New Societal Impact Academy is helping faculty and students turn their research into impact

The Office of the Vice-President, Research is excited to officially launch the McMaster Societal Impact Academy – a new initiative designed to celebrate and support members of McMaster’s research community as they work to turn their discoveries into real-world impact.    

Under the direction of Sukhvinder Obhi, McMaster’s Associate Vice-President, Research (Society & Impact), the Societal Impact Academy hosts a series of programs that provide student and faculty researchers with the resources, opportunities and connections they need to drive positive change.  

“Research has the power to transform lives—but only if it reaches the communities and societal stakeholders that need it most,” says Obhi, a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.  

“The Societal Impact Academy will equip researchers with the tools they need to mobilize their work and create ethical, meaningful change in areas like healthcare, public policy and services, the economy, the environment, society and culture.” 

The Academy brings together a number of ongoing and new initiatives to advance research mobilization and impact, including a seed grant, which awarded $85,000 to five campus-society research collaborations in 2024; a pitch competition showcasing graduate students’ innovative and impactful research projects; and the Society & Impact Luncheon series, exploring how academic researchers and community partners can work together to advance meaningful social change. 

In conjunction with the Office of the President, the Academy also introduced a new President’s Award for Societal Impact, which is currently accepting applications. The award will be presented to a McMaster research team that has generated significant societal impact through knowledge mobilization, translation and exchange activities. 

The Academy also aims to spark dialogue between academic leaders and policymakers and identify opportunities for evidence-based policy influence. 

Each of the Academy’s programs is designed to build capacity for societal engagement and impact across the disciplines and position McMaster as a national leader and global powerhouse in translating research and knowledge capital into benefits for society.  

“Our graduate student, postdoc and faculty researchers are constantly finding innovative ways to action their work and translate it into positive change for people and communities in Canada and around the world,” says Obhi.  

“We’re thrilled to support them as they work to maximize the impact of their research and shape cleaner, healthier, more ethical societies,” he says.  

Learn more about the McMaster Societal Impact Academy.

Have content you’d like us to feature on the Societal Impact Academy webpage? Contact siavpr@mcmaster.ca to learn more.