Expanding research impact through engaging the maker community and collaborating with digital content creators

Area of Science:

• Engineering and Technology
• Science Communication

Background:

• Academic research often struggles to reach broader audiences beyond academia.
• Engaging the public and maker communities can amplify research impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a framework for increasing academic research impact.
• To assess the outcomes of engaging the maker community and content creators.

Main Methods:

• Sharing 3D printable research materials on public repositories.
• Collaborating with internet content creators (e.g., YouTubers) to disseminate research.
• Evaluating short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes over multiple years.

Main Results:

• Increased public awareness of research findings.
• Accelerated innovation and further hardware-based research.
• Fostered open-source design and collaboration.
• Increased utilization of peer-reviewed content.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework effectively extends research reach to diverse audiences.
• Engaging makers and content creators enhances research impact and public excitement.
• This approach promotes open-source practices and accelerates scientific innovation.