To become an impact-driven university, it is important that there is a common understanding of societal impact. Therefore, the Impact Dialogue Kick-Off takes place on June 2. This is the first of a series in which EUR and Erasmus MC colleagues share insights on creating social impact in their daily work. Speakers at the kick-off include Prof. Dirk Schoenmaker, Prof. Eveline Crone, Prof. Inge Hutter and Prof. Vincent Jaddoe. The latter shares his vision of impact in this interview.
What does impact mean to you?
"What matters to me is that we, from an academic centre such as Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, do research that is truly meaningful for the people of Rotterdam and at large; it is about making a difference. We are conducting a large longitudinal health study (Generation R) in which we follow thousands of participants, starting from the time before a woman becomes pregnant, and then following the children for almost twenty years. We are investigating what factors cause one child to grow up healthy while another does not. The goal is really to positively influence the health of future generations and in this way, we can make a difference to the city."
When can you say that, as a researcher, you have 'made a difference'?
"That's a good question. Whether or not children are becoming healthier depends, of course, on other factors in society. It is therefore a process of continuous further thought and research. For example, our first research project (Generation R) showed that the pre-pregnancy phase and the health of the parents are very important for the health of a child. Ultimately, that research result contributed to the establishment of preconception consultations in the Netherlands. It will take more time to measure the positive effects of these consultations; translating research into practice always takes time. But where it used to be normal for a woman to visit a midwife at around 12 weeks, and she would say: 'You'd better stop smoking' - now, thanks to the research, we can say at a much earlier stage: stop before you get pregnant, because it has an impact."
Is it true that not every research project can have this kind of impact on society?
"That is correct. Not all scientific projects make an immediate difference. I have a background in biomedical research: in that field, impact is sometimes quickly apparent. If you test medication on children with respiratory problems, you can quickly see whether it works or not. But there are also researchers who study variations in the DNA of asthma patients. That research has no direct impact at all, but it is certainly important because it could lead to a new drug in the future or a new theory. Both social and scientific impact are therefore very important."
"I dare say that societal impact can only be achieved through intensive collaboration."
What is the most important ingredient for achieving impact-driven research like yours?
"Collaboration is crucial. In our research, we work with the municipality of Rotterdam, midwives and health centres: we follow pregnant women and children throughout Rotterdam, in all sectors of the population. In addition, we share research results with policy-makers, both locally and nationally. In addition, I believe that you can only make a difference if you bring different scientific disciplines together. For example, in the case of prevention: we can state that a certain behaviour affects the health of a (future) child, but then you need behavioural disciplines to investigate how you can actually change behaviour. And you need to find out which measures are cost-effective, and which are not. Social impact is only possible, I dare say, through interdisciplinary research and intensive cooperation."
More information about the research: https://generationr.nl/next/
More info about the Impact Dialogue kick-off: https://www.eur.nl/en/events/impact-dialogue-kick-2021-06-02
