Bringing together digital and human capacity to boost research communication Presentation for NABI18 - Annual Conference on Broader Impacts

1. Esther De Smet – NABI 2018
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
POLICY & QUALITY CONTROL UNIT
Bringing together digital and human capacity to boost research communication

2. Challenges
• Large and diverse group of ‘publics’
• Changing landscape of communication tools
• Decentralized organisation
• Collaboration with Comms Office

4. 4
Connecting with the networked scholar via a
multipurpose platform
1) Internal communication & community building
• Giving RSO a face and a voice
• Giving researchers a face and a voice
• Infusing solidarity & support into a competitive environment
• Providing info & training
2) External communication & public engagement
• Filling a comms void
• Reaching out
• Showing real life science
• Subtle storytelling training

5. 5
What do we do?
• Send out messages that support/prepare the new
incentivizing structure
• Share good practices and other outreach platforms
• Amplify the outreach and communication message of our
researchers
• Train our researchers in using social media (within larger
framework of impact training)

6. 6
Lessons learnt
• Social media has ‘rules’
• Know your audience
• Tone of voice matters
• Bonus of developing organisational
know-how
• Acknowledge challenges and pitfalls
• Sustainability?

7. 7
Business development
managers
SSH research
co-ordinators
Decentral research policy support staff & research managers

8. 8
Criminology Global Studies Psychology Medieval History
Community of practice for (societal) value creation and impact
• Funded by university’s own Special Research Fund
• Embedded within interdisciplinary consortium
• Phase 1 (value creation) > evaluation > Phase 2 (pathways to impact – impact planning) > evaluation
• Train our researchers in using social media (within larger framework of impact training)

9. 9
Knowledge
brokers
Policy Partners
Influencers
Antennae
Chameleons
Regular
information
updates
Train the trainer
Member of
working groups
De Krook
Co-creation Hub
University
Museum

10. 10
Bayley, J., Phipps, D., Batac, M., & Stevens, E. (2017). Development of a framework for
knowledge mobilisation and impact competencies. Evidence and Policy
“So, impact colleagues,
……take a step back and
look at really what’s needed
to deliver impact. Cut through
the points of isolation and
extend the impact love (ok
skills) across the
organisation. Surely that can
only be a good thing?”

11. 11
Impact made me realise that research support
offices need to become an active partner in
communication strategy – not just in helping
researchers in their own endeavours but also
in shaping the voice and image of the
university.

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! (and thank you, Disney, for the graphics)
QUESTIONS ?
Esther De Smet
Senior Research Policy Advisor
http://www.ugent.be/en/research
Twitter: @ResearchUGent
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Bringing together digital and human capacity to boost research communication