Building the Ecosystem for Engaged Research

This book discusses the ecosystem and infrastructure needed to successfully embed a culture of societally engaged research at a systems level.  To date, few initiatives have concentrated on systematically building a research ecosystem that promotes engagement, enhances capacity, and integrates institutional processes to connect this engagement with research impact. The authors present a critical reflection of engaged research as a systemic and dynamic process which continuously changes, and which requires adaptation. They discuss transformations required to achieve sustainable change and the actors responsible for implementing those transformations.

Research is changing. There is an increased focus on aligning strategic research with societal needs, expectations and values nationally and globally. More open and inclusive approaches can reduce the distance between research and society, leading to greater impact for all stakeholders. The heart of engaged research is the collaborative engagement with community stakeholders throughout the research cycle. 

The authors have been striving to help researchers maximise the potential societal benefit from their research. Through these experiences, it has become increasingly clear that one of the greatest stumbling blocks that researchers face is the research ecosystem itself. The systems traditionally supporting research are based on old assumptions of who has a stake in research. In order to capitalise on the vast wealth of locally held knowledge for the benefit of research, fundamental changes in how we operate are required. The book does not lay out a firm road to achieve sustainable engaged research but can be considered as a map of the terrain with suggested pathways. Among the contents covered:

• Chapter 1 provides an introduction and overview of the 'engaged research' concept and sets the scene;
• Chapter 2 discusses development of the engaged research ecosystem at the organisational level and the need for integrated approaches across units and services;
• Chapter 3 focuses on engaged research case studies, to demonstrate how engaged research can lead to greater research impact; and
• Chapter 4 considers future trends in engaged research and how we can create adaptable environments for future challenges.

Building the Ecosystem for Engaged Research is essential reading for research administrators, university leadership, policy professionals, research funders, community-based organisations, and non-governmental organisations. The book is designed to be non-discipline specific. However, it would be of particular interest to the disciplines most active in engaged research including Health and Medicine, Environment, Ecology, Biology, Conservation, Social Justice, Social Care, Psychology, Education, Law and Policy, Astronomy, Architecture and Planning, Media and Communications, and Information Sciences.

Emma R. Dorris, PhD, MPP is the Engaged Research Manager in the Office of the Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact at University College Dublin in Ireland. She has a PhD in molecular medicine and a Master of Public Policy. She has direct experience of engaged research and in leading institutional reforms. Dr Dorris’s currently managing the PPI Ignite Network @ UCD, a core office of the national network aimed at innovating public and patient involvement in health and social care research. She also manages the development of centralised supports and infrastructure for engaged research across all disciplines in the university. Dr Dorris has an internationally recognised specialty in the involvement of public stakeholders in research that is not public facing. She is a member of the European Commission’s community of practice on citizen engagement for knowledge valorisation and acts as an external advisor on a number of international funding and research improvement initiatives. She is a long-term advocate of open science practices and improved research culture.

Liam Cleere, MBA is a senior manager in UCD Research & Innovation where he leads the Research Analytics and Impact team. The team helps to embed a culture of research engagement and impact in the university. He spearheaded the development and successful implementation of the research impact work programme at UCD. He has demonstrated thought leadership on the topic of impact and has presented to a range of audiences at both national and international conferences. Liam Cleere is the UCD representative on the Irish CoARA National Chapter and is involved in a number of national initiatives on the reform of research assessment. He has over 18 years of experience in research management. In addition, he has over 7 years management consulting experience in Ireland and overseas. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Thilo Kroll, PhD is a Full Professor of Health Systems Management at University College Dublin in Ireland. Over the past 30 years, he has conducted interdisciplinary research with a focus on disability-, rehabilitation and health-related topics. Previously, he was the Co-Director of the interdisciplinary Social Dimensions of Health Institute (SDHI) of the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews in the UK. He closely collaborated with NGOs in the UK, US, Norway, Germany and Ireland on projects focusing on disability, mental health, homelessness, and violence. He advocates for systems and design-thinking in research, education and practice. Currently, he is leading the implementation of public and patient involvement (PPI) in health- and social care-related work at UCD as part of the Irish HRB-funded National PPI Network.