Research impact
UC researchers and partners are creating knowledge that delivers social, environmental and economic impact.
Research impact refers to the positive changes, benefits, and outcomes that result from research. It encompasses the ways research influences policy, practice, innovation, communities, culture, and the environment.
Research impact can include:
- Informing government policy and legislation
- Improving policies and practices across industry and services
- Supporting the development of new products, technologies, and businesses
- Delivering social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits to communities
UC researchers work closely with communities, iwi, government agencies, industry, and other organisations to ensure research addresses real-world challenges and creates meaningful outcomes.
Our research impact is reflected through contributions to public policy, advances in professional practice, commercialisation and innovation activities, and improvements to the wellbeing, resilience, and sustainability of communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
Showcases
Improving support for autistic children
UC researchers are developing digital supports that improve wellbeing for autistic children and whānau.
Protecting our high-country springs
UC research is revealing how aquatic plants are transforming high-country springs and informing their management for multiple values.
Science for sustainable space development
UC researchers are helping understand potential environmental impacts of a growing space industry with increasing global rocket launches.
Enabling drug development from space
UC researchers are using microgravity to grow higher-quality protein crystals and support drug discovery.
Cass: research and restoration
The Cass Field Station combines research, restoration and teaching to support New Zealand's high-country ecosystems.
Detecting change from long-term monitoring
UC researchers have used long-term ecological data to document major declines in native alpine moths over the past 60 years.
Unlocking a record of past climate change
UC researchers are investigating glacial history to better understand how climate has changed over thousands of years.
Giving rivers room to move
UC researchers are highlighting new approaches to river management to recognise rivers as dynamic and biologically diverse ecosystems.
Building strong foundations in literacy
UC researchers are showing how structured early literacy teaching can set children on a path to reading and writing success.
More about research at UC
Contact UC Research
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