Different routes to Impact: the journey

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Different routes to Impactthe journey the
destinations

• Patricia Latter
• Head of Knowledge Transfer Impact

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Background why am I here?

• Preparation of RVC REF 2014
• impact case studies
• 5 of 11 rated 4 including 2 VEEPH
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• African Swine Fever
• Impact template score 100 (estimated)

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What is Research Impact?

• ...the demonstrable contribution that
• excellent research makes to society and
• the economy.
• Research Councils definition
• Impact embraces all the extremely diverse ways in
  which research-related knowledge and skills
  benefit individuals, organisations and nations
  by
• fostering global economic performance, and
  specifically the economic competitiveness of the
  United Kingdom,
• increasing the effectiveness of public services
  and policy, and
• enhancing quality of life, health and creative
  output.

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Outputs, Outcomes, Dissemination, Influence,
Uptake, Impact More Impact?

• At what stage does impact happen?
• Not a single crunch moment
• Stages in the impact journey
• A narrative case study helps encompass all

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Impact in International Development
sectorInterwoven Economic, Social
Policy-Related Impacts

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza case study
• Introduce rest days for live bird markets for
  effective control
•  
• Working with policy professionals
• Upskilling / capacity-building for local
  expertise
• Law / regulation changes
• Economic effects at government level (direction
  of limited resources)
• Changes in understanding and behaviour
• Economic value to affected communities
• minimise bird culling cost of vaccination
• Absence of epidemics
• Animal and human health and welfare

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Case Study Preparation

• What is evidence of impact?
• How do you provide it?
• Impact evidence isnt (necessarily) scientific
• Reasonable assumption rather than proof
• Getting your evidence
• Presenting your evidence

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Why the research is King Caractacus and the
impact case study writer is the photographer

• Now if you want to take some pictures
• of the fascinating witches
• who put the scintillating stiches
• in the britches
• of the boys
• who put the powder
• on the noses
• of the faces
• of the ladies
• of the harem
• of the court of
• King Caractacus...
•  
• i.e. The evidence you want to capture may be a
  long way from the research

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Evidence Quantitative Qualitative

• Metrics are great, but often impossible
• (Good to indicate and population-numbers
• for scale of problem)
• Some quantification possible by comparison
• metrics from comparable situations
• Demonstrating value of a negative
• search literature for previous epidemic
• cost X, killed Y
• If evidence is qualitative, demonstrate quality
• quotes from opinion leaders

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Quoted in text of case study, from full FAO
statement impact reference

• The RVCs research demonstrated how a number
  of characteristics contribute to disease
  risk in poultry systems. It also contributed to
  the understanding of the social and economic
  context within which poultry producers operate.
  The RVCs risk assessments were therefore
  critical in informing the Programmes ten key
  messages
•  
• Senior Animal Production and Health Office
• for Asia and the Pacific, UNFAO

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Evidence Gathering

• Collection
• grant/contract information
• grey literature
• committee contributions
• website material
• records of invited talks
• media coverage
• Active generation
• statements requested from
• stakeholders (offer draft text)
• questionnaires surveys
• stakeholder events

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HPAI Case study Evidence References

• FAO Report
• DFID website research meeting proceedings
• Animal Production Health Commission for Asia
  the Pacific
• 10 key messages
• Statement from FAO
• DFID website - FAO/CIRAD Workshop abstracts
• BMJ feature on One Health relevance of AI to
  medical practitioners
• OFFLU (OIE FAO AI surveillance organisation)
  publication
• Statement from OFFLU Chairman
• EFSA website guidance from Animal Health
  Welfare panel
• FAO website risk management guidelines
• News report identifying RVC as FAO Centre of
  Excellence
• Invitation to present to Labour Party Health
  Group
• FAO website news report on experts meeting
• Webcasts of FAO meeting

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Assembling the narrative

• An easy-to-follow story helps the assessor
• Iterative process with originators and
• Mock REF with relevant reviewers tremendously
  valuable
• Include good quotes in text, not just reference
  the supporting letter

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Preparing for REF 2020

• REF 2014 Collection of evidence
• retrospectively
•  
• REF 2020
• Expectation of commitment to driving impact
  alongside research
• Engage with stakeholders at all stages
• Cultivate contacts with opinion leaders for
  statements
• Consider breadth of potential impact generation
• Collect evidence and indicators now,
• so they dont get forgotten
•  
• Impact collection box
• Research Fish returns

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Thank you

• Patricia Latter
• platter_at_rvc.ac.uk
• 44(0)203 214 8119