Tanja Suni tanja.suni@helsinki.fi

1. HOW TO HAVE
SOCIETAL IMPACT
…as an individual researcher?
TANJA SUNI
co-creation expert, business developer
University of Helsinki
FINLAND

2. “SCIENCE HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE SOCIETY.
RESEARCH HAS AN IMPACT WHEN THE RESULTS
LEAD TO ACTION.”
– Iina Koskinen, Maria Ruuska ja Tanja Suni
”Action from research – researcher’s guide for science
communication and impact”, Arthouse 2018

3. OUTLINE
1. Why should researchers try to have impact in society?
2. Co-creating research projects with stakeholders
3. Creating an expert profile as an individual researcher

4. 1. Why should researchers try to have impact in society?
Increasing calls for better societal influence from research
Sustainability solutions require the triple helix approach: collaboration of
government, industry, academia
Science is necessary to support decision-making
Scientists can give contexts and scenarios in media and public discourse
Many funding agencies nowadays require scientists to understand and utilise
methodologies of co-creation and effective science communication.

5. OUTLINE
1. Why should researchers try to have impact in society?
2. Co-creating research projects with stakeholders
3. Creating an expert profile as an individual researcher

6. Source: Future Earth Initial Design Report
(2013)
STAKEHOLDERS: Policy and decision makers and planners on government and city level,
citizens, NGOs, private sector, media
CO-CREATION OF RESEARCH

7. STAKEHOLDER ROLES DURING THE LIFETIME OF A PROJECT

8. STAKEHOLDER MAPPING
Research
Community
Psychology
Criminology
Anthropology
Culturalstudies
Ethnology History
Law
Sociology Economy
Political science
Relgious studies
Policy Makers
EU
National goverments
Operativeactors
Migrant advocacy groups
Schools
Healthcare providers
Prison authorities
Religious communities
Immigration authorities
NGOs (children, young, women)
Parties
Media
Immigrants
Children Young
Families
Local
communities
Neighbourhoods
Generalpublic
Policies
Knowledge
Recommendations
Methods
Knowledge
Rough example:
Contemporary radicalisation
trends and their implications for
Europe(SC6-REV- INEQUAL-
02-2016)

9. Durham E., Baker H., Smith M., Moore E. & Morgan V. (2014). The BiodivERsA Stakeholder Engagement Handbook. BiodivERsA, Paris (108 pp).
STAKEHOLDER CATEGORISATION

10. WHAT ABOUT
YOUR RESEARCH?
❖ What societal issues does
your research touch?
❖ Who would be
interested?

11. OUTLINE
1. Why should researchers try to have impact in society?
2. Co-creating research projects with stakeholders
3. Creating an expert profile as an individual researcher

12. 1. Communicate your research
2. Take part in public discourse
3.
CREATING AN EXPERT PROFILE AS AN INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHER

13. RESEARCH / SCIENCE BLOG:
Over 1,8 m of scientific articles every year, 50% have less 5 readers per article. Blogging
widens readership! Case Melissa Terras (2009).
More space to share your expertise – in the way you want to share it.
Easy ways to start :
1) Remember, research blog is both for follow scientists AND lay audiences
2) Use plain English (aerosols  tiny atmospheric particles)
3) Various options for topics: your own research content (progress, results, field trips etc.),
latest developments in your field, reports from seminars you attend/organize, comments
on timely conversations and events (COP21)
4) Use short and attractive headlines and active voice!
1. COMMUNICATE YOUR RESEARCH

15. RESEARCH / SCIENCE BLOG:
Over 1,8 m of scientific articles every year, 50% have less 5 readers per article. Blogging
widens readership! Case Melissa Terras (2009).
More space to share your expertise – in the way you want to share it.
Easy ways to start :
1) Remember, research blog is both for fellow scientists AND lay audiences
2) Use plain English (aerosols  tiny atmospheric particles)
3) Various options for topics: your own research content (progress, results, field trips etc.),
latest developments in your field, reports from seminars you attend/organize, comments
on timely conversations and events (COP21)
4) Use short and attractive headlines and active voice!
1. COMMUNICATE YOUR RESEARCH

17. What scientists have to offer for media and public discourse:
• Analysis based on scientific knowledge
• Informed assessments and viewpoints
• Creating a context
• Speculations and scenarios for future
Easy way to start: comment on a newspaper column/article in the Opinion section.
2. TAKE PART IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE – COMMENT ON A NEWS PIECE

19. How to survive with journalists – a few tips:
1) Follow the media and get to know the right journalists! Climate: Heli Saavalainen (HS), Pasi
Toiviainen (YLE), Mikko Pelttari (Yliopistolehti).
2) Contact the right journalist via targeted email – journalists don’t have time to read press releases
and attend press breakfasts
3) Discuss the content of the interview beforehand – remember that you can shape the agenda
4) You have a right to check your quotes but don’t make too many corrections, if possible.
2. TAKE PART IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE – WITH JOURNALISTS

20. 3. WHATEVER YOU DO – ALWAYS TWEET ABOUT IT!
TWITTER
Decision-makers, companies and journalists follow Twitter, find your audiences there!
(Companies follow also LinkedIn)
People are interested in other people and research projects end at some point – tweet as a person!
Always address your tweet to @people (targeted message with notification) and/or #discussions (potentially
hundreds/thousands of readers but no notification)
Easy ways to start:
1) Remember, the life-span of one tweet is 7 minutes, don’t overthink it!
2) If your project is short, it is better to use # (hashtag) than create a Twitter account (@) for the project
3) Start live-tweeting from a seminar etc. Write a couple of tweets beforehand.
4) Twitter is about sharing. Share interesting tweets and choose the right #!

21. 1. Asking
someone a
question
- Addressing someone
and tagging other
relevant people
2. Announcing a
new project
– relevant #discussions
find a large audience

22. 3. Announcing an opinion piece
– tagging @those you want to notice and #discussions with large audiences

23. 4. Informing
about a result
– tied to #SDGs (highly
current policy debate)
and to relevant
@organisations

24. ❖ Formulate one key message /
question / announcement
❖ Test it with your group
❖ Find a #discussion and a couple of
@stakeholders to tweet it to
❖ Let’s tweet! #ICOS2018SC
WHAT ABOUT
YOUR RESEARCH?

25. Order our book!
From research to action –
researcher’s guide to science
communication and impact
(in Finnish)
https://kauppa.tietosanoma.fi/9789518846669
The authors Iina Koskinen, Maria Ruuska and Tanja Suni work in various
ways with science interaction and communication, Koskinen in the think
tank Demos Helsinki, Ruuska in the science media house Kaskas Media and
Suni in the University of Helsinki.
@iinakos @mariaruuska @TanjaSuni

26. WHERE ELSE TO
GET HELP?
For tips on Twitter, blogs and visualizations, see
http://www.futureearth.org/blog/pop-webinars
For co-creation on your own, see
https://blogs.helsinki.fi/andaction/co-creation/
http://www.biodiversa.org/stakeholderengagement
For consultation on strategic impact planning for research
projects and organisations + science communication