Pathways to impact

Key messages

Science excellence is the primary criterion for assessing proposals.
User engagement is key to achieving successful impact.
Knowledge exchange is the process by which impact is achieved.

Introduction

All research proposals submitted to NERC should be accompanied by a pathways to impact document that will detail:

those who may benefit from or make use of the research;
how they might benefit and/or make use of the research;
methods for disseminating data/knowledge/skills in the most effective and appropriate manner.

Funds will be available to support activities identified in the pathways to impact document to ensure that they are encouraged and supported as part of the grant.

Schemes involved

All schemes will require a pathway to impact document to be submitted alongside the grant proposal.

Pathways to impact requirements

The pathway to impact document should be up to 2 pages of A4 with text size and font requirements as for the science proposal (generally minimum font 11 point Arial, 2cm margins).

Assessment

Research grant proposals will continue to be assessed on science excellence. Pathways to impact will be included for assessment as part of the usual review process and will be considered as a secondary criterion.

Fellowship proposals are assessed based on science excellence and suitability of the applicant; pathways to impact will be a secondary criterion.

Tips for researchers

Remember to include staff costs relating to impact activities in the pathway to impact document itself.
Public outreach is a popular form of impact activity: for such activities to be as effective as possible, try to think of your research in the context of two-way public engagement, not just outreach.
Many proposals include workshops in their pathways to impact: to get the best out of a workshop, it is essential to have end-users involved.
Inputs to policy tend to be referred to in terms of interactions with policymakers through workshops. For more routes to influencing policy, see NERC's science-to-policy page and the science into policy brochure.
Most proposals aim to engage with end-users. Wherever possible and for activities to be most effective, end-users should be involved in the development of the proposal as early on as possible.
Remember to describe how you are going to achieve impact, not just what that impact is going to be.