Dr Leon Litvack at the Queen’s University, Belfast is producing a scholarly edition of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. The work combines factual research with critical judgement informed by current scholarship in textual studies. Initially, as a Clarendon edition, it will be of interest as a reference work, and it will go on to become the standard for reprinting Our Mutual Friend by Oxford World’s Classics and other publishers.
Impacts included:
• Providing a newly edited text of a major Dickens novel for UK publishers, creating financial benefits for publishers and a new cultural experience for readers.
• Drawing in visitors to an exhibition on Our Mutual Friend at the Charles Dickens Museum in London (of which Dr Litvack is a Trustee), and so creating financial benefits for the museum and the local area, plus cultural and social benefits for visitors.
• Engaging the general public in an aspect of their cultural heritage through various public engagement activities, and so contributing to their knowledge and quality of life.
The project’s website serves as a focus for those interested in the novel, its genesis, composition and reputation. Dissemination activities included various speaking engagements, interviews on BBC Radio, and a boat trip along the Thames. This trip involved 100 guests who were introduced to particular sites associated with the novel, and given a running commentary on Dickens’s life, his society and modes of Victorian publishing. Dr Litvack also acted as a consultant on Dickens and London for a Sky TV programme on ‘The Real British Suburbia’, and for ITV’s ‘Written Britain’ series, presented by Melvin Bragg.
Further details:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/ourmutfr/index.htm
Further information:
These short overviews have been produced as an aid to understanding some of the impacts arising from arts and humanities research. The examples are taken from existing AHRC projects, ranging from small awards up to large Research Grants and Centres. They are not exhaustive; impact from research takes many forms. It can occur at any stage of the research process, from its beginning to well after the research itself has finished.
The Research Councils define impact as the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy. This definition accords with the Royal Charters of the Councils and with HM Treasury guidance on the appraisal of economic impact. Impact embraces all the extremely diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organisations and nations by:
• fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom
• increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy, and
• enhancing quality of life, health and creative output
These case studies offer some, but in no way all, of the diversity and variety of those impacts. They are not, however, intended as guidance on completing the Impact Requirements sections on proposals, for which you should refer to the Je-S guidance for Standard Grant proposals and Fellowship proposals.
It should also be remembered that the impacts described here will not necessarily be replicated by undertaking the same activities. The pathways to impact are as diverse and varied as the impacts themselves. These examples can, however, provide some illustration of what can be achieved.