How will you make a difference in 2013? That is a question we are asking all our members and the broader research, intelligence and policy community. This will be a key theme running through our discussions with members leading to our annual conference in May (click here to find out more and book your place).
As part of this we have decided to launch the LARIA Research Impact Awards. The key criteria are that award winners should show us excellence in research that is making a real difference to the people they serve. The awards focus on research impact based on a sound evidence base. We will also be looking for entries that are demonstrating partnership working, delivering positive outcomes, achieving efficiencies and embracing innovation. By entering these awards we hope we will be able to identify how research makes an impact. We also plan to publish winning submissions so you will be helping the sector by sharing best practice. An award will also demonstrate that an organisation values evidence-based decision-making and research that makes a real impact. (click here for more details)
The categories are; Best use of local area research; Best use of health research; Best community engagement/consultation; Best use of public data and new researcher of the year. These are areas we want to encourage best practice in. It is a tight timetable, essentially a month to enter, but we have made the form as short and sharp as we can. We could have held off to 2014 on the basis that we took a couple of months to put together the criteria but I think our members can enter this in time and I don't want anyone to miss an opportunity to have their work validated by an award.
It's an exciting time in LARIA and the broader research and intelligence community and I'm really looking forward to seeing award entries and meeting people at the conference. I would love there to be a healthy debate between now on the conference on how we make a difference. I also want to know what LARIA can do to help people boost their own personal impact and that of the work they do. Any ideas?
