Global learnings for research impact in weed management in Australia

摘要

The Australian government is increasingly seeking evidence of a pathway to impact, and demonstration of impact, for research, as a measure of its return on invested taxpayer dollars. The government is seeking evidence of positive impact arising from research efforts, on society, the economy and the environment. This follows international efforts by countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and the Netherlands to do the same. In 2014, the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) received 6679 case studies from UK Universities, demonstrating research impact on 'the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia', across individual and multiple disciplines.Avenues of research impact can include results of collaborations with industry and community stakeholders. Demonstrating the impact of weed research, including management programs, is likely to become increasingly important in Australia. As such, active engagement in the development, or use of designated impact metrics from research idea to results adoption will become necessarily important, as will the development of case studies. This paper highlights some key international learnings for describing and/or measuring researchimpact as they relate to weed management.