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The Global Guide to Research Impact

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Featured

Visualising science: the infographic  

By Research Media 12/12/2014

While in some ways, the advent of new technologies and communication channels has made raising public awareness of science easier, the issue of how researchers, policy makers, the media and the public interact has become increasingly more complex: the number of channels available can be daunting, and with more signal, there is inevitably also more noise.

One challenge is the lack of shared vocabulary – the public and policy makers generally speak the same language, but researchers have a lexicon all of their own. Moreover, these groups clearly exhibit wildly different levels of scientific understanding, and the resulting knowledge gap is often haphazardly traversed. Compounding the problem, convoluted and complicated research is frequently reserved for specialised journals targeting unique fields, and this so-called ‘small science’ can be overlooked by the popular media. What is needed then is a framework of social learning that can bridge the divide in cultures.

Research Media specialises in capturing the essence of a research project and communicating it in a concise, engaging and impactful way. One effective method for achieving this is the use of infographics, which are now widely employed as a means of visually presenting data and ideas in order to convey complex information in a form that can be readily consumed and understood.

Over the last few years, online searches for infographics have risen rapidly; indeed, they increased by 800 per cent between 2010 and 2012 alone. A widely cited claim often attributed to researchers at 3M is that humans process visuals up to 60,000 times faster that text.

While this much touted ‘research result’ seems to be something of a web myth, it is nevertheless unsurprising that the addition of visual imagery aids learning. This is especially necessary against a context of the ‘data deluge’ that currently defines the modern era. Indeed, according to far more trustworthy findings generated by the San Diego Supercomputer Center in the US, by next year, the average person will be exposed to nine DVDs’ worth of information on a daily basis.

In light of this, and in recognition of the value of the infographic in modern science communication, Research Media has devoted an entire photo stream to many of the infographics it has featured in past editions of its publication International Innovation. Topics range from humankind’s journey into the space age and mental health in the developing world to atmospheric pollution and the rise of women in US medicine.

Image courtesy of Kromkrathog at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Topics: engaging with the media, infographics, policy makers, policy research, reserarchmedia, science communication, technology

Research Media

Research Media was founded in 2009. Working with academics across the globe, we began to make their research relatable and accessible for non-specialist audiences. In 2013, we became part of Emerald Group – the global knowledge business that brings research to life. Today, we are a creative agency that focuses on designing new dialogue in research communication. We provide a range of design, editorial and marketing services to create clarity from complexity and make research resonate through bespoke, creative and personal outputs. With a highly talented team of in-house designers and editors, we translate the language of research to fuel engagement – uniting research, policy and practice and opening the doors to broad engagement and accessibility.

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📚 From the #R2AArchive today...

Back in 2014, Sola Oluwadare of the African Heritage Institution sat down with Shubha 📖 From the #R2AArchive...

In 2014, Sola Oluwadare of the African Heritage Institution spoke with Shubha Jayaram about the impact of the Think Tank Initiative's PEC programme.

✨ Their conversation highlights:
🔹 Building new networks of influence
🔹 Creating a digital repository for African research

🎧 Tap the link in bio to read the full interview!

#R2AArchive #ThinkTankInitiative #AfricanResearch #KnowledgeSharing #ResearchMatters #DigitalRepository #PolicyInfluence #ResearchToAction #PolicyEngagement #ThinkTanks #AfricanResearch #KnowledgeSharing

📚 From the #R2AArchive today...

Back in 2014, Sola Oluwadare of the African Heritage Institution sat down with Shubha 📖 From the #R2AArchive...

In 2014, Sola Oluwadare of the African Heritage Institution spoke with Shubha Jayaram about the impact of the Think Tank Initiative's PEC programme.

✨ Their conversation highlights:
🔹 Building new networks of influence
🔹 Creating a digital repository for African research

🎧 Tap the link in bio to read the full interview!

#R2AArchive #ThinkTankInitiative #AfricanResearch #KnowledgeSharing #ResearchMatters #DigitalRepository #PolicyInfluence #ResearchToAction #PolicyEngagement #ThinkTanks #AfricanResearch #KnowledgeSharing

📸 Another throwback from the #R2AArchive…

In 2013, Pete Cranston asked:
"How can research data better support development?"

His answer?
✅ Make data usable
✅ Keep it accessible
✅ Ensure it's relevant

🔑 It’s not just about collecting data—it’s about turning it into action.

Link in Bio!!
#DataToAction #ResearchMatters #DevelopmentGoals #R4D #InspoFromTheArchive

📸 Another throwback from the #R2AArchive…

In 2013, Pete Cranston asked:
"How can research data better support development?"

His answer?
✅ Make data usable
✅ Keep it accessible
✅ Ensure it's relevant

🔑 It’s not just about collecting data—it’s about turning it into action.

Link in Bio!!
#DataToAction #ResearchMatters #DevelopmentGoals #R4D #InspoFromTheArchive

🌀 Have we stopped caring about the climate?

Crisis fatigue. Shrinking attention spans. Endless global emergencies.

🌍 Climate change is slipping off the radar — even as the urgency grows.

In her latest blog, Inés Arangüena comnsiders new research from the Reuters Institute and explores how we can re-ignite public connection to the climate crisis — emotionally and politically.

📖 Read the full piece via 🔗 Link in bio

#ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #CrisisFatigue #ScienceCommunication #ClimateAction #Sustainability #InesArangüena #ResearchToAction #ClimateAwareness #StayEngaged

🌀 Have we stopped caring about the climate?

Crisis fatigue. Shrinking attention spans. Endless global emergencies.

🌍 Climate change is slipping off the radar — even as the urgency grows.

In her latest blog, Inés Arangüena comnsiders new research from the Reuters Institute and explores how we can re-ignite public connection to the climate crisis — emotionally and politically.

📖 Read the full piece via 🔗 Link in bio

#ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #CrisisFatigue #ScienceCommunication #ClimateAction #Sustainability #InesArangüena #ResearchToAction #ClimateAwareness #StayEngaged


About Us

Research To Action (R2A) is a learning platform for anyone interested in maximising the impact of research and capturing evidence of impact.

The site publishes practical resources on a range of topics including research uptake, communications, policy influence and monitoring and evaluation. It captures the experiences of practitioners and researchers working on these topics and facilitates conversations between this global community through a range of social media platforms.

R2A is produced by a small editorial team, led by CommsConsult. We welcome suggestions for and contributions to the site.

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