How can you collaborate with non-academic partners to disseminate research?

Disseminating research outcome through non-academic partnerships is absolutely critical. Reflecting on my own experience, my team at Aktion Health has focused on translating what we learned from field research to evidence-based care that ultimately impacted local communities. We’ve worked with 150+ non-academic partners ranging from NGOs, international organisations, civil societies, and the private sector. Here are the insights I gained from translational research: 1. Tailored messaging to the relevant stakeholders. 2. Cultural and contextual adaptation of materials. 3. Sustainability of outcomes.

I think that sometimes life experience provides better insight than academic research. I think you have to know what you need to know and what is the best route for that

To effectively collaborate with non-academic partners in disseminating research, identify relevant partners, build relationships early, understand partner needs and objectives, communicate effectively, co-create dissemination strategies, engage in outreach activities, create user-friendly resources, media engage, advocate for policy changes, seek feedback, provide capacity building, and evaluate impact. This requires ongoing communication, flexibility, and mutual understanding to amplify the reach and impact of research in various sectors and communities.

Before engaging with any potential partner, it is essential to identify your goals for research dissemination. Clearly define whether your objective is to inform, persuade, or influence a specific audience. Determine if you aim to raise awareness, change behavior, inform policy, generate feedback, encourage engagement, or achieve impact. Establishing a clear and realistic goal is fundamental for tailoring your message effectively, selecting the appropriate format and channel, and evaluating the success of your dissemination efforts. This strategic approach ensures that your research communication aligns with your overarching objectives and maximizes its intended impact.

Clearly understand who is going to be the kind of person/organization that would find useful your research is a complex task, in that case once you know who is going to be elegible for diseemibate your research you might need to understand why the would take their time to be involved in your research by clearly indentify whats required fron them: feedback, engagement, proof of use, etc.

Os objetivos da pesquisa científica representam, além das intenções propostas pelo pesquisador, possibilidades de obtenção de resultados mediante o trabalho realizado. No sentido de delimitá-lo, sobretudo remetendo ao universo da pesquisa científica, dá-se a entender que desde o momento em que o pesquisador se propõe a realizá-la, ele tem objetivos definidos. Nesse sentido, torna-se imprescindível compreender que todas as ações de um projeto de pesquisa mantêm entre si uma estreita ligação, ou seja, em outras palavras, é o mesmo que dizer que uma é continuação da outra.

Well for starters the premise of this article is off-putting. It reeks of arrogance. what does "non-academic" partners even mean? Tips to help on this article... 1. get of your high horse 2. don't refer to partners as non-academic 3. if you are "academic" you should be able to use your insane brilliance to figure out how to speak to someone who doesn't possess your extreme IQ.

Before you approach any potential partner, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your research dissemination. Do you want to inform, persuade, or influence a specific audience? Do you want to raise awareness, change behavior, or inform policy? Do you want to generate feedback, engagement, or impact? Having a clear and realistic goal will help you tailor your message, choose the right format and channel, and evaluate your success.

Start by clearly defining your research dissemination goals. Understand what you aim to achieve through collaboration with non-academic partners. Whether it’s reaching a broader audience, implementing real-world applications, or fostering innovation, a clear set of goals will guide your collaboration.

A very important consideration about sharing research results is choosing the suitable tool. By advancements in large language models and other AI models, it is easier than ever to modify the tone of your research findings for each organisation that you want to share your results with. In other words, you need to speak in their language to make sure they realise the value of your research. Grammarly and editGPT are my suggested software for you.

After establishing your dissemination goal, the next step is to identify suitable partners to help you achieve it. Depending on your topic, audience, and purpose, consider collaborating with media outlets, NGOs, industry associations, government agencies, community organizations, or other relevant stakeholders. Utilize online databases, social media, networking events, or referrals from colleagues and mentors to find potential partners. Conduct thorough background research on their mission, values, interests, and needs, and ascertain how your research can contribute to their objectives. Building partnerships with organizations that align with your goals enhances the reach and impact of your research dissemination efforts.

Once you have clearly identified your possible partner, you must go through the right path to reach them: if they are people, you could go to social media, if they are organization you could search via EMIS or other databases that provides you with clear information about them and their financial status, working sector, leaders. If they are both, you could go to a networking event in which you might be able to find them.

Once you have your goal, identifying the right partners becomes crucial for successful research dissemination. Consider the diversity of potential collaborators, ranging from media outlets and NGOs to industry associations and government agencies. Each type of partner brings a unique set of strengths, audiences, and perspectives that can enhance the impact of your research. Your choice of partners should align with your research topic, target audience, and the specific objectives you aim to achieve. For instance, collaborating with media outlets might help in reaching a broader public audience, while engaging with NGOs or community organizations could facilitate on-the-ground implementation of your research findings.

In your interactions with potential partners, focus on building trust and rapport. Approach them with respect, professionalism, and courtesy, demonstrating genuine interest in their work and goals. Clearly and concisely communicate your intentions, avoiding jargon and technical terms while using plain language and relatable examples. Actively listen to their input, addressing any questions or concerns they may have. Be flexible and open-minded, willing to adapt your message and approach to align with their preferences and expectations. Establishing a foundation of trust and mutual understanding enhances the likelihood of successful collaboration in your research dissemination efforts.

When engaging your partners established a strong collaboration, have an open mind, Together attend events and conferences and raise your ideas, exchange knowledge and speak off your research. If your research is health based interact and listen to people in other sectors.

While engaging with your partners remember to have a clear message to share, it also important for you to keep documentation on every engagement you have with them, it also good for you to have a document in which you clearly share with the partner what will be needed from them to make an agreement.

Once a positive relationship with your partner is established, collaborate on co-creating your dissemination plan. Involve them in the design, development, and delivery of your research dissemination by seeking their feedback, suggestions, and inputs on content, format, channel, and timing. Encourage them to contribute their resources, expertise, or networks to enhance the overall impact. Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each party, documenting them in a written agreement or contract. This collaborative approach ensures that your dissemination efforts benefit from the insights and contributions of both you and your partner, leading to a more effective and mutually beneficial dissemination strategy.

Once a good engagement environment is clear, you may start creating the roll-out plan, which might need some feedback from the partner to be accurate and reliable when we might be talking about roles, responsibilities and timelines.

To conclude, it’s important to follow the execution plan and document any deviation on it. Measure your plan reliability and understand if it your action on the plan ensure the dissemination plan success. Finally share with the partner the outcomes and results.

Implement and evaluate your dissemination plan in close collaboration with your partner. Monitor progress and outcomes, maintaining regular and transparent communication to address changes or challenges. Collect and analyze data on the reach, engagement, and impact of your dissemination, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Share the results and feedback with your partner, acknowledging their contribution and support. Celebrate achievements and draw valuable lessons from the experience to inform future collaborations and enhance the effectiveness of your research dissemination strategies. This continuous feedback loop ensures a dynamic and adaptive approach, maximizing the success of your dissemination efforts.

To conclude, it’s important to follow the execution plan and document any deviation on it. Measure your plan reliability and understand if it your action on the plan ensure the dissemination plan success. Finally share with the partner the outcomes and results.

It's essential to emphasize the importance of adaptability in the dynamic landscape of research dissemination. Flexibility is key, considering that partnerships and audiences may evolve over time. Embrace innovation in communication methods, leveraging emerging technologies and platforms to enhance the accessibility and engagement of your research. Furthermore, fostering a culture of continuous learning within your dissemination efforts allows for ongoing improvement and refinement. By staying attuned to evolving trends, feedback, and the diverse needs of your audience, you can ensure that your research not only reaches its intended recipients but also has a lasting and meaningful impact in the broader community.