Impact Culture: Transforming How Universities Tackle Twenty First Century Challenges

New ways of doing research are needed to tackle the deep interconnected nature twenty first century challenges, like climate change, obesity, and entrenched social economic inequalities. While impact agenda has been shaping culture, this largely driven by imperatives, leading a range negative unintended consequences. Alternative approaches engage researchers in pursuit global but little is known about role cultures, how more or less healthy “impact cultures” might be characterized, factors that shape these cultures. We therefore develop definition, conceptual framework, typology explain different types culture cultures may transformed empower co-produce action can societal challenges with relevant stakeholders publics. A new way thinking support societally research. propose are: (i) based on rigorous, ethical, action-oriented research; (ii) underpinned individual shared purpose, identities, values who create meaning together as they generate from their work; (iii) facilitate multiple sub-cultures among complementary communities stakeholders, which porous dynamic, enabling work where needs interests intersect, build trust connection attend norms power; (iv) enabled sufficient capacity, including skills, resources, leadership, strategic, learning capacity. Based framework we identify four culture: corporate culture; “and impact” individualistic co-productive culture. conclude arguing for bottom-up transformation moving away top-down strategies plans toward change themselves participatory address challenges.