Join us for a one-day event where you’ll hear inspiring impact success stories, meet potential collaborators from other Scottish universities, and explore funding and training opportunities to kick-start your own impact-focused projects.

The IAA Impact Festival is organised by the five Scottish universities with EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs): Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and St Andrews.

Speakers

This year's keynote speaker is Fran Scott. Listed in The Progress 1000 London’s most influential people, Fran is the Science Content Developer at the Royal Institution as well as being the only female science presenter on CBBC. A scientist by training and an engineer at heart, Fran uses her knowledge to entertain and excite audiences of stage and screen. She is best known for her playful (and often fiery) demonstrations on the CBBC show Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom. With her own production company, Great Scott! Productions, she writes and produces high-octane shows for clients such as Google for Education, Mishkat Science Centre, Siemens and National Grid. Balancing entertainment with education, Fran manages to inject her demonstrations with narrative and humour to make them as enjoyable as they are informative.

You’ll also hear lightning talks from impact leaders at the five organising universities, sharing insights into their projects and the value of partnering with industry, government, and the third sector.

Networking sessions

Meet other researchers from across Scotland and creatively explore opportunities to collaborate through facilitated, structured networking sessions.

Exhibitors

In the exhibition space, you will meet funders and innovation hubs that can provide support for your impact activities.

Photography and filming

There will be an official photographer and videographer on the day to record the event and create promotional materials. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please speak to a member of staff upon arrival. We will provide you with a different coloured lanyard to alert the photographer and videographer.

Accessibility

We can book British Sign Language interpreters if any attendee requests them. Please let us know by emailing PSI@hw.ac.uk.

Waitlist

University of Glasgow tickets have sold out. Please contact Maaike Siegerist at Maaike.Siegerist@glasgow.ac.uk if you'd like to be added to the waitlist.

Heriot-Watt University tickets have sold out. Please contact Stacey Boydell at s.boydell@hw.ac.uk if you'd like to be added to the waitlist.

When University of Strathclyde sell out, you can add your details to the waitlist on Eventbrite.

Spaces are limited. Register now to secure your place!

In partnership with:

IAA Impact Festival 2025: Partnership