Impact at UTS

Research can be a slow burn, it takes time, and the impact and benefits from research won’t always be realised straight away.

As discovered throughout the Impact at UTS podcast, research with impact involves long term relationship building and ongoing engagement with research partners, be that industry, government or community.

But even researchers can get impatient. What if you want your work to create change in the world right now? How do you go about it?

In the final episode of Impact at UTS we hear from Professor Thalia Anthony, a Law Professor who is leading in her field when it comes to translating her research into real world impact. She discusses impact strategies including time management, being media savvy and the ethics of collaborating, particularly when you are just starting out.

We’ll also hear from Professor Kate Barclay, a FASS marine social scientist who provides some valuable advice on securing research funding outside of traditional funding schemes.

And to conclude the series, we’re going to get some pearls of wisdom from UTS research rock stars who have accumulated decades of evidence and insights on conducting impact-led research. They share some parting thoughts for early career researchers.

Research Engagement and Impact Support at UTS

It’s important to know that you don’t need to undertake your research impact journey on your own. There is support for you at UTS, including from your Faculty Research Engagement Manager (FREM) or equivalent professional staff member. In episode seven we hear from Sarah Angus who outlines her role as a FREM and how she works with academics on funding and external research collaborations.

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode seven of Impact at UTS

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Professor Thalia Anthony, UTS Faculty of Law and Core Member, SIC – Strengthening Indigenous Communities

Professor Kate Barclay, Professor of International Studies and Global Societies and Core Member at the UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation (CBSI)

Sarah Angus, Faculty Research Engagement Manager

Julian Zipparo, Executive Manager of Research Engagement at the UTS Research Office

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Associate Professor David Suggett, Climate Change Cluster

Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Director of the Centre for Forensic Science

Distinguished Professor Gamini Dissanayake, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

Distinguished Professor Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and IT

Professor Michael Blumenstein, the Associate Dean (Research Strategy and Management) in the Faculty of Engineering & IT

Dr Paul Scully Power, Australia’s first astronaut and co-founder of The Ripper Group https://therippergroup.com/

Michele Rumsey, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development

Professor Cameron Tonkinwise, Head of the Design Innovation Research Centre at UTS

Professor Stuart White, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS

Paddy Gibson, Senior Senior Researcher at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Craig Longman, Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

Planning to deliver excellent research with impact can start off with the simple but powerful act of listening.

One group of researchers at UTS who are considered the best in their field for research impact and engagement, and pride themselves on their frank and fearless research and advocacy with the communities they serve, is the team at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, headed up by Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt a Eualeyai/Kamillaroi woman.

In this episode of Impact at UTS, we find out what it means to centre Indigenous communities in research and why indigenous peoples’ interests, knowledge and experiences must always be at that centre of research methodologies and construction of knowledge about indigenous people.

We also hear from two non-indigenous senior researchers at Jumbunna, Paddy Gibson and Craig Longman, who share their experiences on collaborating with communities, and why it is essential that a self determination framework drives the research agenda when collaborating with First Nations people.

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au or Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research 

Note some of the content discussed in this podcast may be distressing to listeners, if so, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14

Featured in episode six of Impact at UTS

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Paddy Gibson, Senior Senior Researcher at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Craig Longman, Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Professor Thalia Anthony, UTS Faculty of Law and Core Member, SIC – Strengthening Indigenous Communities

Professor Kate Barclay, Professor of International Studies and Global Societies and Core Member at the UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation (CBSI)

Julian Zipparo, Executive Manager of Research Engagement, UTS Research Office

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research

In this episode of Impact at UTS we are breaking you out of your research silo to look at ways of collaborating across disciplines, as well with external partners.

What would happen if we as researchers were brave enough to leave the ‘safety net’ of our own disciplines?

In this episode you’ll hear from host Associate Professor Martin Bliemel the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation who is eager to demonstrate that transdisciplinarity is more than a buzzword but a way of thinking and doing research.

He is joined by Professor Cameron Tonkinwise, Head of the Design Innovation Research Centre at UTS where they employ “frame creation”, an innovation-centred approach that applies “design thinking” to problem solving. Along with Professor Stuart White, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures who has spent 20 years working with academics across disciplines to become an expert in wrangling different minds and perspectives to create groundbreaking and impactful research.

These three UTS scholars examine the pleasures and pitfalls of co-designing research, debunk myths about transdisciplinary collaborations, and provide advice on creating a space for complex collaboration. As well as consider what it means for the future of research design if no one research field has the solution to the world’s wicked problems.

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode five of Impact at UTS:

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Professor Cameron Tonkinwise, Head of the Design Innovation Research Centre at UTS

Professor Stuart White, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

UTS is committed to knowledge exchange and encouraging research collaboration between the university, industry and broader society. But what makes research collaboration effective? And what are the benefits and barriers to collaboration?

In this episode of Impact at UTS, hear how groundbreaking research developed in partnership with industry is being used to reduce shark attacks in our oceans. Professor Michael Blumenstein, the Associate Dean (Research Strategy and Management) in the Faculty of Engineering & IT, and Dr Paul Scully-Power, Australia’s first astronaut and co-founder of the Ripper Group, share the collaborative success of the SharkSpotter drone technology that is saving lives on Australian beaches.

From partnerships on our shores to long term collaboration overseas, Michele Rumsey, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development, discusses how her international research partnership with government, health and community groups in Papua New Guinea is transforming maternal and child health outcomes.

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode four of Impact at UTS:

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Professor Michael Blumenstein, the Associate Dean (Research Strategy and Management) in the Faculty of Engineering & IT

Dr Paul Scully-Power, Australia’s first astronaut and co-founder of The Ripper Group https://therippergroup.com/

Michele Rumsey, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

In this episode of Impact at UTS, you’ll hear about technology that changes the way we detect traces of criminals at crime scenes, discover how robots are revolutionising the Sydney Harbour Bridge and learn about UTS research that’s providing safe drinking water to hundreds of children in Vietnam.

Three Distinguished Professors at UTS, each from a different area in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), discuss their game changing technology that was only made possible through end-user engagement and collaboration with communities and industry partners.

Guests for the episode include:

• Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Director of the Centre for Forensic Science
• Distinguished Professor Gamini Dissanayake, of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and
• Distinguished Professor Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and IT

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode three of Impact at UTS:

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Distinguished Professor Claude Roux, Director of the Centre for Forensic Science

Distinguished Professor Gamini Dissanayake, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

Distinguished Professor Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and IT

Dr Paul Scully Power, Australia’s first astronaut and co-founder of The Ripper Group

Michele Rumsey, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development

Dr Xanthe Spindler, Core Member, Centre for Forensic Science

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

The journey to creating research with impact starts with engagement. And the key to beginning any research journey is to seek to listen and work with those who want, need and will use your research. But what’s the best way to go about this?

In the second episode of Impact at UTS, you’ll hear from two researchers at the top of their game who are carving out their own unique impact pathways through engagement with communities outside of the academy.

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt shares how her team’s research has been central to fostering Indigenous empowerment through deep engagement with the Bowraville community in the Mid North Coast hinterland of New South Wales.

And Associate Professor David Suggett, a marine biologist with the Climate Change Cluster, discusses how he and his team have found a small solution to a big problem facing the world’s largest reef. This solution came about by engaging with those whose life and livelihoods are tied to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

*Please be aware. If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, this episode contains names of deceased persons.*

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode two of Impact at UTS

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Julian Zipparo, Executive Manager of Research Engagement at the UTS Research Office

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Associate Professor David Suggett, Climate Change Cluster

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

Research can change lives, solve real world problems and inform us. But how do we as researchers make sure we’re doing research with impact, that has an effect beyond the academy?

Increasingly the outcome of academic research is not solely being judged on the basis of publications, citations or research grants alone. Instead, research outcomes include consideration of the broader benefits and value to society that it can provide.

Now more than ever, we need to rethink what research we do, how it’s done and the impact we want it to have.

How do we plan for impact from the very beginning of our academic careers? And how do we address complex problems that we’re interested in, and that society needs practical solutions for?

Join Associate Professor Martin Bliemel from the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, along with some of the top thinkers at UTS, to learn how to deliver excellent research with impact.

To find out more visit reshub.uts.edu.au

Featured in episode one of Impact at UTS

Host and Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation

Julian Zipparo, Executive Manager of Research Engagement at the UTS Research Office

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research

Associate Professor David Suggett, Climate Change Cluster

Impact Studios producer/journalist Cassandra Steeth

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

Universities are uniquely placed to explore complex problems that our collective future depends on. They do this in a rigorous, ethical, collaborative and enduring way.

In this bonus episode of Impact at UTS, listen to three outstanding scholars who have been recognised for their contributions at the UTS Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence, held 4 February 2021.

In this episode you will hear from:

UTS Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Research recipient – Associate Professor Christina Ho, from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

UTS Medal for Research Impact recipient – Professor David Suggett, leader of the Future Reefs Program, a core team within the Climate Change Cluster in the Faculty of Science.

Chancellor’s Medal for Research Excellence recipient – Associate Professor Shoudong Huang, the Deputy Director of Centre for Autonomous Systems in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

The UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence began in 2010. The awards recognise the outstanding contributions UTS researchers make towards helping shape the world we live in.

The Impact at UTS podcast is made by Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, an audio production house funded by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research.

Now more than ever we need to rethink what research we do, how it’s done and the impact we want it to have. The University of Technology Sydney is filled with award winning engaged and impactful research that’s making a huge difference in the world. Join Associate Professor Martin Bliemel, along with some of the top thinkers at UTS to learn how to deliver excellent research with impact that transforms society and reshapes our world.