What exactly is research uptake? A lot has been said and written about the concept, much of it by academics, and still it confounds people, even those whose everyday work is tied up with it. Late last year, we featured a series of blogs written by Jeff Knezovich about obstacles to research uptake, the first of which sets out what is meant when we talk about research uptake, explaining also how the concept has evolved over the years. The name may be relatively new,

Two central themes dominated a recent symposium held by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). The Poverty of Politics Research and Pro-Poor Policymaking symposium was held in November at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.

This is the fourth and final blog in the series on the challenges faced by practitioners of Research Uptake. In Part I we explored the concept of Research Uptake, in Part II, we examined challenges that exist at systemic level and in in Part III, we looked at institutional barriers to Research Uptake. This blog deals with individual barriers to Research Uptake. Please let us have your comments.

This is the third in a four-part blog series on the challenges faced by practitioners of Research Uptake. In Part I we explored the concept of Research Uptake and in Part II, we explored challenges that exist in the field at systemic level. In this third blog, we examine institutional barriers to Research Uptake.

This is the second in a four-part blog on the challenges faced by practitioners of Research Uptake. In Part I we explored the concept of Research Uptake and how the term had developed over the years. In this second part, we take a closer look at challenges that present themselves at systemic level in the field.

This is the first in a four-part blog series on the challenges faced by practitioners of Research Uptake. The first blog looks at the concept of Research Uptake. Where did the term originate and how did it evolve?

There are many terms used to describe the processes by which knowledge generated through research finds its way to those who need it—be they practitioners (health workers, farmers, engineers, community workers) or policymakers in government and other agencies. The terms “research communication”, “research dissemination” and “research utilisation” (or “research into use”) are familiar in the university and development research sectors.

Understanding Research Uptake: Research Uptake is a relatively new and emerging field in which the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) acts as a thought leader and advocate. DRUSSA has developed the concept of Research Uptake Management as a logical and necessary evolution. Working definitions are needed to bound the scope of the field in order to incorporate it as a practical, systematic management function in research institutions.

Research Uptake Management (RUM) is a process to systematically manage the research cycle from conception to utilisation with the purpose of getting research findings to the audience(s) for whom they are intended. It is usually research that is intended to have practical application while being underpinned by scientifically validated evidence.

Research uptake is the process whereby research findings enter the domains of intended but also unintended audiences. It is a complex process as the audiences can be multiple (practitioners, policymakers, scholars, general public, etc.); the notion of “uptake”—which corresponds to “utilisation”—can assume different meanings (being aware of findings, quoting findings, implementing findings, etc.); and a variety of modes exist whereby research can reach user audiences (via publications, brokers, media campaigns, workshops, etc.).

The University of Nairobi has adopted an open access policy to research articles and other academic material produced by its staff, and simultaneously launched an open access repository. The ACU and INASP collaborated to produce the article Enhancing the Visibility and Accessibility of Research: Demystifying and Promoting Open Access at the University of Nairobi in which Agatha Kabagu, Deputy University Librarian (Planning), University of Nairobi Library, details the reasoning behind the new policy and the steps taken to put it in place.