Public engagement describes the many ways in
which higher education institutions and their staff
and students can connect and share their work with
the public. Done well, it generates mutual benefit,
with all parties learning from each other through
sharing knowledge, expertise and skills. In the
process, it can build trust, understanding and
collaboration, and increase the sector's relevance to,
and impact on, civil society.
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/
The ‘public’ are not just a homogeneous group of
people; they are everyone from the primary school
child who in ten years time may either be your PhD
student or a merchant banker, to your elderly aunt
who is wondering what her taxes are spent
on......Collectively they are more experienced, cleverer,
more creative and more perceptive than you can hope
to be. Individually they can be challenging, fun,
grateful for your time and generous with their own.
They are the people who ultimately will live with the
consequences of your discoveries, good or bad, and
they want to know what you think.’
Dr Clare Davy, Research Scientist, Virology, MRC: National Institute for
Medical Research
PE with research could mean:
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Communicating research activity and outcomes
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Listening to public views and concerns
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Involving the public as researchers
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Developing collaborative research and co-inquiry
projects
PE - good reasons to engage:
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It can help improve the quality and impact of research
It raises aspirations
It can help build trust
It challenges assumptions, sharpens thinking and injects
energy
It contributes to accountability
It develops transferable skills which can aid your
employment and promotion prospects
It improves relationships between the university and its
neighbours
It is important to the funders & can draw down funding
The Concordat for Engaging the
Public with Research
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A joint statement from Research Councils UK (RCUK), the
Funding Councils, academies and research charities
which:
describes expectations and responsibilities of research
funders with respect to public engagement;
aims to increase the quality of public engagement by
reducing barriers and rewarding the efforts of
researchers;
seeks to avoid compulsion or the creation of additional
burden.
The Concordat outlines four key
principles:
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• UK research organisations have a strategic
commitment to public engagement.
• Researchers are recognised and valued for their
involvement with public engagement activities.
• Researchers are enabled to participate in public
engagement activities through appropriate training,
support and opportunities.
• The signatories and supporters of this Concordat will
undertake regular reviews of their and the wider
research sector’s progress in fostering public
engagement across the UK.
“The question should not be is
our research any good, but
what it is good for?”
- Professor Chris Brink, ViceChancellor, Newcastle University
Web Resources
Briefing on the Concordat
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/scisoc/NCCPEbriefingsResearchersp5.pdf
NCCPE
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/
RCUK guide for researchers
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/cms/files/upload/1.RCUK%20Benefits%20of%20PE%20for%20researcr
ers.pdf
VITAE: The Engaging Researcher
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/The_engaging_researcher_2010.pdf
GACER
http://communityresearchcanada.ca/