The CSC Lecture Series focuses on bringing together academic and professional speakers with Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows to explore a range of relevant issues relating to development. Through these events, Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows have the chance to consider and share opinions on key topics, and network with other Scholars, Fellows and guests.

Kindly hosted by the University of Southampton, this lecture explored how Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows can achieve and improve the impact of their research for development in their home country. 

The lecture was co-chaired by Professor Maria Evandrou, Head of the Department of Ageing and Gerontology at the University of Southampton.

Presentations

'Understanding population change: making an impact and the role of partnerships in the global north and south'

Professor Jane Falkingham shared her experiences of working with non-academic partners to create and improve impact. The talk covered three case studies, each highlighting how working with partners facilitated greater impact. The first focused on the ESRC Centre for Population Change’s work with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on improving understanding of population change in the UK. 

She then moved beyond the UK to explore how working with partners in Europe enabled her team to reach new audiences in Brussels. The third and final case study focused on a current ESRC-DFID project in Kenya and how working with partners in Nairobi is both informing the research and enabling the impact. 

The talk covered several different types of impact, ranging from outreach and public engagement through to influencing policy and practice.

Professor Jane Falkingham, Professor of Demography and International Social Policy and Dean of the Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southampton. Professor Falkingham is also Director of the ESRC Centre for Population Change, which aims to improve the understanding of the key drivers and implications of population change. 


'Experiencing research impact in life sciences and translating it in your home country'

Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek described what research impact is, what form it takes in life sciences, how Scholars can experience it during their studies, whether it be in teaching, outreach or industry. She also highlighted a PhD student pathway to international impact as an example and finished with tips for research impact in development.

Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek, Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton. Dr Willaime-Morawek is a neuroscientist and cell biologist leading research in stem cell biology, and linking her basic research to industry and clinical needs.

CSC Lecture - Research impact: challenges and opportunities

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) awards over 900 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year.

CSC Lecture - Research impact: challenges and opportunities

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