These
case studies include engaging the public with research such as a pathway to impact.
In addition to communicating research findings to the public, researchers should
also consider two-way engagement - interaction and dialogue with the public to inform
their research. The
National
HE STEM Programme have also provided support for these case studies.
Dr Ceri Lewis: from the University of Exeter
has used tweets, blogs and podcasts to disseminate
her research and create impact. This has enabled
end users of research, other researchers and even
the public to provide feedback, comments and questions
to influence her research. Communicating her work
to a young audience through her work with schools
has also developed her skills.
Professor Nick Tyler: from University College
London researches how people interact with the environment
which has led him to set up the Pedestrian Accessibility
and Movement Environment Laboratory (PAMELA). To
maximise the impact of his research he has engaged
with users and the public which has led to a collaboration
with Thameslink2000 train link in London which has
had national impact for train design in the UK.
Professor Frank Sengpiel: from Cardiff University
is inspired to tell people about neuroscience and
as the lead for public engagement at Cardiff University’s
new Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute
(NMHRI) organises events such as public lectures.
He hopes that explaining his research clearly will
help the general public, and other potential users
such as the research and clinical communities understand
the relevance of his work.
Professor Robert Logie: is group leader
at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Cognitive
Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE). He has
worked with the BBC on a cross-media science season
to explore the fascinating world of memory, on radio,
television and the web including an on-line memory
test which has been completed by more than half
a million people. Professor Logie believes that
interaction with the public is vital as it helps
to identify ways in which basic research can be
applied to society.
Professor Rhodri Williams: from the University
of Swansea changed the direction of his research
from the rheology of industrial engineering fluids
to rheology of blood coagulation through a chance
meeting. As a result, Swansea is now seen as a world-leading
centre in this field and him and his colleagues
have two spin-out two companies, and are having
a clinical impact in local hospitals. He now regularly
engages with a wide variety of users including the
general public, as the feedback he receives from
them has been invaluable to his research.
Professor Dek Woolfson: Professor Dek Woolfson from the
University of Bristol advises against writing the pathways to impact
at the end of the grant proposal. He suggests populating it with
headings and sub headings for each area where there is a potential
impact. Professor Woolfson’s impact activities are very much focussed
on building the research capacity of the next generation, helping
to lay the foundations for better engineering of biology and engagement
with the public. He believes that public engagement encourages an
understanding of his science from different perspectives, which
in turn has a positive impact on his own research.
Professor Nicky Gregson: Professor Nicky Gregson at Durham
University never anticipated that research into waste and global
recycling could produce such creative and innovative pathways to
impact which has led to the making of two films, a photography exhibition
and a school play. Professor Gregson was keen to explore a variety
of pathways to impact and together with her team, the Geographical
Association, as well as a ship breaking project team began working
with a Sheffield school and took a group of children to ship breaking
in progress. Unintentionally the children became part of a parallel
research project based on the poignant and revealing interviews
conducted by the school children with the veterans of the ship that
was being salvaged.
Dr Paul Roche: Dr Paul Roche is Head of Astronomy and Director
of Faulkes Telescope at the University of Glamorgan. Dr Roche has
spent his career enthusing teachers, schoolchildren and members
of the public about space and has worked closely with teachers,
providing them with tools to bring into the classroom. Dr Roche
admits that combining research with outreach projects is a challenge
and that it helps to have supportive supervisors but feels that
there is now a much wider recognition of the benefits of science
communication.