The SGSSS Impact Competition aims to champion a culture of creating meaningful impact across the SGSSS student community and the wider public.
The competition gives all Social Science PhD students across Scotland an opportunity to:
1 Reflect on how their research can make a meaningful difference beyond their own research field.
2 Inspire further impact, through follow-on funding for winning projects.
What counts as ‘impact’?
The SGSSS defines impact using the terms of the ESRC, as the “demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy”. Impact is what comes from engaging collaboratively with different stakeholders about your research.
For the purposes of the SGSSS Impact Competition, this can include:
- An effect on, change or benefit to society and the economy. This includes a positive change on the activity, awareness, behaviour, capacity, opportunity, performance, policy, practice, process or understanding of key beneficiaries;
- The positive academic contribution that excellent research can make to the understanding and advancement of scientific method or theory across disciplines.
Who is eligible?
There are two categories, depending on your year of study. Any PhD social scientist in Scotland is eligible to apply for the relevant category, no matter how your research is funded.
- Planned impact: This is designed to showcase potential impact, based on your pathway to impact. This category is open for students in their first year of study (or part time equivalent).
- Achieved impact: This is designed to showcase impact that has already been achieved, at least in part. This category is open for students in their second or third year of study (or part time equivalent).
What does the competition involve?
There are two stages to the application process.
Round one: A written application which is assessed by an expert panel.
Round two: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to create a poster and video which will be displayed online and opened to a public vote to decide the winners.
Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to the annual SGSSS Collaboration Showcase at the Royal Society of Edinburgh where the winners will be announced.
Please only submit an application if you are able to commit to participating in both stages of the application process. Click here for the competition guidelines
SGSSS Impact Competition 2025
The SGSSS Impact Competition aims to champion a culture of creating meaningful impact across the SGSSS student community and the wider public.
The competition gives all Social Science PhD students across Scotland an opportunity to:
1 Reflect on how their research can make a meaningful difference beyond their own research field.
2 Inspire further impact, through follow-on funding for winning projects.
What counts as ‘impact’?
The SGSSS defines impact using the terms of the ESRC, as the “demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy”. Impact is what comes from engaging collaboratively with different stakeholders about your research.
For the purposes of the SGSSS Impact Competition, this can include:
- An effect on, change or benefit to society and the economy. This includes a positive change on the activity, awareness, behaviour, capacity, opportunity, performance, policy, practice, process or understanding of key beneficiaries;
- The positive academic contribution that excellent research can make to the understanding and advancement of scientific method or theory across disciplines.
Who is eligible?
There are two categories, depending on your year of study. Any PhD social scientist in Scotland is eligible to apply for the relevant category, no matter how your research is funded.
- Planned impact: This is designed to showcase potential impact, based on your pathway to impact. This category is open for students in their first year of study (or part time equivalent).
- Achieved impact: This is designed to showcase impact that has already been achieved, at least in part. This category is open for students in their second or third year of study (or part time equivalent).
What does the competition involve?
There are two stages to the application process.
Round one: A written application which is assessed by an expert panel.
Round two: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to create a poster and video which will be displayed online and opened to a public vote to decide the winners.
Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to the annual SGSSS Collaboration Showcase at the Royal Society of Edinburgh where the winners will be announced.
Please only submit an application if you are able to commit to participating in both stages of the application process. Click here for the competition guidelines