Research Impact

It is part of our institutional responsibility to nurture positive change outside of academia through our research, translating it into impact. Government and funding organisations expect researchers to be aware of the potential difference their research could make to society, to be able to articulate how impacts could be generated, to consider ways of accelerating such change, and to take account of benefits resulting from their research. The Research Impact Team supports researchers by providing advice and training on impact idea generation, planning, execution, evidencing and reporting.

The Research Impact Team manages impact-focussed funding, including UKRI-funded Impact Acceleration Accounts, the University’s Internal Impact & Innovation Funds and other impact funding. These funding streams support activities that strengthen relationships with strategic external partners and maximise the potential for research impact in any sector with ‘non-academic’ users of research.

The Research Impact Team also supports the Directors of Impact & Innovation, coordinates the University’s Impact REF preparations, provides Research Impact training (both internal and external), and bolsters the University’s impact work via our Impact and Research blogs and the team’s X account (@UStAResearch).

Recent impact news

  • Get excited! Mind and Matter 2024
    On Sunday October 27th the University will be hosting ‘Mind & Matter 2024’, a science festival engaging with local communities across Fife and the Greater Tayside area. The event will showcase the research of more than 60 academics at the University in exciting and family-friendly ways. It targets young people and their families, educators and … Read more
  • Está lloviendo MMMEN: Mi tiempo como pasante en el proyecto Haciendo Música para Manejar El Niño
    Incorporar el trabajo centrado en el impacto a las primeras carreras de investigación es una forma interesante de extender la cultura académica positiva y contribuir al bien social. Este blog ha sido escrito por Millie McCallum, que actualmente cursa un máster (con honores) en Geografía, que se ha unido a los académicos en un nuevo … Read more
  • It’s raining MMMEN: My time as an intern on the Making Music for Managing El Niño project
    Embedding impact-focussed work into early careers in research is an exciting way to extend positive academic culture and contribute to societal good. This blog was written by Millie McCallum, currently undertaking her MA (Hons) in Geography, who has joined academics in a new project. By involving and empowering our student community through generating impact, the … Read more

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Meet the Research Impact team:

Rees Hughes, Acting Head of Research Impact
Euan Donohue, Research Impact Coordinator
Ishani Khemka, Research Impact Press Officer (Interim)
Victoria Lee, Research Impact Press Officer (Interim)

Please contact the Research Impact team if you have any research impact related query.
Email: [email protected]  

Meet the Engagement with Research team:

Sandra Appleby-Arnold, Head of Engagement with Research

Please contact the Engagement with Research team if you have any engagement with research related query.
Email: [email protected]