The role of public engagement in making research relevant and accessible

In the last few months, I have had the pleasure of working with the public engagement team at the Institute for Policy and Engagement. During this time, I have gained invaluable insights from the team on how we can bridge the gap between research and the wider public, ensuring that complex ideas are accessible, engaging, and relevant. I have learned how to effectively coordinate public engagement activities, manage large teams of volunteers, and develop strategies to make research more interactive and inclusive.

In this article, I share my journey as a Public Engagement Ambassador; from starting as a volunteer to leading a team at a major outreach event. I also reflect on how integrating public engagement into my PhD research has deepened my understanding of science communication and its role in shaping the future of research.

Defining public engagement

It is all about sharing our research and getting the public excited and involved with the work that we do. It is about inspiring new and young minds about the possibilities and opportunities offered in the world of research, especially in Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Technology is evolving fast, and it is changing how research is being accomplished. We depend on the next generation of scientists to push boundaries and drive innovation, but for research to remain relevant and impactful, it must be shared beyond academic circles. Public outreach is essential in bridging this gap, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that scientific advancements are understood and embraced by wider audiences.

Recognising the importance of this, I undertook a postgraduate placement with the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Policy and Engagement as a Public Engagement Ambassador to learn how I can embed public engagement into my research, and the processes and frameworks behind coordinating collaborative events.

Going from a volunteer to leading a team of volunteers 

Science in the Park is major family-friendly annual event held by the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University at Wollaton Hall. Now in its 16th year, this event has become renowned, attracting thousands of attendees who come to have fun and learn more about STEM. It offers a fantastic opportunity to directly engage with the public and introduce young people to a wide range of scientific research.

Having volunteered at the previous editions of Science in the Park, I was able to build on that experience to enhance the volunteer process, ensuring that participants not only contributed to the event but also gained valuable learning experiences. My familiarity with the event allowed me to anticipate potential challenges and address them during the planning phase, including:

• Improving visitors' accessibility across all zones

• Creating a dedicated break space for volunteers

• Ensuring an adequate number of interactive activities for volunteers to deliver

• Coordinating volunteer shifts to provide flexibility and sufficient coverage for busier areas

As a Public Engagement Ambassador, I was responsible for managing a team of 66 volunteers across 6 zones at Wollaton Hall. From recruitment, to preparing information packs, developing new roles, delivering briefing sessions, and coordinating shifts, there was so much to learn! It felt great to be a part of the organising team, and to work with the Institute team and absorb all their expertise on partnership working. 

The biggest learning curve of the event was when an unexpected power cut occurred which required a full site evacuation. The initial panic and stress hit me fast, but I wanted to challenge myself to step up and take a lead on ensuring my team of volunteers firstly, felt safe and reassured in the situation, and secondly had clear instructions on how to proceed with the event. Fortunately, power was re-stored an hour later and just like clockwork, volunteers were back in positions and Science in the Park was back in action! The situation really tested my leadership and management skills, but I can add crisis management to the list and know how to think and act under high-pressured situations.

The hard work is always worth it when we receive positive feedback from volunteers saying it has helped them improve their communication skills, employability, and they learnt more about public engagement. Particularly, volunteers enjoyed the variety of roles, and the pre-event briefing tour which made it easier for them to grasp the different volunteer positions.

I really enjoyed talking to and learning from the various workshops. It was great to share my enthusiasm for science with the public, and it was also lovely to meet other volunteers.

Integrating public engagement with my PhD research

My PhD research project is part of a Prosperity Partnership called Net Zero Acrylics, which is a collaboration between academia and industry to de-fossilise the acrylics industry and reduce acrylic plastic waste. The global plastic crisis is well spoken about; however, we need to continue to emphasise the work done to help tackle plastic waste as we ALL play a part in the cycle whether as a manufacturer or a consumer.

This is where public engagement comes in, we must share our research so that we can be untied in our efforts. Whether that’s sharing how to correctly recycle plastic waste or encouraging a young person to pursue STEM so they may one day develop a more sustainable method to produce new plastics, or engineer more circular processes, it is imperative that research be shown and be spoken. I truly believe that knowledge sharing leads to innovation.

We at Net Zero Acrylics communicate our research through our LinkedIn Channel and I encourage you to become a part of our network to share the research and development for a more circular acrylics industry.  

Looking ahead

My experience as a Public Engagement Ambassador has highlighted how important collaborations are and has taught me how to liaise and network with the wider community of passionate researchers. Working with Sally Nightingale, Public Engagement Project Manager at the Institute, has been particularly insightful. I have learnt how to maximise the strengths of a team and my confidence in finding ways to integrate high level research with public engagement has grown. I would also encourage other researchers to explore opportunities offered by the Institute and the public engagement network within UoN and the community.