30. Teaming up for Translation: Dr Kenneth Strahan and Danielle Teychenne on building collaborations that drive research impact

Knowledge mobilisationResearch translationPartnershipsCollaborating with professional staffInterdisciplinary collaborationUser profiles/personas/archetypes
Written By Chris Pahlow

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Episode show notes

When Dr Kenneth Strahan developed research-backed archetypes to help understand how different people respond to bushfires, Danielle Teychenne and her colleagues saw an opportunity to create real change. Together, they embarked on an ambitious project to translate this research into practical tools for communities. In this episode, they share candid insights about what it takes to build successful research translation partnerships - from finding the right collaborators to navigating real-world implementation challenges.

Ken is a researcher with 30+ years of experience in bushfire research in Australia, and Dani is currently a learning designer at BehaviorWorks, and she has a background in digital learning.

 So in this episode, we'll hear from Ken about how his work identified seven distinct archetypes that reflect different ways people respond to bushfires — research that could save lives if effectively implemented.

We’ll then discuss the implementation or translation piece, how Danielle and her colleagues tapped into Ken's research, collaborated with him and put together a new project centered on helping communities better prepare for bushfires.

"People wanted to see tailored education... They wanted to feel empowered. They didn't want to have their autonomy taken away from them. They didn't want to be told what to do." – Danielle Teychenne

Whether you're a researcher hoping to see your work create change, or someone looking to adapt research for real-world use, this episode offers valuable lessons on building bridges between research and practice — including frank discussion of what worked, what didn't, and how to navigate the challenges that emerge along the way.

Our conversation covers:

  • The journey from research insight to practical application

  • Creating archetypes or user profiles as part of your research

  • Build productive research translation partnerships

  • Strategies for tailoring research for different audiences

  • Navigating implementation challenges and roadblocks

  • Tips for measuring real-world impact

  • The importance of starting small and building incrementally

  • Balancing rigour with practical constraints

Practical tips from this episode:

  • Build strong partnerships:

    • Maintain ongoing researcher involvement while allowing implementation partners space to adapt

      Focus on finding partners who bring complementary skills and perspectives

      Be open to different approaches for translating research into practice

  • Start small and scale up:

    • Begin with manageable pilot projects rather than trying to do everything at once

      Test approaches with specific communities before expanding

      Be prepared to adapt as you learn what works

  • Engage with end users:

    • Get feedback from target audiences early and often

      Focus on understanding local context and needs

      Use language and framing that resonates with your audience

  • Measure what matters:

    • Set realistic expectations for impact measurement

      Look for both quantitative and qualitative indicators of success

      Be prepared to adapt your evaluation approach based on real-world constraints

Credits:

  • Host & Producer: Chris Pahlow

  • Edited by: Laura Carolina Corrigan

  • Music by: La Boucle and Blue Steel, courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Chris Pahlow
Chris Pahlow is an independent writer/director currently in post-production on his debut feature film PLAY IT SAFE. Chris has been fascinated with storytelling since he first earned his pen license and he’s spent the last ten years bringing stories to life through music videos, documentaries, and short films.
http://www.chrispahlow.com
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29. Planning Ahead for Impact: Prof Lisa Given and Dr Wade Kelly on making the new year your most impactful one yet