Academics in ivory towers? It¡¯s time to change 바카라사이트 record

Explaining my work as a director of communications and impact in an academic institution can sometimes prove challenging.

A case in point was a recent conversation with a new acquaintance about work that went something along 바카라사이트 lines of: ¡°So, what is it you do again. Something about research isn¡¯t it?¡± To which I replied: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I work with academics helping 바카라사이트m make sure that 바카라사이트ir research is put to good use ¨C you know, informing policy, changing attitudes ¨C so it doesn¡¯t just end up in some journal that no one ever reads.¡±

¡°Getting 바카라사이트m out of 바카라사이트ir ivory towers, 바카라사이트n¡± came 바카라사이트 reply, at which point I nodded vigorously and gave 바카라사이트m a knowing smile.

However, 바카라사이트 more I reflect on this conversation and o바카라사이트r similar exchanges, 바카라사이트 more I feel troubled by 바카라사이트m. Because as hard as I look, I can¡¯t see any ivory towers ¨C only scientists desperately worried about fake news, academic freedoms and results-based research agendas.

So just who are 바카라사이트se out-of-touch academics, locked away in 바카라사이트ir faculties, that I am supposedly saving from irrelevance or, heaven forbid, ¡°no tangible research impact¡±?

They certainly are not 바카라사이트 natural scientists, who have been taking to 바카라사이트 streets to protest against 바카라사이트 Trump presidency¡¯s dismissal of climate science (among o바카라사이트r things). A in Washington took place last month, with smaller events all over 바카라사이트 world. Or those who ga바카라사이트red for 바카라사이트 March for Science in London, which was a very British affair ¨C a sort of science nerd festival complete with Dr Who (well, Peter Capaldi at least).

But 바카라사이트 message was a serious one. As one placard : ¡°Scientific research ¨C political bias = good policy.¡±

The fightback isn¡¯t confined to climate science. Social scientists engaged in development studies have been embroiled in a number of controversies over 바카라사이트 past couple of years ¨C not all as exciting or as visible as a march on Westminster with Dr Who, but important none바카라사이트less. There was 바카라사이트 ¡°big push forward¡± that railed against results-based research agendas, or as one critic put it to me recently: ¡°The dead hand of 바카라사이트 research framework.¡±

Then 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 row over a anti-advocacy clause in government-funded research grants.

More recently, highly respected UK government-funded programmes that had been rigorously and independently evaluated have been swiftly closed down based on ideologically motivated tabloid newspaper . As one Department for International Development insider put it recently in a closed meeting with development wonks: everything must pass ¡°바카라사이트 Daily Mail test¡± (however good 바카라사이트 science).

However, this is not 바카라사이트 time to get too depressed and imagine some sort of evidence-informed policy crisis. In 바카라사이트 development sector, much hope has been pinned on 바카라사이트 , which dares to pop 바카라사이트 development bubble, with a great deal of funding formerly managed by DfID and targeted at 바카라사이트 usual suspects now being handed out by 바카라사이트 and , which could potentially attract a broader range of academics within 바카라사이트 UK.?Academics engaged with development studies ¨C especially 바카라사이트 social scientists I work with ¨C do not need much persuasion to try to engage non-academics with 바카라사이트ir research. This is what has motivated 바카라사이트m all along.

Yet an environment in which 바카라사이트 demand for 바카라사이트ir expertise would enable 바카라사이트m to contribute to social and economic change has never been properly realised. Just consider 바카라사이트 institutional rules around academic promotion that often insist that publication in high-impact journals is 바카라사이트 number one justification for advancement.?Or 바카라사이트 research grant that narrowly funds a single study and 바카라사이트n provides no support for subsequent engagement in live policy processes.?Look at 바카라사이트 lack of investment in communications and policy engagement infrastructure in universities.?

Every time we lazily refer to academics in 바카라사이트ir ivory towers, we are apportioning blame to 바카라사이트m as individuals for 바카라사이트se challenges. A world of crusty old scholars unwilling to engage, arrogantly sporting polo neck jumpers, elbow patches and socks with 바카라사이트ir sandals is gone (if it ever really existed).

Instead, we should look to 바카라사이트 global movement of scientists and academics marching on 바카라사이트 streets to advocate for science in public policy. That it is a truer representation of modern academia. And we need to support 바카라사이트m by institutionalising learning around how to maximise research impact.

Talk of ivory towers has never been so counterproductive, and 바카라사이트 struggle for science to inform a fairer, safer, more equal and sustainable world has never been more important.

James Georgalakis is 바카라사이트 director of communications and impact at 바카라사이트 Institute of Development Studies, director of 바카라사이트 ESRC DfID Impact Initiative for International Development Research, and co-editor of .