of the day!

#ircc25

Good question about 'going beyond performative metrics' to those sort of things which make (researchers/people's) lives better.

Embracing authentic, impactful and effective changes is important.

#ircc25

Ah the split online identity - I know it well 😀👍

Interesting things from Steven Hill - especially about the challenges of gathering RC metrics/indicators.

Must we measure everything though?! There's the rub. But good to hear about those qualitative measures as well, as sometimes numbers don't tell the 'true' story.

Exchanges stand at the IRCC event, Sept 17th 2025

While we're not the reception desk (can happily direct you there) here's what the Exchanges journal stand looks like.

Come take some of our freebies, flick through past issues or hear more about how and what we do as a journal. Especially the opportunities as authors, editors & reviewers #ircc25

Thanks Anna :)

Come say 'Hi' if you've got time (I know it's a packed day!)

Huzzah - Exchanges getting a mention in the opening.

:)

And yep, we've got a third volume dedicated to research culture coming in 2026.

Day kicking off with welcome from Profs David Leadley & Kirstie Haywood (Warwick)

Then we're on to a plenary from Steven Hill, from Research England on Frameworks for Research Culture

#ircc25

Today (along with it being my last day as Chief Editor) it's the #ircc25 event.

Looking forward to an illuminating event & launching the call for the Research Culture '26 special issue for papers on & inspired by the discourse, debate & discussions of the day.

Life/Death; Beginning/End; Accept/Decline

Seems only appropriate that I end my editorial days for Exchanges by accepting one promising paper for review and writing to an author about another one we're declining on the advice of reviewer feedback.

Such is/has been the life/end of a Chief Editor!

Thanks Alena 😀 - you can of course find 'me' over as @legionofllama.bsky.social

Hopefully, once I'm in post with WUP, I can get their BlueSky presence up and running too and get my Exchanges successor to promote it!!

And as a reminder, while we await my successor in post - here's some more information on the interim arrangements. exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/index.php/ex...

Tomorrow's the grand finalé though, as my very final day is being spent at the #IRCC25 conference on behalf of the journal and chairing a panel.

Nice way to celebrate my exit, and round off 7.5 years of editorial achievement.

Morning Exchanges World, for the very last time. Today's my last office day for the journal before I depart - and wouldn't you know it, two new manuscript submissions to cheer me on my way. 😀👍

Dealing with those, and few hand over items, a team meeting and that's it.

End of Days/Beginning Again As the Chief Editor stands down, he looks to the road ahead, and offers some words of thanks to those who worked with him over the years. This is the final post I’ll be making on this blog as I tra…

New Post: Editorial Sign-Off & Transitionary Arrangements
exchangesdiscourse.wordpress.com/2025/09/11/e...

(although, that said, I'm still in post through to next Wednesday!)

Today is all about backing up files to the shared workspace, prepping for next week's #IRCC25 event and making sure all those tiny jobs I need to do before I depart are in hand.

Seems to be going to plan so far!