A beginner’s guide to evidencing the impact of outreach

Emma and Wendy are academics with expertise in educational research, informal learning and science communication, although they have different subject backgrounds in neuroscience and physics. Both authors recognise that this is a challenging time for the Higher Education sector. They are concerned that important work in outreach could easily slip off the academic agenda unless it is carefully considered, recognised and valued. This is why meaningfully measuring the impact of outreach is important, so that its value (which is often life changing) can be clearly captured and communicated. In this short article, we will consider why outreach is undertaken and how you can meaningfully measure the impact of outreach activities. We understand that different readers may have different starting points, varying levels of expertise and various levels of access to resources, so we will guide you through different outreach approaches that acknowledge these differences. Our beginner’s guide to evidencing the impact of outreach is designed to be a helpful and useful resource that empowers and encourages you to play your part and do what you can in the wonderful world of outreach.