2. Today‟s session
Getting started with public engagement
Introducing public engagement
Your motivations
Who are „the public‟?
Engaging others with your research
Designing a public engagement activity
Further sources of support
4. Research Social Media
Applied Blogs & microblogging
Theoretical Online forums & discussions
Collaborative Wisdom of the crowd
Co-produced research YouTube lectures & demos
Knowledge Transfer
Info-tainment
Media
What does Outreach
Festivals Public lectures
National events public engagement Research dissemination
look like?
Learning
Professional development Community
Lifelong learning Student & staff volunteering
Networking & sharing Cultural & social partnerships
Schools liaison
Knowledge Exchange Opening up spaces/facilities
Influencing policy
Widening participation
7. Why engage the public with
my research?
“The question should not be is our research any
good, but what is it good for?”
Professor Chris Brink, VC, Newcastle University
“Don't assume because you find all your
work fascinating that the public will - look
for your common ground.”
Courtesy of alexanderdrachmann (Flickr ID) Dr Alexis Kirke, University of Plymouth
10. Designing an activity
What could you do to engage your public with
your research?
What is the purpose of your
engagement activity?
Why would it engage your
public?
What research are you
engaging them with?
How do you know your activity
will work?
12. Further support
www.slideshare.net/vitaenwhub
www.vitae.ac.uk/publicengagement
www.vitae.ac.uk/peblog
www.vitae.ac.uk/researcherbooklets
www.manchesterbeacon.org
www.publicengagement.ac.uk
www.rcuk.ac.uk/per
What is public engagement for them. Get them to shout out.
Public engagement means many things to many people. There isn’t a single definition and depending on your research discipline and your Institution’s culture your experiences of ‘what it is’ and ‘doing it’ will differ greatly. But it is useful come to a shared understanding of what we mean by public engagement. Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interactions and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit. – Vitae “The engaging researcher” booklet. There are a large number of opportunities to engage with the general public, for example:giving talks at local and national organisations about your arearunning or contributing to adult education coursescontributing to open days and other school outreach activitiestaking part in writing or poster competitionsjoining a scheme like Science Ambassadors or Researchers in Residence to go into schoolswriting a press release or blog about your researchYou can find out more about specific public engagement activities by taking a look at the following:Vitae engaging researcher guide, public engagement blog, and opportunities and resource list – http://www.vitae.ac.uk/publicengagementNCCPE website, toolkits, and case studies – http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/Your University website, there may be a public engagement unit or outreach office that coordinates activities or provides support.Talking to other researchers.Participant Reflection Questions:How familiar are you with each of these public engagement activities? What you like to know more about or get involved in?Where will you go or who will you talk to find out more?
One early career researcher’s experience of getting started with public engagement
Who are ‘the public’? Explore scenarios, get them to think about one key thing to keep in mind when engaging with the public they have been given.
What about your research might be interesting to the public? Get them to enthuse each other about their research, what are the ‘sexy headlines’, what could pull people in?
Loads of opportunities out there, what could you do for the public we have given you and your research? Feedback main points to plenary
Where next? Just a brief introduction to public engagement. What first step do you need to take to become an engaging researcher?