The placement was related with my ongoing PhD Research as it was looking into research extending beyond academia, creating impact in the public realm.
Career Connect
I was interview by my line manager and suggested as suitable.
As a Research Excellence Framework (REF) Researcher, my duty was to work with two pioneering academics from School of Architecture, focusing on their research as Impact Case Studies to represent excellent research at University. The aim was to look for impact beyond academia, defining the influence, benefit or difference research has created in the public domain. The placement provided me with the training on the definition of impact and where to look for it. I was responsible from supporting the research narratives with evidence that corroborates impact in terms of creating change in society, policy, profession, environment and many others.
I have developed my skills as a researcher in understanding the types and methods of evidencing real impact as a quality that creates change and difference. I have carried out several activities for that aim, which are: -hunting for evidence that corroborates impact-understanding indicators of impact evidence and how to record it-collation of evidence to support project narrative -online interview with key people and transcription-correspondence with experts and guidance towards defining change-creation of online evidence records
I had the chance to work with researchers working on projects of the state of the art in architectural research, see how they design dissemination of their research and engage with collaborators and build networks to extend beyond academia and produce actual impact through creating difference in everyday lives of people.
Two major challenges: timing and support. This is a placement that required work that was more than anticipated. So time management and clever planning of where to look was important. I realised during the placement that I could use more support in being introduced to impact tracking tools to gather evidence.
My researcher skills were definitely useful in this placement.
This placement was particularly important and meaningful as it provided me with the chance of looking into how research and practice in architecture can actually go hand-in-hand, both inspiring and contributing in each other. Understanding impact as a value that changes how people feel, think, behave, give decisions; how it could be instrumental in developing strategies and new perspectives; how it could provoke debates; how it could provide new services and products changed the way I myself look into my own research project in a new way. To create an actual impact, a researcher needs to build partnerships and alliances with other actors to work for mutual benefit. This experience also changed the way I discuss research topics and outcomes with my peers they are very much inspired by with fact that excellent research not only informs knowledge in academia, but also extend beyond and create change the built environment or the way we perceive and experience the build environment. This experience will be my guide in all the research that I will pursue in my academic Career.
This placement need a well settled communication with line manager, track of work and good time management. But the gains were worth.
Form completed: 06 Jul 2018