Fast Track Impact
Subscribed: 142Played: 3,132
Subscribe
Description
The podcast for researchers who want to be more productive and achieve real-world impacts from their research. Every week, Mark Reed gives you practical tips and discusses how you can enhance the impact of your research, based on the latest research.
111 Episodes
Reverse
1This week, Mark talks through a series of good practice principles for engagement and impact, published in his recent blog post- Add your own feedback and ideas hereThe blog builds on a number of sources, including:Mark’s Impact Culture book (see the bottom of this page for his impact culture toolkit)NCCPE engagement guidanceMark’s “Re-thinking impact…” paperYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
This week, Mark explores what the recent REF2029 guidance means for impact, including a discussion of what we might be expected to write about in the new engagement and impact narrative, and an evidence-based approach to writing a 4* impact case study.NCCPE engagement guidanceMy “Re-thinking impact…” paperWhat made a 4* impact case study in REF214 paperMy 4* REF2021 impact case studyImpact templates (in the Google Sheets menu, go to File > Make a copy to save an editable version)3i analysis templateFast Track Impact Planning TemplateYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
This week, Mark talks to Michael Parker, Director of Operations at The Conversation, a news outlet that specialises in working with researchers, giving them editorial control on a global platform. Drawing from their work together creating the Media Impact Guide and Toolkit, Mark and Michael discuss how researchers can harness the media to get more impact from their research and provide evidence of both the reach and significance of the impacts that arise.Read the Media Impact Guide and ToolkitFind out more about The Conversation Sign up for next year’s Exchange conferenceYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
Eric Jensen is an expert in impact evaluation who has written a textbook on many of the most useful methods you'll need and leading two companies that specialise in impact evaluation consultancy and training alongside his academic research on environmental issues. In this interview, he provides tips to help you design a more effective survey to evaluate your impact, and explains how you can repurpose widely used impact planning tools as evaluation tools, that will help you improve your practice as much as they will give you evidence of impact.Find out more about the Institute for Methods Innovation via his Methods for Change website Learn about Qualia Analytics software to help you both collect and analyse impact evaluation dataWatch Eric training with Mark and others on the use of Theory of Change to evaluate impactRead Eric's book, Doing Real Research: A Practical Guide to Social Research You can download a written transcript of this episode here
This week, Mark interviews Laura Tucker (Vertigo Ventures), Tobias Schoep (GrowImpact), and Sarah Morton (Matter of Focus) about the platforms they have developed to help researchers keep track of their impacts. Find out more about each platform:GrowImpactOutNav from Matter of FocusImpact Tracker, part of the impact ecosystem from Vertigo VenturesYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
This week, Mark interviews Rachel Blanche from Queen Margaret University Edinburgh to find out how arts-based methods can provide depth and rigour to an impact evaluation. They discuss a range of approaches including visual, performative and narrative methods, the types of evidence these methods can generate, how these approaches can empower participants in determining what’s meaningful, and how evaluating in this way can itself generate further impacts.Rachel shares two examples of arts-based methods used to evaluate impact in healthcare research – a theatre project capturing data on dementia care (citing this paper) and (a participative creative inquiry on osteoporosisThe paper we mention writing together about evaluating impact with arts-based (among other) methods can be accessed hereWatch the training Rachel and I ran on evaluating impactAnd you can find out more about Rachel's work hereYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
Mark discusses a range mixed methods evaluation designs that can help you collect data to evidence impacts arising from industry, policy, media, and public engagement. The methods are easy to use without any specialist training or experience, and can generate useful data in some of the trickiest areas of impact evaluation.Find out more about the "postcard to your future self" methodFind out more about the Media Impact Guide and ToolkitRead Mark's REF2021 case study in which he evidenced a range of policy impactsYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
How do you design an impact evaluation? There is no blueprint, but in this episode, Mark gives you the tools you will need to choose an evaluation design with methods that can deliver convincing evidence while giving you win-wins for your research.Evidencing impact paper | Decision treeYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
In this first of a series of episodes on monitoring, evaluating and evidencing impact, Mark discusses one of the biggest mistakes that people make when the evaluate their engagement instead of their impact, and provides simple tools anyone can use to keep track of their impact with minimal time and effort. He concludes by explaining the difference between monitoring and evaluation and introducing impact evaluation concepts and approaches. The episode draws on this paper about evaluating impact: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733320302225?via%3DihubYou can download a written transcript of this episode here
This week, Mark interviews George Hope, Communications Manager at Oxford Net Zero and Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub, based at University of Oxford, about how you can reduce the risks of engaging with social media and achieve more impact online. They discuss challenges of engaging with skeptics and conspiracy theorists, and strategic tools for achieve more impact with less risks to your time, reputation and mental health.Connect with George on LinkedIn or follow his work on Twitter via his personal account, Oxford Net Zero and the CO2RE Hub.You can download a written transcript of this episode here
What do you see when you hold the mirror up to your attempts to achieve impact? Are you doing enough? If not, what are your excuses and assumptions, and what could you do to do more? This week, Mark shares what he learned from a book that transformed how he saw the world, and with it his research and impact - Less is More by Jason Hickle. He goes on to discuss how, in response to this, he has started to engage actively in politics - something he had previously avoided to retain his independence and influence. Achieving impact isn't risk-free, and sometimes we realise that it isn't enough to play safe.You can also read a blog post version of this podcast hereImpact Culture is available as a hardback, e-book and audio book: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books. Find out more about the book and join free training and discussion groups at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture.You can download a written transcript of this episode here
Disillusioned with how academia works, Sarah Wijesinghe left academia to set up Brijjd, a new social platform for researcher to communicate their research simply to the widest possible audience. Mark learns about her personal journal and the platform she has created, and discusses recent controversy over Twitter's new owner. You can join Brijjd for free using your LinkedIn or other existing credentials, so head over and start sharing content and engaging with each other: https://www.brijjd.com/Impact Culture is available as a hardback, e-book and audio book: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books. Find out more about the book and join free training and discussion groups at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture.You can download a written transcript of this episode here
In this final episode on mental health, Mark questions the assumption that we need to be fixed and find a happy ending, when so many people feel stuck in the middle of a story that has no end in sight. He shares stories from from researchers who are in a messy "middle" and argues that it is better to accept life in the middle of suffering, and find peace and joy there, than to live for a future happy ending that might never happen, and miss the life we have now.Read Peter Rhode's blogYou can view a video transcript of this episode hereand you can download a written transcript here
Building on the success of the “health resilient researcher” course and the launch of health coaching for academics by Fast Track Impact, Dr Joyce Reed discusses some of the most common challenges driving researchers to the brink of burnout, and how she has motivated people to turn things around to get better work-home balance and make changes to their diet and lifestyle that have transformed both their wellbeing and their productivity.This event is part of a series of free training and discussion groups. Find out about other events in this series here: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture-free-training-and-discussionYou can view a video transcript of this episode hereand you can download a written transcript here
When Paris Tuohy and Ruby Annand-Jones failed to collect the data they needed for their research, they felt frustrated and guilty - not just about the project, but for the community they were seeking to serve. But as they shared their feelings with more senior researchers in their team, they discovered that they were not alone in this experience, and started to learn lessons that would reframe how they viewed failure, at the same time as getting their project back on track. In this interview, you will get valuable tips on how to be sufficiently brave and flexible to pivot your work, and the importance of having people you can debrief and be vulnerable with, to cope with the inevitable failures that accompany every research project. Read the paper, "Normalising failure: when things go wrong in participatory marine social science fieldwork" https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/79/8/2184/6705562?login=false
Mark reports back on the workshop to discuss alternatives to the word stakeholder, where the group discussed whether or not we should in fact be trying to replace the word, or encouraging people to find the right word for their purpose and context. Alternatives were discussed as well though, including the idea of a simple typology where we can refer to people, organisations or nature.You can also read a blog post version of this podcast hereImpact Culture is available as a hardback, e-book and audio book: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books. Find out more about the book and join free training and discussion groups at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture.
This week, Mark discusses problems with the word "stakeholder" and discusses alternatives that could enable us to decolonise our vocabulary as researchers, ahead of a discussion workshop to discuss the issue further.You can also read a blog post version of this podcast hereJoin the discussion workshop on Monday 21st November from 09.00-10.30 UK time.Join the email group to discuss the issue further with workshop participants.
This week Mark talks to Petra Boynton, social psychologist academic, consultant and trainer, about her work on "being well in academia". They discuss how systems in academia perpetuate burnout and health problems, and discuss ideas that could help fix the system, providing colleagues with the necessary support, resources, skills and help to cope better and thrive, despite the growing pressures of academic life.Get your copy of Petra's books, Being well in academia: ways to feel stronger, safer and more connected and The Research CompanionA practical guide for those in the social sciences, health and development.Other useful links:https://voicesofacademia.comhttps://www.studentminds.org.ukhttps://www.educationsupport.org.ukhttps://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/student-wellbeing-and-protection
Do you have a toxic relationship with your line manager or supervisor? This week, Mark discusses three ways you can tackle your relationship so you can stop dreading your meetings and start thriving again at work.Impact Culture is available as a hardback, e-book and audio book: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books. Find out more about the book and join free training and discussion groups at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture.
This week, Mark considers how to move beyond simply learning from mistakes, to understand how our mistakes have shaped who we are, transforming regret into an experience of being more authentic. He tells a story of a mistake that was used by his boss to blackmail him, and how this one mistake haunted him until he was able to talk about it and learn to forgive himself. Only then could he see how this mistake had shaped parts of his character for good. Who we are has been shaped and made by our mistakes, including parts of ourselves that we find problematic, as well as parts of ourselves that we really value, that we would not have become were it not for our mistakes. This is not just about being able to live with our mistakes; it is about living our mistakes as part of who we are, and transforming regret into an experience of being more fully alive than ever before as we embrace our whole selves more fully and authentically than ever before.Impact Culture is available now, as a hardback, e-book and audio book: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books. Find out more about the book and join free training and discussion groups at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/impactculture.
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
Great episode, thank you.