Impact Showcase Awards 2027

Celebrating people, partnerships and impact connected to longitudinal population studies

Awards at a glance 

• Awards launch: 2 October 2026
• Application deadline: 27 November 2026 4:00pm UK time
• Review panel: December 2026
• Three finalists selected: December 2026
• Multimedia development and showcase support: January – April 2027
• Showcase launch at PRUK Conference: May 2027
• Overall winner announcement: May 2027

Last updated: 2 October 2026

About the awards

Population Research UK (PRUK) is delighted to launch the Impact Showcase Awards 2027. 

Longitudinal Population Studies (LPS) generate social, economic and biomedical impact that improves lives, advances knowledge and drives growth. They help us understand some of the most pressing health, social and economic challenges across the life course. 

These challenges include health inequalities, educational and employment transitions, social mobility, ageing, intergenerational influences on health, and changing health and wellbeing trajectories over time.  

Importantly, LPS provide evidence – from real world sources - that informs policy, practice and decision-making across society.  

However, impact does not happen in isolation. 

At the heart of every impact story are people. 

Participants who contribute their time over many years. Public contributors who help shape research. Researchers who generate new knowledge. Technical specialists who manage complex data resources. Professional services colleagues who support delivery. Practitioners who apply evidence in the real world. Policymakers who use research to inform decision-making. Communities whose lives are improved through research. 

The Impact Showcase Awards 2027 seek to celebrate not only the impact generated through LPS, but also the people at the heart of the impact. 

We're looking for compelling stories that demonstrate how LPS improve lives, advance knowledge and create positive change, while recognising the people, partnerships and collective effort that make that impact possible. 

To apply, please submit your application form (Word, 60 KB) to info@pruk.ac.uk by 27 November 2026 4:00pm UK time. 

What makes these awards different?

The Impact Showcase Awards 2027 focus on: 

Impact 

What difference was made, how the difference was made, and at what part of the research process? 

People 

Who was at the heart of the impact? 

Storytelling 

How can that story be shared in a way that helps people understand the value of LPS? 

We're interested not only in what was achieved, but also: 

• Who contributed 
• Who benefited 
• What partnerships made success possible 
• What others can learn from the journey 
• How the story can inspire greater understanding, highlight public benefit and increase engagement with longitudinal population studies 

A showcase and development opportunity

The Impact Showcase Awards 2027 are more than an award scheme. 

They are a unique opportunity to develop, communicate and celebrate outstanding impact stories from across the LPS community. 

Rather than selecting an overall winner immediately, we'll identify three impact showcase finalists whose stories demonstrate exceptional impact, collaboration and storytelling potential. 

Between January and April 2027, we’ll work collaboratively with each finalist to transform their submission into a professionally produced multimedia impact showcase. 

The aim is not only to celebrate impact, but also to build capability across the community by supporting finalists to develop skills and experience in impact communication, public engagement and storytelling. 

What finalists receive

The three selected finalists will receive: 

Professional multimedia support 

PRUK will fund and support the development of a professionally produced multimedia impact showcase for each finalist. Through this process, finalists will work with PRUK and creative professionals to develop skills and experience in impact storytelling, public engagement and communicating research beyond academia. 

Depending on the story, this may include: 

• Short films 
• Animations 
• Infographics 
• Digital storytelling 
• Podcasts 
• Interactive web content 
• Other creative formats 

The final format will be tailored to the story and developed collaboratively with each finalist team. 

Finalists should note that these showcases are intended for promotional and engagement purposes. The emphasis will be on creating concise, accessible content, such as short videos (typically 2-3 minutes), animations, podcasts or digital assets that communicate research impact to wider audiences. 

Professional development 

Finalists will benefit from support and experience in: 

• Impact storytelling 
• Public engagement 
• Creative communication 
• Developing compelling impact case studies 
• Communicating research with wider audiences 
• Showcasing impact beyond academia 

We hope this process will support skills development that can be applied to future impact and engagement activities. 

National visibility and recognition 

Finalists will receive: 

• Recognition as an Impact Showcase Finalist 
• Promotion through PRUK communications channels 
• Opportunities to engage with the wider LPS community 
• A platform to showcase their work to researchers, funders, policymakers and public audiences

Conference showcase 

All three finalists will be invited to launch and present their showcase at the PRUK Conference 2027 taking place on 5 - 6 May 2027 at Mary Ward House, London under the theme of "Addressing health, social and economic challenges across the life course". 

Their stories will form part of the conference programme and help demonstrate the value and impact of LPS to the wider community. 

Overall award winner

Following presentation of the three finalist showcases at the PRUK Conference 2027, one finalist will be selected as the winner. The overall winner will be chosen by delegates attending the PRUK Conference 2027.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcome from across the UK LPS community, including those working in biomedical, social and economic research. 

This may include, but is not limited to: 

• Researchers 
• Early Career Researchers 
• Analysts 
• Study teams 
• Technical specialists 
• Data managers 
• Professional services staff 
• Communications and engagement professionals 
• Study participants 
• Public contributors 
• Collaborative partnerships 
• Longitudinal population studies and associated projects 

We particularly encourage submissions that recognise the contributions of individuals and teams at all career stages and across all professional roles. 

LPS depend on a wide range of expertise, and we want these awards to reflect and celebrate those contributions. 

We welcome submissions from studies and organisations of all sizes. Meaningful impact can be achieved through both large-scale national initiatives and smaller, locally focused activities. Applications will be considered within their context and relative to the opportunities and resources available. 

What kind of impact are we looking for?

Impact is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy. 

We welcome examples of: 

Social impact 

Research that has improved people's lives, strengthened communities or addressed societal challenges. 

Economic impact 

Research that has supported innovation, economic development, productivity or more effective use of resources. 

Biomedical and health impact 

Research that has improved health outcomes, informed healthcare practice or enhanced understanding of health and disease. 

Environmental impact 

Research that has improved the natural environment or mitigated environmental harms. 

Policy impact 

Research that has influenced policy development, decision-making or public services. 

Community and public engagement impact 

Activities that have strengthened public understanding of research, supported participation or built trust and engagement. 

Research methods, infrastructure and capacity-building impact 

Development of research methods, analytical approaches, data resources, technical infrastructure, tools or standards that enable and strengthen longitudinal research. This may also include training, skills development, mentoring, and capacity-building activities that support researchers, study teams and the wider research community. 

Impact achieved and impact enabled

We recognise that impact takes many forms. Applications may describe: 

Impact achieved 

Research that has directly influenced: 

• Policy 
• Practice 
• Services 
• Health outcomes 
• Communities 
• Organisations 

Impact enabled 

Contributions that create the conditions for future impact, including – but not limited to: 

• Participant engagement and retention 
• Data stewardship 
• Technical expertise 
• Infrastructure development 
• Communications and public engagement 
• Innovative methods 
• Team science and collaboration 

Both are important and both are welcomed. 

We celebrate the people at the heart of the impact

Research impact is rarely the result of a single individual. 

LPS depend on participants, public contributors, researchers, technical specialists, professional services colleagues, communications teams, practitioners, policymakers and many others working together over time. 

We encourage applicants to tell us not only: 

• What changed 
• But who helped make that change possible 

We're interested in stories that recognise: 

• Participants and communities whose experiences shaped research 
• Researchers and study teams who generated evidence 
• Technical and data specialists whose expertise made research possible 
• Professional services and operational staff who supported delivery 
• Practitioners and policymakers who translated research into action 
• Partnerships and collaborations that enabled impact 

Do you have a particular person or community in mind whose dedication and genuine passion made this impact possible? Tell us their story. 

The strongest submissions will help us understand both the impact itself and the people at the heart of it. 

Telling your story

We encourage applicants to move beyond describing outputs or achievements alone. 

The strongest submissions will help us understand: 

• The challenge or opportunity that existed 
• What changed as a result 
• Why the change mattered 
• Who benefited 
• The role of LPS 
• The people and partnerships involved 

Stories may be told through the experiences of participants, community members, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, study teams or public contributors. 

While impact should remain central, people often help bring impact to life in ways that statistics and outcomes alone cannot. 

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria: 

Significance and contribution of impact 

What difference was made, why does it matter, and how has the work contributed to improving lives, advancing knowledge, or generating wider social, economic, health, environmental or policy benefits? 

Storytelling potential 

How effectively can the story help others understand the value of LPS? 

People, partnerships and team science 

How effectively does the submission recognise the people, partnerships and collaborative efforts that contributed to the impact, and demonstrate shared success in its delivery? 

Innovation and creativity 

Does the work demonstrate innovative approaches, learning or transferable practice? 

Relevance to LPS 

Does the story demonstrate why LPS matter and why continued participation and investment are important? 

Application process

To apply, please submit your application form (Word, 60 KB) to info@pruk.ac.uk by 27 November 2026 4:00pm UK time.  

Stories can be submitted directly by study participants and public contributors. If submitting independently, please include the name of the study you participated in (project title) and, where possible, details of the study contact or project lead. We also recognise that some people may wish to work with their study team to develop and submit a story. We therefore encourage studies to support participants and public contributors in sharing experiences that demonstrate the impact of their involvement.

Applicants will be asked to provide: 

1. Overview

• Page limit: no more than two pages 
• Title of submission 
• Study, project or team name 
• Lead contact details 

2. Impact story

A description of the impact achieved or enabled – please describe how the project demonstrates the value of LPS and what was innovative about the project.

3. The people at the heart of the impact

Information about the individuals, communities, participants, teams or partnerships involved – please describes how the parties involved contributed to the impact realised.

4. Why this story matters

A description of why LPS matter – please describe why should this story be shared nationally and what can others learn from it?

5. Supporting evidence

Relevant evidence, testimonials, references or supporting materials, including narrative descriptions

Why Apply?

The Impact Showcase Awards 2027 aim to do more than recognise impact. 

They seek to celebrate the people behind it, build skills in communicating impact, create high-quality public-facing showcase materials, support professional development and help demonstrate the value of LPS to funders, policymakers, participants and the wider public. 

We look forward to receiving applications that showcase the many ways LPS improve lives, advance knowledge and create positive change, and the people at the heart of those stories.