Research Impact Canada
Western joins Research Impact Canada to Enhance Mobilization & Impact
Western has become a member of Research Impact Canada, a national network connecting more than 20 universities and public sector leaders, and strengthening the impact of research and innovation in Canada and beyond. Membership is an important step toward advancing Western’s strategic goals and commitments to fostering inclusive research excellence and innovation through enhanced knowledge mobilization, collaboration with other leading universities and opportunities for leadership. Western Research is committed to translating research into benefits and to connecting the university’s work to the world, as highlighted in our strategic plan, Mobilize for Impact!
Benefits for Western Faculty, Students, and Staff
By joining Research Impact Canada, Western gains access to various exclusive opportunities, including:
- Networking and Collaboration: Connection to a national network of researchers, knowledge mobilization professionals and other partners to build relationships and collaborate on impactful projects.
- Knowledge Sharing: Access to cutting-edge resources, workshops and best practices related to knowledge mobilization to ensure research findings reach diverse audiences, including policymakers, industry partners and the general public.
- Increased Visibility and Impact: Support for enhancing the visibility and societal impact of research outcomes, while helping to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for training and professional growth through specialized programs focused on improving communication and engagement strategies for research impact.
- Advocacy: A collective voice advocating for the value and impact of research in Canada’s innovation ecosystem, strengthening Western’s role in advancing knowledge and societal well-being.
Western is dedicated to ensuring its research not only contributes to academic advancements but also addresses pressing societal challenges. Joining the network further strengthens Western’s role in these efforts, ultimately enhancing the university’s reputation as a leader in research and knowledge mobilization.
We look forward to the exciting opportunities this membership will bring and the positive impact it will have for our research community. Western Research will roll out resources, event and professional development opportunities from Research Impact Canada over the next few months.
Please reach out to Kristen Reilly Firth (kreill2@uwo.ca), Knowledge Mobilization and Research Impact Specialist, with any questions.
Event and Resources
Fundamentals of Community-Based Research | April 25, 2025 from 1:30-3:00 PM
This workshop is a conversation starter about community-based research (CBR), an approach that bridges research to practice and prioritizes collaboration with community members and partners, and centers equity, social justice and research impact - in short, CBR is a tool to operationalize public sociology. Participants will explore the objectives and steps of CBR, key steps in the research process, and practical tools for engaging with communities. Through hands-on examples, we will discuss how CBR can empower marginalized groups, facilitates knowledge mobilization, and contributes to decolonization. This workshop is intended for graduate students and early-career researchers. Register here.
