Prof. Mark Reed
Professor Mark Reed is a frequently-cited, transdisciplinary researcher who is known globally for his work on research impact. He is Professor of Rural Entrepreneurship at Scotland’s Rural College, where he directs the Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre. He also holds visiting professorships at Newcastle University, Birmingham City University and the University of Leeds.
He is listed in Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list, reflecting multiple papers in the top 1% by citations for their field and publication year over the past 11 years, and has authored more than 250 publications cited more than 40,000 times.
He is the author of The Research Impact Handbook, The Researcher’s Guide to Influencing Policy, The Productive Researcher and Impact Culture.
Professor Reed delivers training on research impact, engagement and evaluation through Fast Track Impact and the Institute for Methods Innovation. Since 2015, he has trained more than 10,000 researchers from over 200 organizations in 52 countries. His training focuses on practical approaches to impact planning, stakeholder analysis, theory of change and impact evaluation, with an emphasis on evidence-informed decision-making. He works with universities, research funders, government bodies, NGOs and international organizations, providing training to both academic researchers and professional staff responsible for engagement and impact strategy.
Funded projects
Since 2005, Professor Reed has served as Principal Investigator on projects with a combined value exceeding £5 million, and has acted as Co-Investigator or work package lead on more than 40 additional projects with a total value of approximately £50 million. These projects have been funded by UK Research and Innovation councils, the Scottish Government, UK government departments and the European Commission. His roles have included project design, participatory process development, stakeholder engagement, impact planning and the translation of research findings into policy and practice. In parallel, he serves as Research Lead for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, supporting the application of research evidence within national conservation policy.
Publications
Professor Reed’s research outputs include more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, five books and over 100 book chapters and commissioned reports. More than half of his publications fall within the top 10 percent most cited worldwide, and he has been listed as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate. His work combines empirical research with applied guidance, including widely used resources on planning, evidencing and assessing research impact. He has also contributed to policy-oriented publications, including work underpinning the UK Peatland Code, and has authored commissioned reports for organizations such as the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and United Nations agencies such as the UN Environment Programme.
Academic and professional background
- PhD from the University of Leeds, focusing on participatory environmental management.
- Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, University of Leeds.
- Senior Lecturer and Director, Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, University of Aberdeen.
- Professor of Sustainability, Birmingham City University.
- Professor of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University.
- Professor of Rural Entrepreneurship, Scotland’s Rural College.
- Executive Board member, UK Peatland Code.
- Research Lead, IUCN UK Peatland Programme.
- Co-chair, Research Working Group, Global Peatland Initiative, UN Environment Programme
