We improve lives and livelihoods

In this episode, Kim McAllister finds out how UKRI is extending the UK’s birth cohort tradition. 

Since 1946, thousands of individuals have contributed to these studies - Generation New Era is the 2026 cohort and will begin later this year. 

By tracking the experiences of the participants over the years, researchers build a detailed picture which can help to inform policy makers.

In this episode we hear from:

Professor Alison Park, Deputy Executive Chair ESRC

James Easey, UKRI Media and Communications Lead

Professor Alissa Goodman, Co-Director of Generation New Era, and Co-Director of Population Research UK, UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies.

Kim McAllister discovers how UKRI is helping the fashion and textile industry integrate more sustainable and responsible practices and is joined by Joanna Billingham from AHRC, Professor Kate Goldsworthy, Chair of Circular Design & Innovation based at Chelsea College of Arts, and Director, University of the Arts London Innovation Lab, and Dr Dawn Ellams from The School of Design, Royal College of Art.

In episode three of this six part series, we explore AI and health with Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC and AI Champion for UKRI; Suzanne Gabb, COO of GoodBoost and Richard Howells, founder of Tribe.

Hosted by Kim McAllister, this is a Connect production for UKRI.

In episode two of this six part series, we explore Prosperity Partnerships with Andrew Bourne, EPSRC's Executive Director of Innovation and Partnerships, Professor Julianne Early, from Queens University, Belfast and Dr Kenji Takeda from Microsoft.

Hosted by Kim McAllister, this is a Connect production for UKRI.

Five years after UKRI was created, a funding call was designed to fill the gaps between the research councils. 

It’s called the cross-research council responsive mode, and it funds interdisciplinary research looking to make an impact on lives and livelihoods.

Host and journalist Kim McAllister talks to UKRI chief executive Ottoline Leyser; assessment college member Sheena Vachhani and funded researcher Andrew Manches to find out more about how this scheme works.