Our impact
We launched Real Impact to help our research communities see the impact of their work. Read more about our manifesto for change and how we demonstrate our commitment to impact through our research, products and our Real Impact Awards.
Real Impact
Research that has real world impact goes beyond citation counts and makes a difference. It’s about communities joining together to find solutions that result in positive change.
We refer to impact as the provable effects of research in the real world. We appreciate it’s not always easy for academics and researchers to see the impact of their work. That’s why we’ve launched ‘Real Impact’ to aid the cause and call on research communities to come together and break down barriers.
Committed to creating real impact
Sustainable Development Goals
We publish research that challenges conventional thinking and delivers real impact in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Explore our content in these key areas.
Transparent, accessible products
We are committed to offering transparent, accessible products that ensures the right content goes to the right people, at the right time.
Supporting all forms of open research
We are passionate about supporting all forms of open research and aim to make research more discoverable and accessible to all.
Impact resources
What counts as impact?
The word impact is used in many ways across the national and international research sector. For Emerald, and for many key partners, impact is the provable effects of research in the real world.
Institutional Healthcheck Workbook
This workbook is designed to help institutions consider how ‘healthy’ they are in terms of supporting and generating impact, and identify how they can improve it.
Impact Literacy Workbook
This workbook is designed to help individuals think through some of the key aspects of impact and to help develop skills in impact planning.
Demonstrating the real impact of research
We believe our role is to help researchers tell their story in a more meaningful way. Read some examples of the true impact of research in the real world.
Real Impact is reducing environmental impacts in the tourism industry
The rise of travel during the last six decades has increased employment and boosted GDP, but the effect on the environment has been catastrophic.
Real Impact is helping disadvantaged groups access fresh, local food
Our global food system is broken and, without change, it will continue to negatively impact health, trade, the economy and the environment.
Real Impact is protecting children across the digital universe
As young people spend more unsupervised time online, their risk of encountering inappropriate content and cyberbullying has increased.
Real Impact is improving prospects for young girls in rural communities
In India, where men dominate, the promised land of gender equality is hard enough in cities, let alone rural areas.
Real Impact Awards
Our Real Impact Awards celebrate the commitment to impact by the research community across the globe.
Real Impact Advisory Board
Implemented in 2018, Emerald’s Impact Advisory Board was established to support the research community and help us play a key role in furthering the impact agenda. The Impact Advisory Board works to bring our communities together and break down the barriers to real-world change.
The Impact Advisory Board includes representatives from all areas of the research community, who contribute their understanding and perspectives to foster diverse and varying discussions on the impact debate.
Real impact blogs
We believe everyone can make a real impact – read our blogs or join our conversations and help bring your research to life. Together we can make a difference.
Role of digital technology in sustainability
Janos Korn, retired from the Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics, Middlesex University, London, considers the role of digital…
29th February 2024
Publisher’s pick: Our top 10 ICE Publishing articles of 2023
Benjamin Ramster, journals commissioning editor of ICE Publishing, highlights 10 of the most downloaded articles of 2023.
7th December 2023
Learning to level-up? Taking action to supporting working-class boys in education
Dr Alex Blower discusses taking action to support working-class boys in education.
29th November 2023
When the intangible becomes tangible: how volunteering with large scale arts programmes can be a tool for empowerment
Jessica Whitfield, Ulster University, Belfast, discusses how volunteering with large scale arts programmes can be a tool for empowerment.
24th November 2023
Are interpersonal volunteer activities really effective in enhancing the well-being of seniors?
Kunio Shirahada, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Alan Wilson, University of Strathclyde discuss if activities are effective…
24th November 2023
The power of volunteerism
George Wright, The Big Life Group, discusses the power of volunteerism.
24th November 2023
Making a difference: volunteering to combat plastic pollution in your community: a case study from Africa.
Adeniyi Toyin Funmilayo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, discusses volunteering to combat plastic pollution in your community.
23rd November 2023
Volunteerism for a fairer society
Professor Wendy M. Purcell discusses volunteering as a central to achieving a fairer society.
23rd November 2023
Applying research on learning: Self Managed Learning
In this blog, Dr. Ian Cunningham discusses the creation of the Self Managed Learning College, which caters to young people ages 9 to 16.
21st November 2023
Building a platform for global teaching competencies to advance equitable education in diverse classrooms
Dr Joyce Pittman highlights the impacts of the research, including the launch of a five-year research study on developing teachers' global teaching…
7th November 2023
We are proud to drive positive change. We aim to deliver real impact. We care about doing the right things to build a better, more sustainable future for all.
Related topics
Our stance
Whether it’s the future of research assessment, open access or finding new ways make research be more accessible & discoverable, we want to influence positive change.
Our commitment
Being a responsible business is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in taking responsibility and working collaboratively with our partners, communities and colleagues to make a positive impact on a local and global scale.