Research in development strives to address major social and environmental threats to humanity’s wellbeing such as inequality, but for this research to make an impact it needs to be brought to the attention of organisations, policy makers and people who can implement the recommendations and findings of this research. To this end, research communication is vital to ensuring that research effort is not wasted and makes a difference.

Research communication is defined as the process of interpreting or translating complex research findings into a language, format and context that non-experts can understand. (Isabel Carter and Kurt Paulus). The success of research communications is dependent on a network of actors and activities, including but not limited to: political context, media landscape, civil society. The network of individuals within this Working Group will endeavour to bring specialist knowledge from all the areas that must interact for research communications to succeed.

What are the core questions?

• What is the value of research communications to academics within development studies?
• What are the new channels and communication methods that can be used for communicating research to different audiences?
• What are the trends in scholarly communications and publishing that impact research communications?
• How can development institutions work together to share best practice on research communications?
• How can we monitor the quality of engagement and impact of research communications?
• What are the key tools and skills that communications staff and academics need to support research communications?

Aims

The purpose of the Research Communications Working Group is to increase EADI member institutes’ research impact through research communication with audiences including but not limited to:

• Policy makers
• NGOs and
• Other academic or development institutions

The Research Communications Working Group was set up to facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, channels and materials specifically on research communications, for those staff responsible for communications within EADI’s members. The Working Group also strives to increase the understanding and visibility of research communications amongst development studies researchers. To achieve these purposes, the Working Group intends to facilitate face-to-face meetings as well as digital cooperation.