Building Societal Impact Skills

How can your research have an impact on students, communities, and decision makers?

UArizona demonstrates research excellence through rankings, awards, and publications. Now, the metrics for how we measure research excellence are expanding beyond traditional disciplinary measures to include how research benefits society. In fact, more and more funders are requiring you to address this impact in your research proposals. As a leading researcher in your field, you can drive your research toward greater impact and deeper connections with communities and decision-makers. So, how can we learn to effectively connect our research to people who improve policy making, boost educational outcomes, broaden public participation, and improve community resilience to climate and environmental changes? How can we communicate the impact of our work in funding proposals, reports to funders, and to public audiences?

The UArizona Office of Societal Impact will host a series of workshops for faculty, staff, and others involved in collaborative research projects who are interested in building their skills in community engagement, broadening participation, and connecting research to use. The workshops will provide participants with tools and guidance on how to plan broader and societal impacts into research projects; how to create and maintain productive collaborations with stakeholders who benefit from your research; and how to evaluate and demonstrate your impact to funders and other audiences. 

Understanding Your Impact: Evaluating and Demonstrating Broader and Societal Impacts of Research 
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
1 :00p - 4:00p 
ENR2 S107

Participants will better understand the role of project evaluation in research impact and be provided with tools to develop impact evaluation plans tailored to their research goals. We will introduce standard evaluation tools such as logic models, as well as innovative frameworks for understanding and articulating how your research is used in society. 

Register to attend any or all workshops (Choose between in-person or virtual via Zoom attendance)

Workshops occur during the first 2 hours, followed by a final hour dedicated to networking with UArizona colleagues and community organizations interested in working with UArizona researchers. Light food will be provided during the workshops and the networking hour. Questions? Email us at impact@arizona.edu This workshop series is free to all UA participants, thanks to funding from the Provost's Investment Fund and the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF).