Congratulations to Emma Margaret Currie, SRUC and Elle Scott, University of Glasgow – SGSSS Impact Competition 2026 winners
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, who were announced at our annual Collaboration and Impact Showcase event at RSE, Edinburgh.
Winner Planned Impact: Emma Margaret Currie, SRUC
Emma’s project “ Addressing workforce shortages in the care economy in rural and island areas of Scotland ” aims to generate evidence on how rural and island communities in Scotland understand, experience, and sustain their local care economies amid workforce pressures and demographic change.
Voters said: “ This project tackles a critical, under‑researched policy challenge with clear real‑world consequences, using an inclusive, participatory approach”
Winner Achieved Impact: Elle Scott, University of Glasgow
Elle’s work, “Success, hope and adulthood: A participatory action research study with young people with experience of care in Dumfries and Galloway,” has contributed to shifts in professional thinking and extends critical youth studies by deepening understanding of how marginalised young people live and negotiate transitions to adulthood. The participatory action research project worked with young people as co-researchers with power over how their stories were created and shared, critically analysing and challenging problematic discourse and system-led constructions of successful adulthood.
Voters said: “Elle’s study is extremely timely and relevant, and her methods relate to the inclusive nature of the topic. She speaks with a lot of passion about her topic area”.
The winners each receive a £500 prize, which could support their ongoing impact. Huge congratulations to our winners and to all the shortlisted candidates.
