A simple, free way to create and publish research project websites
A configurable Jekyll theme for research teams who need attractive, maintainable, GitHub Pages-ready project websites edited in Markdown.
Theme purpose
Build a professional project site quickly
This theme gives research teams a practical structure for project communications: a landing page, standard content pages, sample styling, reusable blocks, partner logos, image galleries, breadcrumbs, and responsive navigation.
What it provides
Designed for research communication
The theme gives researchers a professional website structure without asking them to become web designers.
Markdown-first
Pages, cards, galleries, alerts, and blocks can be maintained through Markdown and simple front matter.
Customisable design
Colours, optional project logos, navigation, typography, and reusable layouts are centralised in the theme.
GitHub Pages ready
Project sites can use the theme remotely and publish as free static websites with automatic rebuilds when content is updated.
Guidance from the beginning
Comprehensive documentation introduces GitHub, static websites, Markdown, and YAML through small examples, then covers layouts, styling, accessibility, and maintenance.
A small set of technologies
Write content in Markdown and settings in YAML. GitHub Pages builds and hosts the site with Jekyll; ordinary editing needs no HTML, CSS, JavaScript, database, or local development tools.
Examples
Explore the content styles
Explore the working samples to see how landing-page sections, reusable content blocks, and ordinary Markdown can present your research.
Landing-page sections
Introduce your project with a hero, full-width sections, images, and cards that guide visitors to more detail.
Content blocks
Arrange related information in columns, pair images with text, and highlight supporting details with alerts.
Markdown formatting
Write readable pages with headings, lists, quotations, tables, links, and images using simple Markdown syntax.
Recommended workflow
Use a starter site
Create from the starter
Use the starter repository for a new project site with the right configuration, sample content, and file structure already in place.
Configure the theme
Set project title, colours, logos, grid settings, breadcrumbs, favicon, and other values from _config.yml.
Write in Markdown
Edit normal pages in Markdown and use front matter when a page needs cards, galleries, or landing-page sections.
Documentation
Using the theme
The documentation supports researchers who are unfamiliar with the technologies behind a website. Start with step-by-step beginner guides, learn how to build your pages, or look up a specific task. GitHub, static websites, Markdown, and YAML are explained as you need them.
Begin with ordinary Markdown and a few YAML settings. Add richer content blocks when you need them; the guides explain how to choose a page layout and combine writing methods.
Beginners: start here
Learn how the website works, get it online, and write your first page with small, copyable examples.
Build your pages
Choose a page layout, understand content blocks, and combine writing methods to tell your research story.
Content and styling reference
Find Markdown and YAML syntax, block recipes, card collections, appearance settings, and navigation guidance.
Check and maintain
Check accessibility and colour choices, preview your site, troubleshoot problems, and keep your content current.
For project teams
Designed to stay maintainable
The theme keeps presentation details in layouts, includes, CSS, and configuration so researchers can focus on writing clear content. Sites can start from sample content, then delete what they do not need.
Partners
Partner organisations
Add logos supplied by your project partners, funders, and participating organisations. These transparent placeholders show how different logo proportions fit together.
