From evidence to engagement: why convening matters for research influence

Science can change the world. But not through publication alone. 

In our previous blog, Beyond publication: what turns research into real-world influence?, Nature Partnerships explored how research influence depends on much more than visibility. We continue the conversation here, focusing on one of the most powerful drivers of influence – convening. 

Take COVID-19. The science behind the vaccines had been work in progress for decades, yet its impact took just months. Not because of any scientific breakthroughs – it was all down to the urgency with which people came together to act on the science. Researchers, funders, policymakers, manufacturers and governments convened at speed to produce the vaccines the world so desperately needed.  

So although publishing remains the cornerstone of scientific progress, it’s just the first step. If the aim of scientific research is to achieve real-life influence – on policy, practice or society as a whole – the next step is stakeholder engagement in research. For influence to grow, science communication must become part of a wider discussion, in a trusted space where it can be tested and transformed into action. 

Why convening matters…

Convening is highly effective for creating the conditions where meaningful conversations can happen. A study evaluating scientific convening found that CIFAR‘s convening programmes helped participating researchers create higher-impact research and more international collaborations than comparable authors achieved. When different groups come together to interpret findings, explore implications and identify practical next steps, influence can really grow.  

…and collaboration

The challenges the world faces today are far too complex to be solved by a single discipline or organisation. Addressing issues such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, health equity or food security requires research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Collaboration between researchers, governments, charities, industry, healthcare professionals and communities draws on a broad range of perspectives and expertise. Nature Partnerships’ article What can institutions learn from a systems approach to sustainability transformation? illustrates why this matters, showing how integrated data, stakeholder collaboration and aligned financing can help move research beyond policy influence towards coordinated action. 

A cross-sector collaboration ecosystem
Addressing complex global challenges requires collaboration across research, policy, industry and society.

Transforming knowledge into action

The publication of scientific evidence is a one-way flow of information. But a single article, report or dataset may not be enough. As we explored in The publication-to-policy connection: Supporting the real-world impact of research, research often needs to move through wider policy ecosystems before it can influence decisions. Before it can do this, research needs to be communicated effectively to a broad range of stakeholder perspectives. Policymakers need to understand the practical implications, industry partners may want to explore the challenges of implementation, funders look to establish emerging priorities. And it’s important for researchers to understand the policy or commercial context which shapes the real-world application of their research. 

Convening helps bridge these perspectives by creating a forum for valuable discussion. Participants can ask questions, explore the landscape and identify opportunities. This is where think tanks, expert networks, knowledge brokers and solution-providers such as Nature Partnerships play an important role. They’re pivotal in connecting researchers with decision-makers, so they can build trusted relationships and help move evidence beyond the academic sphere into wider, real-world discussions. Our recent article, Making research policy-ready: how institutions can support think tanks and SDG impact, explores this intermediary role in more detail, showing why closer dialogue between researchers, think tanks and policymakers is essential. 

Trust before influence

Visibility is key for organisations investing in scientific research, but credibility matters just as much. Even for institutions with valuable expertise, it’s all too easy to appear promotional when engaging in important conversations. They may also lack an established platform or network which would enable them to contribute effectively to debates around major topics of global importance.  

This is where thought leadership offers a credible way forward. Scientific thought leadership at its best is about more than disseminating information. It’s about helping your audience understand complex ideas, posing important questions and creating opportunities for informed discussion. In scientific fields, audiences expect trustworthy, evidence-based communication, high editorial quality and balanced perspectives. A well-structured approach to thought leadership means consistently convening authoritative opinion and insights. This strengthens an organisation’s reputation as an authoritative, trusted voice within the broader research ecosystem. 

Convening – extending the value of research 

As we’ve seen, publication is just one stage on the research journey. Scientific evidence can move forward as the basis of panel discussions, conference sessions, webinars or roundtables. 

In each case, the scope of the original research is extended as new audiences enter the conversation. Of course, it’s about more than repeating the published evidence. Any conversation should add context, encourage discussion and help all the communities involved understand the implications of the research for them. This creates stronger engagement and helps develop lasting relationships with your stakeholders. 

Research impact journey
Research gains influence when evidence moves beyond publication into discussion, collaboration and action.

Thought leadership in practice

In essence, convening is about connecting people and creating meaningful engagement. The right way of doing this will depend on your objectives and desired audience. 

Expert roundtables provide a forum for discussing emerging topics between researchers, policymakers and practitioners. Conferences are the place to position yourselves at the centre of key conversations with a broad range of relevant stakeholders, creating opportunities for collaboration. Well-structured, strategic editorial content and multimedia storytelling can make complex scientific ideas accessible to different audiences, while webinars join together diverse global communities to explore and discuss emerging issues. Awards and recognition programmes can help promote the visibility of important work across and beyond the research community. 

Leading these conversations increases your visibility on important issues and strengthens your credibility within the scientific community and beyond. And carefully constructing an ongoing convening programme will continue to increase your engagement over time.

Convening in practice
Different convening formats help organisations engage stakeholders, build credibility and foster meaningful scientific dialogue.

Conversation – the key to influence

Convening alone is no guarantee of influence, in terms of policy change or societal impact. But it may align thinking and change opinions by drawing the science into conversations where it can be challenged, discussed and transformed into action. 

If your organisation is looking to boost recognition as a contributor to scientific and societal progress, you can achieve this by being an agenda-setter and lead discussions in your field.