At IDS, we believe that evidence-based research plays a vital role in bringing about a more equitable and sustainable world. And to achieve this, we…
7 principles for doing meaningful research communications
25/02/2022
Blog Posts
The Global Guide to Research Impact
Annabel Fenton is a Communications Coordinator in the Knowledge, Impact and Policy Cluster at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). She provides communications support and coordination for a portfolio of projects across the Institute, including Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development (K4D), the Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) and others. Prior to joining IDS, Annabel worked across a variety of development sectors, from youth advocacy in policy forums with the South African Institute of International Affairs; working as a journalist across South Africa and Zambia; management consulting for South African government departments, private companies and non-profit organisations; to most recently working as the Head of Strategy, Impact and Special Projects at Thanda, a grassroots organisation implementing education and farming projects in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Annabel holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics and Geography from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Geography from the University of the Witwatersrand, and is currently completing a Master of Arts (by Research) in Geography at the University of the Witwatersrand.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re pausing to reflect at Research to Action (R2A) ✨
This year, 27,000+ readers from 188 countries joined us in exploring how research can better inform action — reading, sharing, and asking thoughtful questions along the way 🌍📚
Despite a challenging year for international development, our community leaned into conversations about:
📊 Impact and learning
🔄 Knowledge brokering & evidence use
🤖 AI and the future of research
What inspired us most was how you engaged — with curiosity, care, and a commitment to making evidence matter.
✨ Looking ahead, we remain focused on creating space for reflection, learning, and meaningful exchange — together.
Thank you for being part of the journey. Here’s to another year of curiosity and impact 💛
🔗 Link in bio to read our full reflection
#ResearchToAction #EvidenceInPractice #ResearchImpact #KnowledgeSharing #EndOfYearReflection #GlobalCommunity
In our latest blog Inés Arangüena breaks down the Researcher Impact Framework (RIF) — a super practical way to show the real-world impact behind research, not just the publication count.
✨ Why it’s worth a read:
💡 Clearly explain the difference your work makes
📚 Connect outcomes to real evidence + activity
🤝 Highlight impact through collaboration, knowledge sharing & community
📊 Use metrics that actually matter (not just journal impact factors!)
If you’re a researcher, communicator, or anyone trying to share the story behind your work… this framework is a game-changer.
🔗 Link in bio to read the full blog!
#ResearchImpact #KnowledgeTranslation #DataDrivenStorytelling #AcademicCommunications #ImpactNarratives Trinity College Dublin
Revisiting a 2022 article by Tebby Leepile this International Week of Science and Peace. It dives into the challenge of scaling implementation science: too big becomes unsustainable, too small makes little impact. 🌍🔬
How do we find the balance that leads to real change?
Full article in linktree just click #R2AArchive 🔗
#ScienceForPeace #InternationalWeekOfScienceAndPeace #ImplementationScience #SustainableDevelopment #ScaleUpImpact #FromDataToImpact #InnovationForGood
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.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Social Media