Research doesn’t take place in a vacuum and engagement with stakeholders outside of higher education is how we ensure our work is prioritised, developed and designed with impact and translation at the forefront. We’re equipping the IHE community with the skills and knowledge they need to develop a strategic approach to engagement.
Name | Department | Job title |
---|---|---|
Rupy Matharu (co-chair) | UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering | Research Fellow |
Richard Colchester | UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering | Senior Research Fellow |
Ben Littlefield | UCL Engage | Public Engagement Manager (BEAMS) |
Simon Watt | Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional & Surgical Sciences | Public Engagement Manager |
Clare Elwell (on sabbatical) | UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering | Professor of Medical Physics |
Alice Hardy | UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering | Impact & Communications Manager |
Giada Brianza | UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering | Research Development Manager |
Our activities
IHE Impact Fellowship

In October 2020, we launched our IHE Impact Fellowship scheme – a one-year programme that trains a cohort of early-career researchers to build their engagement skills and grow their network beyond university walls.
Over the year, the Impact Fellows receive in-depth training in a spectrum of engagement and impact activities, from social media for academics through to working with policy-makers. This training culminates in a tangible engagement output at the end of the year.
How does this benefit researchers?
• Researchers will build their engagement skills by receiving personalised training and mentorship
• Build a network of external stakeholders and UCL engagement experts
• Put this training into ‘real-life’ practice by the end of the scheme
• Enhance their CV with a Fellowship position including certificate upon completion
In June 2021, the first cohort of IHE Impact Fellows used their strengthened engagement skills to present their research to the general public. The ‘Science Showcase’ was a jargon-free public event intended to highlight how UCL research is making a difference in the world. Our Impact Fellows had to distill their work into a five-minute presentation.
More about the IHE's Impact Fellowship here.
Have a project you'd like help with or interested in becoming a member?
At a glance
- In October 2020, we launched our Impact Fellowship Scheme – training early-career researchers in all things engagement and impact
- We work closely with the UCL Policy Impact Unit to design activities that have real impact
- Our long-term vision is to embed engagement in UCL's appraisal and promotion processes
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