Research Impact Award

The University of Victoria's Impact Research Award recognizes and celebrates scholars who maximize the real-world impact of academic research for the public good by turning research, scholarship and evidence into action. This award recognizes a significant project, product, event, service or body of work beyond academia that demonstrates excellence in impact to a community. The University of Victoria defines impact as the purposeful communication, exchange and application of knowledge developed through an ongoing process of research, scholarship and/or creative and artistic endeavour that contribute to broader societal outcomes (e.g., changed thinking, understanding, practice or behaviour).

Eligibility

University of Victoria faculty, emeritus faculty and librarians are eligible for this award.

We encourage nominations that reflect the diversity of researchers on our campus.

Selection guidelines

The selection committee interprets "research" as the advancement of knowledge through the intentional process of study, discovery, engagement, innovation and creative expression.

The committee will consider differences among nominees’ achievements, including the various outputs and outcomes in their respective scientific, artistic and scholarly disciplines. It may confidentially consult with experts in these disciplines. Moreover, it may elect to move a nominee to another award category.

The committee may decide not to make the full number of awards in any year depending on the quality and/or number of nominations available. It also reserves the right to make joint awards and/or to confer two awards in a category.

Nomination components

Please submit your nomination through the online form. All nomination materials must be combined into a single PDF, with each section clearly titled for ease of review.

Nomination letter

One signed 1-page statement (Maximum one page, 12-point font, 2.5 cm margins, including letter head if used) from a tenured UVic faculty member or librarian expressing the following components:

1. Descriptions of one or more specific activities that exemplify excellence relevant to this award.
2. Awards, honours, long-term community relationships and other forms of recognition. These might include (but are not limited to) exhibitions; research, creative or research-creation grants; invited presentations; election to boards; prizes.
3. A description of how the nominee’s work advances scholarship and/or art, and what the impact of the work is (long-term outcomes or effects (potential or realized) that take the form of changed thinking, understanding, practices and behaviours, scholarly, communal or societal).

Referee letter

One signed 1-page letter (Maximum one page, 12-point font, 2.5 cm margins, including letter head if used) from a UVic-associated campus community member (faculty, librarian, staff or student). 

The referee can have collaborated with the nominee, but they must disclose the nature of their relationship with the nominee and comment on any possible conflict of interest. To avoid redundancy in information, please send your letter of support to the primary nominator for submission. The letter must express the following components:

1. Explanation of relationship with the nominee
2. Description of how the nominee meets the requirements for the award

Reflective statement

A 1-page self-reflective statement from the nominee describing why they do the work they do and what its significance is. Nominees are also encouraged to reflect on how their scholarship supports or aligns with relevant institutional plans, such as Aspiration 2030, Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈIST, and/or Distinctly UVic (max. one page, 12-point font, 2.5 cm margins).

Curriculum vitae

A narrative CV, following the Tri-Agency guidelines. The maximum length is 5 pages.

• Tri-Agency narrative CV template and instructions

Biography of the nominee

This will be used to brief the adjudicators and for promotional purposes if the nominee is the successful candidate. (100 words maximum.)

Recognition

This award includes a $1,000 research grant; funds must be used within 18 months of the award notification. Recipients will receive their awards at the annual REACH Awards ceremony in April, 2027.
The awards will be publicized across campus.