Publishers Association launches new Research Impact Campaign

The Publishers Association have today launched the new Research Impact Campaign, which focuses on three short videos about impactful scientific research developed in the UK and disseminated by publishers. The campaign aims to champion the UK’s scientific output, and showcase why it is one of the best places in the world to conduct academic research.

The campaign highlights the key partnership role of academic publishers in supporting the research community and helping UK research reach further.

The research featured in the videos includes the economics of the green energy transition, technology in elite women’s football and quantum physics. Researchers from Oxford, Cambridge and St Mary’s Universities featured in the videos explain their research and how publishing has helped it have greater impact. The research papers featured are published in journals from Springer Nature, Elsevier and IOPP.

Dan Conway, CEO of the Publishers Association said: “The UK is renowned for its academic prowess, and we’re delighted to launch the Research Impact Campaign to further spotlight some of the brilliant work being done by researchers and their publishers. Research in the UK is truly moving the needle around the world, and actively changing the world we live in for the better. I hope this campaign inspires and drives awareness of these achievements. A special thank you to the researchers involved in making this project come to life.”

Antonia Seymour, President of the Publishers Association and CEO of IOP Publishing, said: “The UK’s universities and researchers are world-leading and academic publishing is a key partner in the research ecosystem.  Every day, in academic institutions across the UK, researchers are carrying out incredible work that has the potential to positively impact our lives. We hope that the Research Impact campaign will emphasise the role academic publishing plays in expanding the reach of that research.”

The Research Impact Campaign will be promoted by the Publishers Association throughout 2024 as part of the wider Value of Publishing campaign.

ENDS

About the Publishers Association

The Publishers Association (PA) is the member organisation for UK publishing, representing companies of all sizes and specialisms. Our members produce digital and print books, research journals and educational resources across genres and subjects. We exist to champion publishing to the wider world and to provide our members with everything they need to thrive. We have helped change laws, improved business conditions and inspired people to become publishers. We are passionate about the capacity for books and reading to make life better for people.

Notes to Editors

The researchers and papers featured in the video are:

• Dr Rupert Way, Empirically grounded technology forecasts and the energy transition, Oxford University, published in Joule (Elsevier)
• Dr Katrine Kryger, Ten questions in sports engineering: technology in elite women’s football, St Mary’s University, published in Sports Engineering (Springer Nature)
• Dr Carmem Gilardoni, Spin-relaxation times exceeding seconds for color centers with strong spin–orbit coupling in SiC, Cambridge University, published in The New Journal of Physics (IOPP)