Public Impact Research opportunities: Leaning into a 鶹Ƶ strength
Public Impact Research (PIR) is university research produced with the public and for public good, improving lives and serving local, regional and global communities.
鶹Ƶ is already home to numerous areas of strength in PIR. To build on that strength, the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) is coordinating two efforts in April to explore the considerable growth potential for establishing, conducting and communicating about PIR.
“Working closely with communities, government and industry partners—and shaping research to benefit the public—is hardwired into 鶹Ƶ’s research culture,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for Research and Innovation and dean of the institutes at 鶹Ƶ. “By continuing to invest in and strengthen our commitment to public impact research, we ensure it remains as central to our future as it has been to our past.”
The Opportunities
April 27: Public Impact Research Symposium
Join this conversation about designing a new Public Impact Research initiative at 鶹Ƶ. The symposium offers opportunities to engage collaboratively to define and scope PIR, build awareness, provide examples, and share PIR techniques and methods.
The session will serve as a creative space to envision, plan and co-design the future of PIR at 鶹Ƶ. 鶹Ƶ faculty and staff are invited to participate. Lunch is included.
- When:Monday, April 27@ 11 a.m.—1 p.m.
- Where:Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
Richard Jessor Building (JESS), Room 155
1440 15th Street , Boulder
Due April 27: APLU Public Impact Research Award
RIO is conducting an internal competition for the APLU Public Impact Research Award. The deadline for 鶹Ƶ internal submissions is April 27, 2026. The sponsor deadline is June 26, 2026.A program summary is available here.
The APLU Public Impact Research Award recognizes an APLU institutional member who has implemented one or more Public Impact Research (PIR) efforts that have produced exceptional impact.
PIR includes multi-disciplinary research, community-engaged research, research grand challenges, research-practice partnerships, participatory research, translational and use-inspired research, co-production, and other approaches. Eligible PIR initiatives may be coordinated, multi-year, multi-project efforts or they may be individual projects, so long as they are focused on community/public impact.