How do you align your research goals and activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Education is a fundamental human right and a key driver of sustainable development. Access to quality education is essential for individuals to achieve their full potential and for societies to thrive. My work mainly examines the role of international education in achieving SDG 4 and how it contributes to other SDGs. SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. International education encompasses a wide range of educational activities that involve cross-border movement of students, teachers, and knowledge. It plays a critical role in achieving SDG 4 by providing access to quality education to people who would otherwise not have such opportunities.

I do research on renewable energy materials for solar PV and related energy sensing technologies. It can support clean environment by lessening emission that is good for people health and it is related to SDG-3. Then sustainable energy purpose renewable energy is top priority as green energy and economy that is related to SDG-7. The environmental emission lessening approaches for net zero emission are related to reduce CO2 in the environment that is ultimately reduces global worming. It is a part of climate action as SDG-13.

Identifying the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for your research topic is simple! First, look at the 17 SDGs and see which ones match with what you're studying. For example, if you're researching clean water access, SDG 6 is a perfect fit. If your topic is about ending hunger, then SDG 2 is the one for you. Just find the goal that best matches what you're working on, and you're on your way to making a positive impact on the world!

Understanding which SDGs are most closely focused is a common research question or problem. For instance, a study on water purification technology might directly relate to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).By this researchers can make sure that their work advances knowledge in their specific field but also contributes to the meaningful goals of sustainable development.

You can align your research with UN Sustainable Development Goals by addressing key SDG areas such as poverty reduction, economic growth, and financial inclusion etc.

Some scientometric developments have helped to classify scientific publications at the paper level and map them to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Such mappings can be found via platforms like InCites Benchmarking & Analytics. One could start with the research topic and see how it relates to SDGs. However, it is worth noting that SDG mappings have recently triggered some scepticism among the scientometricians. So, such mappings should be used cautiously to justify the alignment of research with SDGs.

Academic impact indicators are measures that assess the contribution of research to the advancement of knowledge and scholarship. The following are some examples of academic impact indicators that could be used for international education research: Citation Metrics, Publication Metrics, Collaborations, Grants and Funding. Societal impact indicators are measures that assess the contribution of research to the well-being and development of society and the environment. The following are some examples of societal impact indicators that could be used for international education research: Policy Impact, Practice Impact, Social impact, and Environmental Impact.

Defining your research impact indicators is easy! Start by thinking about what changes you want to see because of your research. For example, if you're studying education, maybe you want to see more kids going to school. Your impact indicator could be the number of children enrolled in school before and after your research. Or if you're looking at health, maybe you want to see fewer people getting sick. Your indicator could be the decrease in the number of reported illnesses. Just choose a clear and measurable way to track the changes you hope your research will make in the world!

Research and Societal impact are difficult to define and measure. However, for assessment purposes, normalized citation metrics such as the Category Normalized Citation Impact (CNCI) can help benchmark one researcher's oeuvre with peers' based on their citations.

Communicating research impact effectively is crucial for ensuring that research findings are accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including policymakers, practitioners, and the public. Researchers should use a range of communication tools and platforms to reach different audiences, such as social media, blogs, podcasts, and infographics. It is important to use clear and engaging language, and to provide evidence-based narratives and case studies to illustrate the impact of the research on achieving the SDGs. By communicating research impact effectively, researchers can ensure that their work has a wider reach and can contribute to positive change in society.

Use clear and accessible language to communicate how your research aligns with and contributes to specific SDGs. Share findings through diverse channels, reaching both academic and non-academic audiences.

Communicating your research impact effectively is important! First, know your audience. Make sure you're speaking in a way they understand, whether it's policymakers, community members, or fellow researchers. Use simple language and clear examples to explain how your research is making a difference. Visual aids like graphs or infographics can also help get your point across. Share your findings through presentations, articles, or social media to reach a wider audience. And don't forget to listen! Be open to feedback and questions to make sure your message is getting through loud and clear.

Collaborating with other researchers and stakeholders is critical for achieving meaningful and sustainable impact on the SDGs. By joining or creating networks, consortia, or partnerships, researchers can pool their expertise and resources, share data and best practices, and identify gaps and opportunities for future research. Collaborating with end-users, beneficiaries, or intermediaries of research can also help to ensure that the research is relevant, applicable, and responsive to the needs and priorities of the communities it aims to serve. Involving these stakeholders in the design, implementation, or evaluation of research can enhance the quality and relevance of the research, also foster greater ownership and impact in the long term.

Collaboration with other sectors such as the industry or patenting activities are also elements to consider to justify one's contribution to the development of society beyond scientific papers.

Collaborating with other researchers and stakeholders is a great way to make your research more impactful! Start by reaching out to experts in your field who share similar goals. Together, you can combine your knowledge and resources to tackle big challenges more effectively. Don't forget about stakeholders like community members, NGOs, and policymakers—they often have valuable insights and can help you understand real-world needs. Communication and teamwork are key, so be open to different perspectives and ideas. By working together, you can achieve more and create positive change that benefits everyone involved!

Reflecting on research ethics and sustainability is crucial for ensuring that research aligns with the principles and values of the SDGs. Researchers should prioritize the protection of human and environmental rights, dignity, and diversity in all aspects of research, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. This means adhering to ethical principles such as informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and minimizing harm. Sustainability is important to consider in research, as it involves the responsible use of resources and minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Researchers can reduce their environmental footprint by adopting sustainable practices such as reducing waste

✓Consider the ethical implications of your research and ensure alignment with sustainability principles. ✓Strive for environmentally responsible research practices and evaluate the long-term ethical implications of your work.

Reflecting on your research ethics and sustainability is crucial for doing good work that helps without harming. Start by considering the potential impacts of your research on people, the environment, and society as a whole. Ask yourself tough questions about who might benefit from your work and who might be disadvantaged. Make sure you're treating all participants with respect and protecting their privacy and rights. Think about the long-term effects of your research—are you promoting practices that are sustainable and environmentally friendly? Be transparent about your methods and findings, and be willing to adapt your approach if you discover unintended consequences.

Learning from your research impact evaluation is essential! Take time to review the results and identify what worked well and what didn't. Celebrate successes and use them to inform future projects. Pay attention to any unexpected outcomes or unintended consequences, and adjust your approach accordingly. By continuously learning and improving, you can maximize the positive impact of your research on the world.

Learning from research impact evaluation is crucial for improving research practice and impact. By monitoring and documenting research impact indicators throughout the research cycle, researchers can assess their progress and achievements and identify areas for improvement. This information can then be used to refine research methods, adjust interventions, and optimize outcomes. Sharing results and lessons learned with peers, funders, and stakeholders can also promote transparency, accountability, and learning within the research community. By seeking input and suggestions for future research directions and collaborations, researchers can further enhance the relevance, rigor, and impact of their research.

✓Gather data on the various dimensions of your research impact. ✓Analyze the collected data to assess the extent and nature of your research impact. ✓Solicit feedback from diverse stakeholders, including collaborators, peers, and impacted communities. ✓Use the findings from your impact evaluation as a basis for adaptation and improvement.

One consideration in research for SDGs is the importance of community engagement and participatory approaches. By involving community members in research design, data collection, and analysis, researchers can better understand community needs, challenges, and perspectives. This can lead to more culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate interventions that are more likely to be adopted and sustained by the community. Community engagement can also foster trust, transparency, and reciprocity between researchers and the community, which is essential for ensuring ethical and sustainable research practices

Na minha experiência os ODS são uma validação para quem sempre lutou para que os determinantes sociais fossem relevantes para a medicina e para a pesquisa científica da área. Antes os mesmos pareciam ser uma visão unilateral de pesquisadores pessoalmente afetados ou afetivamente motivados pelos Direitos Humanos.