Abstract

As the need to demonstrate societal impact takes hold in our research culture, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) are increasingly hiring “research impact officers” (RIO). But what do they actually do? Which skills or competencies should they have? Does your organisation even need one? This oral presentation will discuss the reasons behind hiring a RIO, the added value for an institution, and learnings from the 2.5-year pilot in the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Institute (TLRH).
Professor Eve Patten and Dr Caitriona Curtis are the TLRH Directors and line managers in the pilot. Dr Giovanna Lima joined Trinity College Dublin as their first RIO and piloted the role from January 2020 to October 2022. Jointly funded with the Office of the Dean of Research, she worked to support the TLRH and the Arts and Humanities research community to better understand, communicate, and maximise the potential impact of their research.
Together in this 30-minutes oral presentation, they will share the scope of the RIO work, the skills they feel are needed for it, and questions to ask oneself before hiring or applying to be a research impact officer.

Learning outcomes: Particularly aligned with the theme of the 2023 EARMA Conference, Widening and Deepening of the RMA Profession, this Oral Presentation hopes to spark conversations about the potential of RMA roles to contribute to delivering societal impact from research, and what they can look like. The authors hope to provide a comprehensive picture of their experience, fostering increased awareness and understanding of this emerging role in HEIs and RPOs.

Acknowledgement: This presentation stems from work developed by the authors as part of Trinity College Dublin’s Research Impact Pilot, pioneered by the Office of the Dean of Research, the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute, and the School of Medicine.