Exploring Research Impact in Academia and Why It Matters

Andy Phippen is Professor of Digital Rights in the Department of Computing and Informatics at Bournemouth University, UK.Louise Rutt is Senior Impact and Knowledge Exchange Manager in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business at the University of Plymouth, UK.

• 1. Misunderstanding Impact 2. A Case Study in Long Term Research Impact 3. Public Good, the Civic University and Other Policy Ideas 4. Research Policy and the Problem for Institutions 5. Moving Policy into Practice 6. Good Research Can Be Impactful Research 7. Research Impact as Part of Academic Identity: Homo Academicus Impactus 8. The Impact Ecosystem and Can We Fix It?

"A very timely and highly valuable book that looks at research impact from the perspective of those who do it, rather than those who tell people to do impact. A sometimes uncomfortable read, Phippen and Rutt provide a thought providing discussion, drawing heavily on their own experiences and those of their interviewees, that looks at the motivations of those who engage in research impact because they think it is it important, not because they are expected to do it. They explore why research impact is essential beyond what is required on research assessment."- Emma Bond, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange and Professor of Socio-Technical Research, University of Suffolk, UK‘This stellar research monograph shines light on the often-narrow discourses around research impact. The authors provide a stinging critique of current policies and practices in UK HE. One distinguishing feature of the arguments set out is that they helpfully suggest new and better ways of looking at impact whereby the intrinsic motivations of academics are drawn upon to enable a much richer and more nuanced narrative in relation to research impact. Anyone interested in impact will surely want to read.’- Graham Towl, Professor of Psychology, Durham University, UK