Slides from the ESPA impact workshop held in Delhi 9/10th March 2016

1. Understanding Research
Impact
Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio
Regional Programme Manager, Action on Climate Today
March 9, 2016

2. This is what we usually mean….

3. A story of Science Impact

4. Source: http://www.rachelcarson.org/TimelineJS.aspx

14. Lessons:
• 28 years from first research
evidence to (partial) action
• It required moving out of
science and into journalism and
advocacy / activism
• Rachel Carson (and others) were
vilified in the process.

15. What now?

17. More recent lessons research impact
• Time horizon for moving from research to action are compressing
• We have better understanding of how people and organizations learn &
make decisions
• Engaging hearts and minds
• Selecttive use of evidence / bias
• Learn from failure as well as successes;
• Greater focus on the “user” “demand-side”; Rapid prototyping & user-oriented
design
• Understanding incentives and disincentives, preferences throughout the system
• Mass media, open data sharing is often a factor
• Often there is a shift in “ownership” of the issue from research to
journalism / advocacy/ activism /politics
• This is easier in some fields (e.g. health) more than others.

18. Lessons from Action on Climate Today (and beyond)
• Technical inputs ≠ reports
• Governments looking for ideas, safe experimentation, validation
& appreciation
• Quality, consistency of engagement & trust matter
• Competition can be a motivator for action (as long as it doesn’t
erode trust)
• Engaging political level can accelerate change, but you need to
proceed carefully, with clear eyed understanding of incentives,
alignment and misalignments.
• Engagement above and below (senior and junior levels)
• Patience & persistence, change is often quite incremental.
• Enduring partnerships for sustainability

19. Thank you!