The word 'impact' is everywhere we turn, but what does it mean for you and your research? And what does it take to make a difference in the world outside academia? University of Oxford, the Open University, Oxford Brookes and Reading Universities jointly hosted a conference on 19 April 2018 at St Anne’s College, Oxford on the topic of research impact, open to members of the four host universities. This free one-day conference aimed to examine these questions and more. The conference celebrated engaged and impactful research in the social sciences, and provided inspiration and support for researchers hoping to make a difference through their work. This event is funded by the University of Oxford's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (Grant Ref: ES/M500355/1)