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High-quality, multidisciplinary research is crucial for addressing societal challenges in today's complex global landscape. At the same time, researchers are facing more and more pressures, which may make contemplating the societal impact of their research more challenging.

Recognising this, capacity-building activities need to evolve to support researchers who wish to participate in the science-policy interface. The activities need to reflect better the changing nature of science advice, as well as the challenges related to it. We at the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters have identified five areas to start with when developing new approaches to support researchers’ competencies.

1.    Beyond science communication 

Traditionally, efforts to enhance researchers' engagement with policy-makers have focused primarily on improving their science communication skills. Universities have offered courses on public speaking and social media engagement, as well as media training. While these skills remain valuable, there's a growing recognition that these skills alone are insufficient for navigating the complexities of the current science-policy interface.

Indeed, a new wave of capacity-building seems to be emerging. These new researchers’ competencies go beyond science communication. An increasing number of organisations offer comprehensive training for researchers engaging with policy-makers. These trainings challenge the linear mindset that limits impact to mere dissemination of findings. Instead, they tend to encourage researchers to build continuous dialogue with policy-makers.

2.    Localising capacity-building materials 

While several organisations have developed valuable resources to support researchers in engaging in the science-policy interface (e.g., the JRC's Competency Framework, and the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center's Workbooks), it's crucial to recognise that the interface varies significantly across different contexts.

For instance, Finland's science-policy landscape is characterised by a diverse range of actors with a relatively low level of hierarchy. This means, for example, that researchers can directly contact policy-makers, unlike in other more institutionalised contexts. Recognising this, we at the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters developed the Researcher's Handbook on Science-for-Policy, which tailors existing materials to our local context.

3.    Strategic approach to impact

Being a researcher can be tough, as it comes with pressure to succeed in academia. Because of that, contemplating the societal impact of one’s research and contributing to policy-making might seem overwhelming and burdensome. Acknowledging this is the starting point for improving researchers’ engagement in the science-policy interface.

That is why we have started to emphasise a strategic approach to impact. Essentially it means identifying methods of engagement that are both personally meaningful as well as effective. It involves recognising researchers’ strengths and interests, identifying key players in the field, setting clear goals, and choosing the most effective way(s) to interact. Thus, it starts from the recognition that no one size fits all, but that everyone can find their way to engage.

4.    Interactive and practical support

While writing the Researcher’s Handbook, we recognised that there are few resources (at least nationally) that provide interactive and practical support to researchers. That’s why we created a handbook that indeed offers interactive tools and reflective prompts to guide researchers to think about their own impact pathways.

It is encouraging to notice that the interactive tools have received the most positive feedback. For example, the Societal Interaction Plan, which guides the researcher to think about their societal impact pathway, has been the most sought-after part of the handbook.

5.    From individuals to collectives

Efforts to improve researchers’ capacities to engage in societal discussion have tended to emphasise individual activities, such as social media activity, writing blogs, building personal connections with policy-makers et cetera. While individual efforts are important, societal impact should not be seen as a solitary endeavour of an individual researcher.

Indeed, success in impact work lies in collaboration. That is why we have highlighted the importance of leveraging collectives, essentially making use of one’s networks. Working together with others can improve the effectiveness of impact work, but also make the journey more enjoyable and take away some of the pressures of an individual researcher.

To encourage researchers from academic disciplines to participate at the science-policy interface, the tools and resources supporting researchers also need to evolve. We hope to continue the conversation of what the next generation of capacity-building means for the next generation of researchers. 
  

Linda Lammensalo and Jaakko Kuosmanen

Finnish Academy of Science and Letters