About | Scilly Research

Why a research network for the Isles of Scilly?

The Isles of Scilly are home to a unique and resilient community, where the lived experience of residents holds invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities of island life.

Community-driven research is essential here because it ensures that the knowledge, values, and priorities of the people who know the islands best are at the heart of the research process, countering what has previously been a tokenistic, consultative and extractive exercise. Local residents have an intimate understanding of the land, sea, and rhythm of life here that cannot be fully captured by external perspectives alone. This deep connection to place provides a wealth of expertise that deserves a seat at the table.

In the Isles of Scilly, residents are not just participants in research — they are experts in their own right. Whether it’s local farmers who understand the nuances of island agriculture, the fishermen who know the seas, or the long-time residents with deep historical and cultural knowledge, each person contributes a unique perspective that enriches the research process. This local expertise ensures that research is not just academically sound, but also practical, relevant, and sensitive to the needs of the community.

Community-driven research empowers residents to shape the questions, methodologies, and outcomes of research projects in ways that directly benefit their lives. It builds trust, fosters ownership, and ensures that research is truly responsive to the needs of the islands. When residents are partners in the research process, it creates stronger, more sustainable outcomes – ones that reflect the priorities of the community.

In short, the expertise within the Isles of Scilly is rooted in lived experience, and this knowledge is critical in guiding research that seeks to support the long-term sustainability of these islands. By recognising and valuing this expertise, community-driven research ensures the voices of the people who call the Isles of Scilly home are central in shaping their future.

Network Goals

Celebrate and amplify local expertise

Foster community-driven research

Encourage local leadership

Support local decision-making and action

Celebrate and amplify local expertise, recognising the vital role that residents play in shaping the future of the Isles of Scilly.
Foster community-driven research where local knowledge and lived experience both guide and inform research priorities, ensuring that outcomes are relevant and actionable for the community.
Encourage local leadership, with residents and local organisations coming up with the ideas, and being supported by researchers to create research that has a direct and positive impact on island life.
Support local decision-making and action using insights from the community-led research to develop solutions that enhance the long-term sustainability of the natural environment and the community living on the Isles of Scilly and ensure the long-term viability of our islands.

Our community-led research will reflect the realities and demands of island life. Whether you’re a local resident, visitor or researcher, you can help us investigate and develop new ideas that will make a positive difference to our community. Our project aims to ensure that the interests and expertise of the community are at the forefront of change in the Isles of Scilly.

Collaboration

Innovation

Transparency

Inclusivity

Network Commitments

To achieve these goals, the network is guided by a set of principles that underpin our work.

To achieve the above goals, the network is guided by a set of guiding principles that underpin our work.

Collaboration is central to our approach, recognising that the best solutions arise from working together, drawing on the diverse knowledge and skills of residents, local organisations and researchers.
We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are heard and that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the network.
We embrace innovation, encouraging new ideas, approaches, and technologies that can address the unique challenges of island life while staying true to the community’s needs and values.
Finally, transparency ensures that all processes, decisions, and outcomes are shared and fully accessible, aiming to foster trust among community members and researchers.

Through these core principles, we seek to create meaningful outcomes and share the impact of our work as we build towards a more sustainable, connected, and resilient future for the Isles of Scilly. For more details on how we track and share these results, visit our 'Resources' page.

More about the Network

Resources

Our Mission

The purpose of the Isles of Scilly Community Research Network is to bring together the diverse strengths of our island communities with the knowledge and expertise of researchers, creating a powerful network for shared learning and for academia to support locally-led research. Our aim is to bridge the gap between local lived experience and academic or professional research, ensuring that the work we do is both relevant and impactful for the Isles of Scilly.

Through this network, we can connect the people who know the islands best — residents who live, work, and care for the land and sea — with researchers who can provide fresh insights, methods, and perspectives. We believe that the best solutions come from working together, with research being shaped by the context of island life and guided by the needs, values, and aspirations of the community.

By fostering these connections, the network ensures that research is driven by the questions that matter most to those who live here, while also giving researchers access to a wealth of local knowledge that can enrich and deepen their work. This partnership empowers both communities and researchers to co-create solutions that are practical, sustainable, and beneficial for the islands’ long-term future.

In short, the network is all about community leadership – connecting ideas, knowledge, and people to ensure that the Isles of Scilly remains a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient place to live and thrive for generations to come. Whether you’re a local resident, or a researcher, your involvement is key in building a stronger, more connected future for the islands.

Our History

2022

2023

2024

2025

UKRI invite applications from partnerships of grass-roots organisations to explore the idea of creating Community Research Networks in their places.

The Isles of Scilly Community Venture, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and the Isles of Scilly Museum Association team up to bid to bring this opportunity to Scilly.

The Isles of Scilly is one of 30 successful communities in securing development funding from UKRI.

The development phase for our Community Research Network kicks off with extensive conversations, surveys and interviews across all five islands to build a picture of the opportunities and interest of our communities.

Our team of community advocates continue to conduct interviews and conversations with local residents to discover common research themes and to measure interest, as the network starts to take shape. (See the results of these conversations here)

During 2024 the University of Exeter made an exclusive commitment as an institution to support the Isles of Scilly Community Research Network. The Five Islands Academy also joined the partnership, while the Isles of Scilly Museum Association stepped back temporarily to focus on the Cultural Centre and Museum project.

In late 2024, we learned that Scilly was one of 9 Community Research Network to be awarded implementation funding by UKRI - to make our plans a reality over the next 5 years.

At the start of 2025, ramping up the implementation phase began in earnest, recruiting a team across all four partner organisations and preparing the way for enabling a range of research projects led by Scilly's community.