Advancing research impact for College-based academics

A vintage globe on a wooden stand sits beside a plush red armchair in a library lined with bookshelves.
Date 07/11/2025 at 09.15 - 07/11/2025 at 12.00 Where Lucia Windsor Room, Newnham College, CB3 9DF
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Jointly hosted by Newnham College, Hughes Hall and Wolfson College, this event is aimed at College-based academics looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of impact in research.

A vintage globe on a wooden stand sits beside a plush red armchair in a library lined with bookshelves.

Overview

There will be presentations by colleagues from the University Research Strategy Office as well as from experienced academics with examples of impactful research. Researchers, postgraduate students and staff from across all Cambridge Colleges (and the wider University) are very welcome to attend. The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but will also have relevance to those working in other fields.

Please register your place.

 

Who is this event aimed at?

  • College-based researchers such as Junior Research Fellows and other Early Career Researchers, Postgraduate Students, as well as other researchers looking to develop the impact aspect of their work.
  • College-based staff and those in professional services who work with researchers, for example in Communications, Research Networks and Knowledge Exchange roles.
  • The event will have a particular focus on those working in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, but all are very welcome.
 

Learning objectives

  • Develop a deeper understanding of the relevance of knowledge exchange and impact in research.
  • Find out what the next REF might mean for you.
  • Identify where to find support for impact work at Cambridge.
 

Agenda

9.15am: Coffee and cake.

9.30am to 10.50am: Impact at Cambridge and the College research environment, chaired by Dr Alexis Willett (Impact Director and Fellow at Hughes Hall).

  • 9.30am Alison Rose, Principal of Newnham College: Welcome to the meeting.
  • 9.35am Prof Helen Bao, Professor of Urban Economics and Public Policy at the Department of Land Economy, Fellow of Newnham College, Member of the REF Sub-panel on Architecture, Built Environment and Planning: Update on the REF panel system.
  • 9.40am Dr Ben Earley, Senior Impact Coordinator for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Dr Lucy Sheerman, Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator at the University of Cambridge, Research Strategy Office: Building impact into research, why to do this, a look forward to the next REF and where to find support for impact work at Cambridge.
  • 10.20am Q&A.
  • 10.35am Dr Alexis Willett, Impact Director and Fellow at Hughes Hall: Impact in Colleges and how this is working at Hughes Hall.
  • 10.50am Comfort break.

11.00am to 12noon: Impactful College-based research, chaired by Prof Emma Mawdsley (Head of the Department of Geography and Fellow of Newnham College).

  • 11.00am Prof Emma Mawdsley, Head of the Department of Geography and Fellow of Newnham College: Introductions and perspectives from College and Department.
  • 11.05am Prof Celia Donert, Professor of Contemporary European History and Fellow of Wolfson College.
  • 11.20am Prof Nicholas Thomas, Professor of Historical Anthropology and Fellow of Trinity College: Returning Heritage of Australia and the Pacific project.
  • 11.35am Dr Jellie Molino, Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Research By-Fellow at Hughes Hall: Law for Climate Action.
  • 11.50am Q&A and wrap-up.

12noon: End.

 

Links to bios

Prof Helen Bao (Newnham), Professor of Urban Economics and Public Policy at the Department of Land Economy and Fellow of Newnham College, Prof Bao has been appointed as a member of the REF Sub-panel on Architecture, Built Environment and Planning. 

Prof Celia Donert (Wolfson), Professor of Contemporary European History and Fellow of Wolfson College. Her research focuses on the history of contemporary Europe, particularly Central Europe, communism and state socialism, nationalism and internationalism, human rights, and gender. 

Dr Ben Earley, Senior Impact Coordinator for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge, Research Strategy Office.

Prof Emma Mawdsley (Newnham), Professor of Human Geography and Head of the Department of Geography.

Dr Jellie Molino (Hughes Hall), Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, with research focusing on private law, procurement, and climate change. She also teaches at the Faculty of Law. Dr Molino is a Member of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Early Career Researcher Assembly.

Alison Rose, Principal of Newnham College. Ms Rose was British Ambassador to Belgium from 2014 to 2019, she also served abroad in the British Embassy in Paris and the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels and worked at the Foreign Office and Cabinet Office in London.

Dr Lucy Sheerman, Arts and Humanities Impact Facilitator at the University of Cambridge, Research Strategy Office.

Prof Nicholas Thomas (Trinity), Professor of Historical Anthropology at the Department of Social Anthropology, writer and editor of many publications, he is Director and Curator of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. News story on the Return of the Gweagal Spears to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community - Trinity College Cambridge.

Dr Alexis Willett, Impact Director and Fellow of Hughes Hall.

 

Event organisers: Agnes Hoctor, Knowledge Exchange Co-ordinator (Newnham), Prajakti Kalra, Research Networks Manager (Wolfson) and Dr Alexis Willett, Impact Director (Hughes Hall).

 

Access

This event is taking place at Newnham College. Please enter the College via the Porters' Lodge on Sidgwick Avenue.

For more information about the venue please see the Newnham website.

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