Increasing opportunities for networking and public engagement through SRIP Research Development Workshop Grants

The Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP) is committed to supporting the development of research. For this purpose, the SRIP offers funding to support development activities, such as hosting a workshop to bring together collaborators to develop a future project proposal, an event aimed at disseminating research findings, a meeting to plan research impact with non-academic stakeholders, or even a research-led training event to support evidence-based practice (Lafarge, 2021). Such funding can support costs incurred from venue hire, travel and accommodation for speakers and delegates, and other incidental costs. Costs from online hosting can also be sought, for remote or online activities. This editorial aims to highlight the range of activities supported by these grants, including the utility for promoting public involvement and engagement in research.

Impactful research requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Inherent within this is the requirement to involve a range of professionals from different backgrounds. In addition, the involvement of members of the public, and those with lived experience, from the very earliest stages of the research process is important. Public involvement in research is a required feature for several funding organisations, in recognition that the insight gained by working alongside individuals with a diverse range of experiences enhances both the utility and relevance of the work undertaken (National Institute for Health and Care Research [NIHR], 2019). When planning public involvement activities, it is essential that consideration of barriers to involvement is considered. One such barrier can be costs incurred from attending a meeting in person. It is also important that members of the public are remunerated for their time.

A recently awarded SRIP Research Development Grant demonstrated excellence in public involvement activities, to shape the development of a project proposal examining the experiences of gestational and non-gestational parents (Darwin & Greenfield, 2022). Experts-by-experience were involved in two, half-day workshops to discuss current understanding and share perspectives. Further interactive activities were held between workshops, to identify and prioritise key questions going forwards. Such involvement at the stage of a project development is invaluable to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are heard and included in the shaping of research.

The SRIP funding can also be used to facilitate networking with academic and non-academic stakeholders, and to identify and communicate future research priorities on a broader scale. Previous examples that have produced informative consensus statements include those on birth-related trauma (McKenzie-McHarg et al., 2015) and tokophobia (Jomeen et al., 2021). Both are examples of excellent multidisciplinary collaboration, to share knowledge and continue improvements in understanding.

We encourage applicants to be innovative in their planned activities, and to consider how they can best showcase their research via infographics and promotional videos. A recent workshop led by Caparros-Gonzalez (2021), gathered clinicians and researchers to discuss the short- and long-term consequences of maternal stress on fetus brain development. The output from this meeting was used to develop an informative video, uploaded to social media and freely accessible.

The SRIP is an international and multidisciplinary organisation with a diverse background. The SRIP Research Development Workshop Grants lie on the society’s objectives to promote, disseminate, and consolidate the scientific study of human reproduction from a psychological and behavioural perspective including socio-cultural, political, and medical aspects of reproduction, birth, infancy, and parenting (Erduran & Sözbir, 2022; Hanna & Donetto, 2021). Applications for funding from Early Career Researchers through to those in the most senior positions, and international researchers are welcomed. We therefore encourage all researchers involved in topics related to reproductive and infant psychology to consider applying for a SRIP Research Development Workshop Grant when planning their next projects.

Disclosure statement

The authors are members of the SRIP Committee and are currently responsible for the SRIP Research Development Workshop Grants