The RICHeS Governance framework is designed to provide strategic leadership for the UK’s heritage and conservation science sector, ensuring its continued global prominence. The RICHeS programme will provide coordination and access to facilities, research resources and expertise both within the UK and internationally. RICHeS will also manage the UK’s participation in and access to international research infrastructure partnerships and consortia such as the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS).
A key feature of RICHeS is its robust advisory structures which offer ongoing oversight and performance monitoring, ensuring that the programme aligns with its strategic objectives. These advisory groups help track progress against the defined RICHeS Programme Scope, providing critical input into decision-making and programme refinement.
RICHeS Programme Scope
The RICHeS programme is focused on delivering key outcomes in several critical areas:
- Funding and Investment Management: RICHeS ensures the successful delivery of funding opportunities and the effective management of its investment portfolio, fostering innovation and growth within the sector.
- Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS): The programme provides oversight of the HSDS, supporting the management, sharing, and analysis of data critical to heritage science research.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: RICHeS actively monitors programme outcomes, evaluates its impact, and ensures benefits realisation across its initiatives.
- Community Engagement and Consultation: Through its Infrastructure Headquarters (IHQ), RICHeS promotes community engagement, bringing together key stakeholders for consultation and collaboration, and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of the wider sector are considered.
- International Leadership and Coordination: RICHeS leads the coordination of the UK node for E-RIHS and fosters strong engagement with the European Infrastructure Consortium, ensuring the UK plays a leading role in shaping the future of heritage science on the global stage.
Through these efforts, RICHeS is committed to advancing the field of heritage science, promoting collaboration and ensuring that UK research infrastructure and capabilities remain at the cutting edge of global conservation science.
