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Funded by JRF and ESRC, a long-term series of qualitative studies with residents of very deprived neighbourhoods in Teesside has reached important conclusions about the realities of worklessness and poverty. Many of these run counter to prevailing thinking amongst politicians, policy makers and practitioners. Thus, the research has been used to influence the thinking and the practices of organisations (nationally and regionally) that seek to tackle problems of poverty and worklessness. The research has informed political debate in the UK and EU and has been used nationally and regionally to improve the way that problems of worklessness, poverty and `the low-pay cycle' are understood and responded to. Impact has come about as a consequence of the academic profile and reputation of the underpinning research and a subsequent planned and concerted set of dissemination, public engagement and knowledge exchange activities.
This case study in the history of British regional and urban culture demonstrates research impact that is an extension of the unit's longstanding commitment to benefitting regional and local constituencies. The impact extends to non-academic audiences locally, regionally and nationally. It has formed the basis of local collaborations with organisations that are prominent in curating Teesside's industrial and post-industrial heritage. Its local impact has also exemplified the unit's strong interaction with local and community history groups. The findings of Vall's underpinning research into the history of British regional and urban culture has also engaged local and national audiences through radio and television features and documentaries addressing regional identity and industrial heritage. This research has helped to raise public awareness of the specific challenges attached to the promotion of creative economies in industrial regions. Moreover, it has benefitted local people by revealing and contextualising the complexity and diversity of contemporary regional industrial heritage.
Professor Ronald MacDonald has developed leading research and economic models for applied exchange rate analysis. This body of work has underpinned training and capacity-building at the IMF Institute in Washington DC, reaching approximately 250 economists and policy-makers of financial institutions from around the world. Additionally, the research has formed the basis of advice to government agencies, such as the General Secretariat for Development Planning Qatar in 2008.
MacDonald's work has been cited by central bankers and IMF economists in working papers and his expertise led to his being appointed Monetary Advisor for the IMF. In this capacity, he has provided research-driven analysis and recommendations to central banks on their approaches to exchange rate regimes, with one notable example being the Central Bank of Costa Rica in 2010.
Coal fired power stations will be a major element of global power generation for the foreseeable future. Measurement, and hence control, of pulverised fuel flow is a vital technology for the efficient and green operation of coal fired power stations. Balancing fuel delivery and combustion stoichiometry increases boiler efficiency and reduces emissions. Research in this area carried out at Teesside University was adopted by ABB Ltd and led to the commercial development of new powder flow measurement systems (PfMaster technology) installed in power stations around the world. Quantifiable economic benefits of the installations to date amount to >£3.4 M with concomitant environmental benefits of significant reduction in CO2 and NOxemissions and solid waste disposal burdens.
Corticosteroids are the traditional mainstay of treatment for inflammatory conditions but their side effects are often severe, especially in children. Professor MacDonald's team researched alternatives to corticosteroids in childhood Crohn's disease. With Nestlé they developed a polymeric, milk-based formula feed (Modulen IBD) that was highly effective in inducing clinical remission. NICE guidance have changed to reflect these findings. The treatment is now first-line therapy for childhood Crohn's in UK and the rest of Europe and recommended in clinical guidelines in USA. We estimate that across Europe alone, 13,000 new cases of childhood Crohn's annually will be spared steroid therapy as a result of this work.
University of Glasgow research has delivered an online, searchable and fully annotated database providing unprecedented access to a comprehensive collection of etchings, drypoints and mezzotints by James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903). Access to over 5,000 images of 490 etchings and their copper plates accompanied by all documentary or published records has transformed understanding of Whistler's art and his techniques. This catalogue raisonné has received over 27,000 visits each month since it launched in October 2011 and is used by artists, curators, art critics and collectors, auctioneers and others in the UK and abroad. Consultations sparked by the catalogue's profile and authority have resulted in the authentication of key Whistler works for purchase at auction houses, including Sotheby's and Doyle's, and input to exhibitions in the UK and abroad.
Research at Teesside University has enhanced sustainability and productivity in construction and related sectors. Between 1998 and 2008, Professor Dawood's research team developed a range of advanced multi-constraint and multi-dimensional visual construction planning and coordination approaches and tools. The global commercial application of this work in Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) organisations has generated a substantial economic impact. For five indicative organisations used as examples in this case study, the impact amounts to more than £1,500,000 in the form of increased turnover, cash injection from technology funds and a spin out company.
Through the introduction of innovative design approaches, processes tools and methods into the research of complex healthcare issues, a range of individuals — including members of professional groups, e.g., in nutrition management and physical rehabilitation, clinical trials managers, healthcare professionals and patients (involved, e.g., in random controlled trials), are now able to consider and use tools and approaches that they did not use previously. These, policy-makers, leads in research councils, charities, and members of lay user representative groups have seen, through demonstrations, national and international presentations and professional publications, advantages of these innovative tools and approaches that enable more patient-centred treatment and enhanced patient-professional relationships.
Over a period of 20 years, Professor Mangat and colleagues in the Materials and Engineering Research Institute's (MERI's) Centre for Infrastructure Management have developed significant expertise of concrete materials and structures related to deterioration, repair and maintenance of infrastructure. This body of research has led to professional practice and economic impacts related to repair selection, asset management systems, curing systems and novel repair/building materials. Mangat's expertise in concrete deterioration, its remediation and repair has been developed into commercial software systems for bridge and asset management and the national, professionally accredited training course for bridge inspectors/engineers. In the REF impact period, bridge management software has been adopted by over 30 UK local authorities and training delivered to 392 bridge management professionals. Commercialisation of two of Mangat's research innovations, alkali activated materials (AAMs) and low voltage accelerated curing systems (LOVACS), has achieved direct sales of £0.5m and development of the spin-out Liquid Granite Ltd. Additionally, his corrosion protection systems have been adopted by engineering consultants Mott MacDonald, enabling them to win commissioned corrosion-remediation works of over £1m
Gray's research has broadened and deepened public access to Folklore, Fairy-tale and Fantasy (=FFF) studies. It focuses on popular contemporary and past authors such as Pullman, Tolkien and Stevenson, and has resonated with a growing public interest in FFF. Gray created the Sussex Centre for FFF (=SCFFF) as a vehicle for furthering excellent international research and engaging with non-academic audiences. The SCFFF facilitates dissemination to a wide range of publics (age, gender, nationality) via public events (conferences, exhibitions and public lectures), consultancy and collaboration (Universal Pictures, Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Folklore Society), regular media engagement (e.g. BBC Radio 2 and World Service, Daily Mirror, ELLE) and active online presence (web, twitter, blog). Through each of these pathways Gray seeks to broaden and deepen the quality of debate, and highlight the relevance of FFF to contemporary society.