1) The document discusses two case studies of research impact experiences from India and Germany. 2) The first case study from India involved a research project on the role of embankments in livelihoods in Sundarbans that had partnership between a local NGO, international NGO, and university but faced challenges due to lack of trust and understanding between the partners. 3) The second case study from Germany examined regeneration of mixed mountain forests in Bavaria where university research found high deer populations were suppressing regeneration, but changes to increase hunting were only implemented in some areas due to political and economic influences.

1. Research Impact: Experiences
and Insights from India and
Germany
Dr. Joachim Schmerbeck

2. Research and Practice
• Different contexts /perspectives
• Different language
• Lack of trust
• Implementation can fail due to
→ Practitioners do not express their research needs
→ Researchers see research needs that may not apply to “real world”
→ Research outcomes are not accessible / understood

3. Case 1
The role of embankments in the livelihoods of the
local people in the Sundarbans of West Bengal

4. Context
• Project on disaster preparedness in the Sundarbans
• Partners: Local NGO and international NGO
• Donor: EU
• Research component to support the project aim:
Role of Embankment in the livelihood of local people

6. Context
• Project on Disaster preparedness in the Sundarbans
• Partners: Local NGO and international NGO
• Donor: EU
• Research component to support the project aim:
Role of Embankment in the livelihood of local people
→ Vulnerability analysis (combination of spatial and social data)
→ Role of embankment maintenance for income generation

7. Capacities
NGO University
Funds + ‐
Logistics + ‐
GIS ‐ +
Research capacity (+)‐ +

8. Conditions
NGO University
Need the research to be done, but Wanted to use the research option, but
‐ Uncertainty what all this is about ‐ Had to handle the very limited funds
‐ Funds will be wasted ‐ Fear to be misused
‐ Fear university will steal results ‐ Not mentioned on the report as author
No direct contact No joint action
No (joint) publication

9. Case 2
Regeneration of Mixed Mountain Forest in Bavaria
(Germany)

10. Context
• Debate in the 1970’s and 80’s why the Mixed Mountain Forest of the
Bavarian Alps does not regenerate
• University sets up long term observation trials
• Results show clearly, that high deer population supresses
regeneration

12. Context
• Debate in the 1970’s and 80’s why the Mixed Mountain Forest of the
Bavarian Alps does not regenerate
• University sets up long term observation trials
• Results show clearly, that high deer population supresses
regeneration
• Recommendation: Increase of hunting contingent
• Large areas under hunting lease of influential people
• Changes only at some places where forest department is in charge of
hunting

13. Capacities
Politicians Hunters
Forest
Department
Researchers
Understanding
ecology of forest
‐ ‐/+ + +
Access to research
outputs
+ (‐) ‐ (+) + +
Political influence + + ‐/+ ‐

14. Conditions
Politicians Hunters Forest Department Researchers
Need to be elected
Hunting as relaxation,
need success ‐> high
deer population
Need to perform
multipurpose forestry
Want to have a
scientific and policy
impact
Depend to some
extent on groups
represented by
hunters
Foresters interest in
low population is not
understood
Can not afford extra
cost due failure of
regeneration
Provide findings as
peer reviewed articles
as well as media
Are hunters
Ignore/neglect
scientific knowledge
Act in a political
environment
Act in a political
environment
Deer population still high

15. • Contribute to a
betterment of society
• Prosper
• Be efficient
• Difficult to understand
scientific approaches
• Need to be informed by
researchers
• Difficult to get an overview
on different scientific
perspectives
• No scope to get down to
scientific details
Policy makers
• Need to fulfil policies
• Have to serve multiple
stakeholders
• Limited capacity (time, funds,
man power) to carry out
research
• Limited access to scientific
knowledge in their own
language
Implementers (Gov, NGO’s etc)
Researchers
• Have bulk of special knowledge
• Research questions are often
born out of this
• Implementation is a different
world
• No credits for outreach beside
peer reviewed publications
Common Aims
Aims and
limitations for
sound
implementation

16. How to ensure sound implementation of
research findings?
1. Join forces
2. It is a process and will take time
3. Learn about each other context ‐ ownership
• Players should learn about each others context on all levels
• Learning should be based on common objectives
• Budget in research/development projects to create common ground
4. Education
• It needs “connectors”, specialist who know both fields
• New curricula for Master programme
• Career designs that provide both experience

17. THANK YOU !