Menstruation Research Network

This project was awarded funding through the Wellcome Trust. Stirling will host the third workshop for this project (Jan 2020) with award funding of £7320. I have been advised to create a new project on Worktribe for the workshop. The network is already in development and the host (St. Andrew's University) is seeking to contact our research office to arrange payment and contract details.

Project description: The UK is home to experts in menstruation across many disciplines and institutions: the sciences and humanities, NGO work and activism, the arts, industry and the NHS. Through a programme of three workshops and the establishment of a website, the proposed project will create the first UKwide menstruation research network. This is a timely suggestion, due to the contemporary policies and measures to tackle menstrual poverty in Scotland and the current public interest in fertility apps and related issues. The establishment of a menstruation network will empower professionals, activists and academics to gain an overview over the state of the field, knowledge and cultural representation, set research agendas together, and plan future collaborative work. While the programme of events will be hosted by Scottish institutions, to reflect the historic roll-out of menstrual policy there, it will also bring together researchers, NGOs, medical professionals, educators and artists from across the UK. Its sustainability is ensured through the range of interested parties, the central node of administration and intellectual leadership, the inclusion of further grant applications in its stated aims and a public-facing internet profile that will allow it to function as a centre of expertise for media enquiries and policy work.

1. Aims: The aim is to establish a sustainable interdisciplinary network of menstruation experts around Dr Røstvik, including researchers in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, policymakers and outreach groups, and artists and activists. We will do so by organising three workshops to ensure that experts meet and collaborate more frequently, and that a professional network of colleagues is built.

2. Activities: We propose to organize a series of three workshops in order to a) bring together experts in the UK, and b) contribute to the public debate around menstruation through showcasing new knowledge and planning future projects. The interdisciplinary workshops will be themed, and split between individual presentations of new research, and group discussions to identify gaps in the literature and priorities for future research.

3. Menstruation Research Workshop 3: Go with the Flow: Sport, Physical Activity and Health The third, and final, workshop will focus on issues of menstrual health, sport and physical activity. Hosted by Dr Sarah Zipp at the University of Stirling, the event will reflect the institution's expertice on issues of sports and equity. Speakers will be asked to discuss research relevant to issues of health, physical activity and sport participation related to menstruation, coming from a wide range of disciplines. The second part of the workshop is dedicated to summing up the year, and making concrete plans for future collaboration and funding application – to be published on the website. University of Stirling, January 2020.

Morning: Keynote speaker. 10-minute pre-circulated 'goal papers' by 10 speakers. Afternoon: Discussion of past years work, presentation of grants ready for submission, networking. This session will be used to reflect on the work done during the year, and to establish clear goals for collaboration and funding proposals in the immediate future. Workin-progress, updates and goals will be posted to the website. The events will be advertised via the project website, the network member’s home institutions, social media, and invitations to relevant non-governmental organisations and networks. The research assistant will also be tasked with publicising the events in all the involved disciplines. Second, we propose to publish a website about our network and events. This will both ensure the longevity of the project, function as a place to disseminate our research and plans, and work as a platform for public engagement. In the budget, we have asked for funding to allow one network member (with website building and maintenance experience) to establish and run the site.