Impacts of Research

Abstract

High quality research that changes the world is what we strive for at the University of Otago Division of Health Sciences. It’s also what governments around the world are asking for. They want greater accountability from researchers who must articulate how research investment benefits communities and populations. Those benefits include health, societal, cultural, economic or environmental factors at the individual, whānau and community level. This booklet describes eight research impact case studies. They come from across the seven Schools in the Division of Health Sciences and highlight different stages of their impact journey. Each has been selected for making a meaningful contribution in a different field of research. These researchers are improving people’s health, changing local and central government policies, contributing to best practice guidelines, creating spin-off companies to commercialise research and building capability by training the next generation of scientists. By forming meaningful relationships with stakeholders, creating strong networks with other researchers and being advocates for policy change they are achieving success. We hope you enjoy discovering how their impact was achieved.