Cambridge Creative Research Conference 2025

This is a conference about creative research for everyone – you might be an undergraduate, a Fellow, a librarian, a Professor, a writer, a teaching assistant, an artist, a postgraduate student, a teacher, a designer, a data analyst, or a pastoral advisor – and many more. This is a conference focused on participatory, accessible workshops to help people understand and use creativity in research ideas, whether that is for publishing in journals or for enjoyment and self-expression – there is no need to ‘be’ a researcher in any formal sense to attend the conference, although it is likely that people who do research in their job will benefit from it.

The workshops are an hour long and are participatory – meaning you will be invited to try out tools, methods and approaches, and perhaps give your opinions and thoughts. There is no obligation to do so, however, and you may also just listen and think. We do not require anyone to have their camera or microphone on, and encourage participants to put their own comfort first. At the end of the day you will be invited to vote on sessions under three categories:

1. Accessible and inclusive
2. Innovative and creative
3. Well- presented

so take care to make a note of anything you notice that might contribute to a well-informed vote. You will also be issued with a certificate of participation at the end of the day.

You are free to move between strands and attend any sessions you wish.

Make sure you have the environment set up so as to be as focused on the conference as possible (we acknowledge the privilege of being able to do so, and that caring responsibilities and attending to personal comfort comes first). A full list of any suggested materials for the workshops will be shared with you before the conference. You also might like to have some pencils or pens with you so that you can make creative notes by hand if preferred, and coloured paper ready for origami which may happen in the event of technical difficulties!

We think that you are! There are many, many ways to be creative, and some people prefer constraints and rules to do so; others enjoy a ‘blank page’, while still others are great at collaborating and bouncing ideas around while not necessarily liking to be creative on their own.

Of course not! No one is going to ‘check your credentials’ to attend. You might be interested in learning more or considering using more creativity in research; or you might hate the idea but be willing to listen; all are welcome.

Of course not! No one is going to ‘check your credentials’ to attend. Looking at things with a ‘researcher’ lens is valuable and interesting, regardless of your title, formal qualifications or whether you are a student or not.