The Impactful Researcher

Researchers are often encouraged to think about impact and the demonstrable positive changes they want to create in society.

This practical and reflective workshop helps researchers explore the impact they want to have through their research, their career and their wider contribution. By developing greater clarity about who and what they want to influence, participants can make more informed decisions about their personal and professional impact alongside their societal impact.

What participants will gain

• A clearer understanding of impact in both personal and research contexts
• Greater clarity about the change they want their work to create
• Increased awareness of their strengths, contribution and potential influence
• A better understanding of who benefits from their research and why
• Practical tools for identifying pathways to greater impact
• Increased confidence making decisions that align with their intended contribution

What we cover

• What impact is and what it isn't in a research context
• Exploring personal, professional and societal impact
• Identifying strengths, motivations and areas of contribution
• Understanding who benefits from research and how change happens
• Using an Impact Canvas to explore intentions, beneficiaries and opportunities
• Identifying gaps, opportunities and priorities
• Translating impact intentions into practical action

How it works

This session is designed to be:

• Practical and reflective, not theory-heavy
• Interactive, but low-pressure, making real progress in the session
• Supportive and realistic about research life
• Focused on small, usable actions that can be immediately applied

Format

• Single workshop, 90 minutes to 2 hours
• Delivered online via Zoom, or in person on request
• Suitable for PhD researchers, doctoral training programmes, postdoctoral researchers and early career researchers (can be adapted for each career stage)

This session works well alongside

• The Proactive Researcher
• The Focused Researcher