Impact
Scientific knowledge can have an important impact beyond academic publications. At the Faculty of Science, we recognize our responsibility to inspire curiosity, enhance public understanding, and drive meaningful societal change.
The societal impact of research can be defined as academic insights that result in positive changes in behavior, actions and activities, which can lead to broader cultural, economic, industrial and social benefits. Societal value stemming from research is sometimes difficult to measure. While some research leads to immediate, tangible change, much of its value unfolds over time.
At the Faculty of Science, we foster and support the mindset and culture necessary to achieve societal impact. In our IMPACT Framework, we identify seven broad categories of research impact on society.
Economic impact
Economic impact activities include, but are not limited to, entrepreneurship activities such as research-based startups and spinoffs, collaborations with industry, private-public partnerships, and generating intellectual property.
Social impact
Social impact activities aim to counteract specific social issues, e.g., social inequality and educational accessibility issues, polarization, teacher shortage and labor-shortage in technical sectors. Activities may include, for example, organizing lectures and meetings for patient groups, or setting up projects for underprivileged or disadvantaged groups.
Public policy impact
Examples of public policy impact activities include, but are not limited to, providing input for policy-makers at local, national and international levels, participating in public debates and sharing knowledge with legislators and opinion-makers.
Public engagement impact
In public engagement activities, researchers are in direct contact with the public to exchange knowledge, opinions and ideas about academic research. Examples of public engagement impact activities include active participation by researchers in science communication activities, citizen science, research co-design and co-creation.
Professional practice impact
Researchers may make professional practice impact by, for example, enhancing or starting a professional community, providing access to open research facilities and tools, or having secondary appointments/membership within civil society organizations.
Pedagogical impact
Pedagogical impact involves researchers working together with educators and/or education institutions in primary and secondary formal education. Researchers may, for example, engage in activities to improve the quality of formal education, teacher training, or consultancy on examination programmes.
Scholarly impact
Examples of scholarly impact activities include, but are not limited to, contributions to Open Science initiatives, contributions to open research data sets, and publishing materials (including books, source publications, guidelines and catalogues) aimed at professional readers.
Contact
Prof. Guido van den Ackerveken
Research Office algemeen: science.rso@uu.nl
Contact for Public Engagement
Nieske Vergunst, N.L.Vergunst@uu.nl