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Research at the University of Manchester (UoM) using a `sustainable practices' approach has made a significant contribution to reconceptualising behaviour change in relation to sustainable consumption. Impact emerges via a landmark report written for the Scottish Government (focusing broadly on the field of environmental sustainability) which provides an alternative framework, alongside policy guidance for considering behaviour change. Working with policy partners, the ISM (Individual, Social, Material) approach to behaviour change, outlined in the report, has been converted into a scalable ISM toolkit; positioned as a `practical device for policy makers and other practitioners' who want to influence people's behaviours and bring about social change.' (Scottish Government Website).
The Centre for Citizenship, Globalisation and Governance (C2G2) at the University of Southampton is at the forefront of increasingly important policy and practice considerations about how to enhance civic behaviour using forms of intervention beyond legislation and taxation. Its research in this field has influenced the UK government's approach to the concept of the Big Society and has helped shape the broader debate on how nudging behaviour change can reshape public service delivery. Through media exposure and engagement in high-level interactions with policymakers, the researchers at Southampton have framed the thinking of governments at all levels, think-tanks and voluntary associations both in the UK and internationally.
World-leading primate research by the `Origins of Mind' group led to the creation of the University's £1.6M `Living Links to Human Evolution' Research Centre, intentionally located in Edinburgh Zoo where it has pioneered unique public engagement and science education using a range of materials and activities. The research has thus impacted on: i) society and culture: since 2008, around 250,000 visitors per year have engaged with live, on-going science and multiple associated legacy resources and activities; ii) educational practitioners and school children, through classes in the Centre and internet teacher packs that integrate with Scottish Highers; and iii) commercial income to the Zoo.
Research at Bradford has focused on the Biological Non-Proliferation work of the Bradford Disarmament Research Centre (BDRC). The research-informed impact of this work is two-fold. Firstly BDRC has influenced, and continues to influence, decision- and policy-making involving 170 States on how to strengthen global governance through improvements to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). As a consequence of this influence BDRC has changed the practices of institutions and individual researchers and thus has, through novel training and curriculum development, helped foster a culture of biosecurity to reduce the risk of inadvertent or deliberate misuse of life and associated science research.
This case study focuses on the impact of work underpinned by Professor Hart's entomological research and includes the major BBC and Discovery/Science Channel documentary, Planet Ant: Life inside the Colony, a children's version, Living on Planet Ant (both presented by Hart) and subsequent secondary impact through two Citizen Science projects. Together these projects have considerably raised public awareness and understanding of ants and their importance. Planet Ant has reached a domestic audience in excess of one million via TV, a large international TV audience, more than 0.6 million via YouTube and was widely and positively reviewed in the national press.
Activities arising from the programme included a debate session on the importance of ants at the Cheltenham Science Festival, 10 weeks of public viewing and guide-led interpretation of the ant colony at the Glasgow Science Centre and national and international magazine articles. Planet Ant led to Hart's central involvement with two large citizen science projects run jointly between him and the UK's Society of Biology. Widely featured in the national press and radio, these have actively engaged more than 20,000 members of the public in primary scientific research, including some 3,500 "super engagers" who have sent on more detailed records and samples. Indeed, one of these projects has been selected by the RCUK for their Concordat anniversary publication as a case study to demonstrate the impact of public engagement.
The safety assessment of drugs and other chemicals relies upon studies in experimental animals. Whilst these are useful surrogates, extrapolation to humans requires several assumptions. Professor Boobis led an international group under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO), to develop a framework for the systematic and transparent assessment of such experimental data. Within this framework, the toxicological effect of a chemical is broken down into a series of intermediate steps, comprising a mode of action. This enables qualitative and quantitative comparison between experimental animals and humans. The framework has impacted on risk assessment policy both nationally and internationally, on product development, and on risk assessments of combined exposure to chemicals.
There is strong policy interest in more effective ways to increase citizen engagement, including time contributions and the donation of goods. Research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) has stimulated debate around localism and the `Big Society', directly influencing central and local government policy. Specifically, the research has shaped debates on the role of `nudge' mechanisms in the generation of the `civic goods' that underpin effective public service delivery, with impact demonstrated in two ways. Firstly, documenting and mobilising civic participation (volunteering and donations) through the use of innovative field experiments, including Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs). Secondly, demonstrating an influence on policymakers through clear illustrations of the rigorous and scalable methodologies that underpin the research.
The BBC Prison Study provided novel theoretical insights into group dynamics, leadership, tyranny, and resistance. Beyond its academic impact, it has had a profound impact (a) on educational practices — in particular, through becoming a core study within the A-level curriculum (since 2008) — and in undergraduate studies, and (b) on public debate and understanding of these issues — most notably by challenging conclusions derived from the Stanford Prison Experiment (one of the best known experiments in psychology).
15m people have a stroke each year worldwide. In England alone, stroke generates direct care costs of £3bn and a wider economic burden of £8bn. Service users report high levels of unmet need in relation to cognitive dysfunction (e.g. concentration). Improving cognition was the number one priority agreed by users and providers (James Lind Alliance, Lancet Neurology 2012). Research led by the University of Manchester (UoM) underpins recommendations in several recent clinical guidelines for stroke management and rehabilitation in the UK and internationally. Our 2012 aphasia trial and qualitative study made key contributions to the recommendations in the recent NICE (2013) and Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party (2012) guidelines. UoM-led Cochrane reviews (e.g., neglect, apraxia, perception) have directly influenced recommendations in guidelines produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, the European Stroke Organization and the Australian National Stroke Foundation.
Professionals in the third sector have changed the key messages of their campaigns as a result of research from Cardiff University. In this research it was shown that people were more likely to be eco-friendly when campaigns appealed to their concern for the welfare of others, rather than financial savings. The findings have stimulated ongoing debate among eco-campaigners and a wider range of professionals in the third sector, government, the national press and online publications. Leading international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Oxfam have formed the Common Cause initiative to improve their communication practices and this has led to changes in campaigning strategy.