How do you actually ‘make an impact’? Guidance from the field The many different channels and quality
in the way you design your study, enter into
One question that we will not go into here,
standards may sometimes make it difficult
partnerships and communicate? What can
but which merits more thought, is how best to
to see the wood for the trees when it comes
you reasonably expect to accomplish? What
organise the field itself. The social sciences and
to making an impact, particularly if you are
does ‘meaningful science’ look and feel like?
humanities cover a wide range of disciplines
a relatively young researcher. But it can also
How should you handle the media and social
and paradigms and address a multitude of
be difficult if you have spent decades working
‘heat’ that you might generate by engaging
issues and subjects. Our diversity is a great
in an environment where the focus was on
in public science? How do you actually go
asset, but it comes at a price: a weaker culture
the intrinsic quality of your work, rather than
about influencing professionals, executives or
of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and
on how well you communicate your message.
public administrators? And what do you do if
knowledge accumulation than that among
You will be facing many new and complex
policymakers or companies make selective or
medical practitioners, for example. The SSH
questions. How can you increase the likelihood
improper use of your work? We will briefly
field could likely generate more impact by
of your research having an impact on society
address all these questions.
better organising itself.
6
