Impact, innovation, and the public humanities: evaluating the societal impact of research in the United Kingdom

This chapter addresses two interrelated terms - “impact” and “innovation”. The chapter argues that understanding the effects and influences of these terms is vital in capturing a contemporary picture of the evaluation of the societal relevance of SSH within the UK higher education system. First, in analysing the REF’s implementation of the impact criterion, the chapter illuminates how the mundane operations of research evaluation are directly implicated in systemic valuation of SSH research. Second, in addressing the rise of innovation, the chapter describes an emerging eco-system of business engagement and entrepreneurialism within the contemporary British university. Taking the case study of creative industries research, this chapter details the growing body of academic research engaged with triple-helix models of knowledge creation. Examining current flagship research projects reveals how national funding bodies are encouraging and incentivising SSH scholars to adopt new professional identities. I conclude with an alternative model, introducing the field of the public humanities.