Researchers are often encouraged to think about impact and the demonstrable positive changes they want to create in society.

This practical and reflective workshop helps researchers explore the impact they want to have through their research, their career and their wider contribution. By developing greater clarity about who and what they want to influence, participants can make more informed decisions about their personal and professional impact alongside their societal impact.

What participants will gain

A clearer understanding of impact in both personal and research contexts
Greater clarity about the change they want their work to create
Increased awareness of their strengths, contribution and potential influence
A better understanding of who benefits from their research and why
Practical tools for identifying pathways to greater impact
Increased confidence making decisions that align with their intended contribution

What we cover

What impact is and what it isn't in a research context
Exploring personal, professional and societal impact
Identifying strengths, motivations and areas of contribution
Understanding who benefits from research and how change happens
Using an Impact Canvas to explore intentions, beneficiaries and opportunities
Identifying gaps, opportunities and priorities
Translating impact intentions into practical action

How it works

This session is designed to be:

Practical and reflective, not theory-heavy
Interactive, but low-pressure, making real progress in the session
Supportive and realistic about research life
Focused on small, usable actions that can be immediately applied

Format

Single workshop, 90 minutes to 2 hours
Delivered online via Zoom, or in person on request
Suitable for PhD researchers, doctoral training programmes, postdoctoral researchers and early career researchers (can be adapted for each career stage)

This session works well alongside

What you'll leave with

A clearer understanding of impact in both personal and research contexts
Greater clarity about the change you want your work to create
More awareness of your strengths, contribution and potential influence
A better sense of who benefits from your research and why
Practical tools for identifying pathways to greater impact
More confidence making decisions that align with your intended contribution

Frequently asked

Who is this workshop for?: PhD researchers, early career researchers and principal investigators who want to focus their time and energy on research that creates meaningful contribution. It can be adapted for different career stages.
How long is the session?: 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on what works for your group.
Is it delivered online or in person?: Online via Zoom, with in-person delivery available on request.
How many people can take part?: I usually run it for groups of 6 or more, and it works well with larger cohorts and doctoral training programmes.
Do we work on anything concrete in the session?: Yes. We use an Impact Canvas to explore your intentions, the people who benefit and the opportunities open to you, so you leave with something practical rather than abstract.

The Impactful Researcher