LSSI and RIS Impact Acceleration Account Showcase

Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI) and the Research and Innovation Service (RIS) teams recently hosted a joint showcase event, welcoming colleagues from across the university to explore how Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) funding has enhanced a diverse range of research projects.

The event featured presentations from holders of IAA funding from various councils, including ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, and BBSRC, highlighting the breadth of research supported through IAA funding.  Attendees had the opportunity to network with presenters over refreshments and learn more about the application and impact of the funding.

Guest speakers shared insights into their IAA-funded projects, demonstrating how the funding facilitated their translation and impact activities.  Each session concluded with a Q&A segment, allowing attendees to engage directly with the presenters.

Featured Projects and Speakers

Dr. Desy Ayu Pirmasari, School of Geography

• Project: Kayuh Baimbai: Co-designing a Diffability-Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Toolkit
• Summary: Dr. Pirmasari developed a co-designed toolkit to enhance disaster preparedness and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Initiatives such as placing stickers on houses to indicate residents with disabilities and providing emergency information cards have significantly improved emergency response efficiency.

Dr. Paula Avello, School of Mathematics

• Project: Co-developing Argentinian Policy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Summary: Dr. Avello's interdisciplinary research applies mathematical models to validate experiments and generate hypotheses, informing experimental design. Her presentation emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary work and fostering new collaborations to drive real-world change.

Professor Mark Davis, School of Sociology and Social Policy

• Project: Evaluating the Impact of the Leeds 'Retrofit Accelerator Hub’
• Summary: Professor Davis evaluated the launch of the 'Retrofit Accelerator Hub,' which aims to scale retrofit efforts to meet Net Zero objectives. The project navigated challenges and established new partnerships with national and local authorities.

Professor Anna Madill, School of Psychology

• Project: Drug Rehabilitation Work with Young People in Assam
• Summary: Professor Madill developed a 'Pathways to Recovery' model, conveying complex journeys of older participants. Educational materials, including an animation, were created to support the project.  You can read the LSSI case study on Anna here.

Professor Rory O’Connor, School of Medicine

• Project: CueX for Rehabilitation for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease
• Summary: Professor O'Connor demonstrated the feasibility of cue-based exercise delivered via an augmented reality system for home use by individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The project proved the system's benefits and secured further funding, with hopes for NHS adoption.

Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira, School of Politics and International Studies

• Project: Embedding Diversity and Inclusion in Petitioning Parliament
• Summary: Professor Leston-Bandeira's project investigated how seldom-heard groups engage with political petitioning. Co-designed with the UK and Welsh parliaments, the project aimed to make political engagement more inclusive.

Dr. Nishant Ravikumar, School of Computer Science

• Project: Adsilico: A Computational Medicine Spinout
• Summary: Dr. Ravikumar co-founded Adsilico Ltd., a university spinout pushing innovation in in-silico trials for medical devices. IAA funding helped realize the founders' vision.

Dr. Paula Clarke, School of Education, and Dr. Hannah Nash, School of Psychology

• Project: Co-designing a Reading App for Primary Education (CREATE)
• Summary: Dr. Clarke and Dr. Nash developed a prototype app for dynamic assessment of reading skills, offering a more inclusive alternative to traditional tests. The project aims to help children engage with text and experience meaningful reading.

For more information on how your research could benefit from IAA funding, please visit the LSSI IAA webpages or the RIS website.