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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
  • About us
    • Governance
    • Challenge-Led Pathways
    • Units of Assessment (UoAs)
    • Case studies
    • Our Year in Review
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Complaints
  • Current Students
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      • Summer School
      • Spring into Methods
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      • Training Event Funds
      • Challenge Pathways Cohort Fund
    • Internships
    • Mentoring
    • Research Impact Competition
    • Student Handbook
    • Meet Our Students
    • Meet Our Fellows
    • Expenses Policy
  • Prospective Students and Fellows
    • Studentships
      • Overview
      • Supervisor-led Studentship Opportunities
      • Student-led Open Competition 2024/25
      • Eligibility
    • Fellowships
  • Supervisors
    • Supervisor Eligibility
    • Steers Competition 2025/26
    • Open Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Skills Development Scotland Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Spring into Methods
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SGSSS Impact Competition 2025

How to apply for the Impact Competition 2025

Showcase your planned or achieved impact for the chance to win £500!

The SGSSS Impact Competition aims to champion a culture of creating meaningful impact across the SGSSS student community and the wider public.

The competition is open to all Social Science PhD students across Scotland, no matter how your research is funded.
There are two categories, depending on your year of study

  • Planned impact: This is designed to showcase potential impact, based on your pathway to impact. This category is open for students in their first year of study (or part time equivalent).
  • Achieved impact: This is designed to showcase impact that has already been achieved, at least in part. This category is open for students in their second or third year of study (or part time equivalent).

The application process for Impact Competition 2025 is online using SGSSS Apply. To apply for either the planned or achieved impact categories. There are two stages to the application process.

  • Round one:  A written application which is assessed by an expert panel.
  • Round two: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to create a poster and video which will be displayed online and opened to a public vote to decide the winners.

Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to the annual SGSSS Collaboration Showcase at the Royal Society of Edinburgh where the winners will be announced.

Please only submit an application if you are able to commit to participating in both stages of the application process.

Full details are available in the competition guidelines. 

Click here to apply for Impact Competition 2025
Click here for Impact Competition 2025 Guidelines

Impact Competition 2025 Timeline

7 March 2025
Impact Competition Opens for Round One Applications
7 March 2025
24 March 2025
Round one application deadline
24 March 2025
14 April 2025
Shortlisted applicants notified and invited to create poster and video
14 April 2025
30 April 2025
Deadline to return posters and videos for round two
30 April 2025
2 May 2025
Public vote opens
2 May 2025
14 May 2025
Winners announced at Collaboration and Impact Showcase 2024
14 May 2025

We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 SGSSS Impact Competition

The SGSSS Impact Competition celebrates “the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy”. PhD researchers submit examples of the impact that they have created, or plan to create, through their work. 

The finalists created videos and posters which were put to a public vote and SGSSS received almost 2000 public votes to help us identify the winners. You can see the details of all the shortlisted candidates below.

The winners announced at our annual Collaboration and Impact Showcase event at RSE, Edinburgh are: 

Winner Planned Impact: Jenna Gilmartin, University of Strathclyde 

Jenna’s project “Sorry We Missed You: The Unheard Voices of Independent Retail Gig Economy Delivery Workers” aims to amplify the voices of independent retail delivery workers in the gig economy. By investigating the workers’ experiences and expectations, this study seeks to highlight the precarious nature of their work and advocate for improved conditions and rights. 

Voters said: “A very timely area of research in urgent need of addressing”, “Gig economy workers need to be heard!” 

Winner Achieved Impact: Winifred Maduko, University of St Andrews 

Winifred’s work, “Grassroot Interventions for Antibiotic Stewardship and Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria”, exemplifies how participatory research can create meaningful public health impact. Through community co-production, media engagement, and policy influence, the project has transformed AMR awareness and behaviour in Enugu, Nigeria. 

Voters said: “Incredible wide-ranging impact on a worldwide problem”, “This project brings social science into global health conversations”. 

The winners each receive a £500 prize which could support their ongoing impact. Huge congratulations to our winners, and to all the shortlisted candidates. 

Category 1: Planned Impact​

Jenna Gilmartin

University of Strathclyde

Working Title: "Sorry We Missed You: The Unheard Voices of Independent Retail Gig Economy Delivery Workers"

Chloe Rebecca Ezou

University of Stirling

Understanding the health and wellbeing of people involved with community justice in Scotland

Chithramali Rodrigo

University of Aberdeen

Workplace menopause toolkit based on lived experiences

Rhoda Jiang

University of Edinburgh

Going Further: A Critical Examination of Social Work’s Involvement in Preventing Youth Homelessness in Scotland

Category 2: Achieved Impact​

Winifred Maduko

University of St Andrews

Grassroots Interventions for Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Stewardship in Nigeria

Claire Stainfield

Scotland’s Rural College

Balancing Wildlife and Tourism: Exploring and Understanding Seal Tourism at Newburgh Seal Beach, Aberdeenshire

Eilidh Lamb

University of Edinburgh

Creating Spaces for Children to Feel Seen and Heard: The Use of Space and Design in the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose

Martina Lippi

University of Glasgow

Negotiating inclusive early careers and the virtual workplace: Diminishing or increasing the disability divide?

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