Transcript Manchester Beacon connecting people, place & knowledge

Life Sciences
Faculty of
Engaging Experiences
Dr Stuart Allan
[email protected]
manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences
Why do I engage?
• Enjoyable & rewarding
• Moral obligation
• Seen as increasingly important
– Funding bodies
– Learned societies
– Universities
– Public opinion
• To promote science and scientific research
What is public engagement?
“an umbrella term for any activity that
engages the public with research, from
science communication in science centres or
festivals, to consultation, to public dialogue.
Any good engagement activity should
involve two-way aspects of listening and
interaction..”
(RCUK definition)
Who are the public?
“Of or concerning the people as a whole”
(Oxford dictionary definition)
• Family and friends
• TV viewers, newspaper readers
• People who fund your research
• Patients
• Animal rights groups, environmental groups
• ‘Those in the pub’
Benefits to the researcher
• Enjoyment
• Satisfaction
• Contacts/opportunities
• Improved communication skills
• Money – grants actually get funded!
Examples
“The Body Experience”
Examples
“Making sense of your brain”
Examples
“You know it
makes sense”
“Stroke research:
from test tube to
treatment”
Interactive pub quiz with
demonstrations at
Manchester, Nottingham
and Melbourne for the
World Congress of
Neuroscience.
http://manchesterscience.blogspot.com
“A day in the life”
http://www.a-day-inthelife.blogspot.com/
The dozens of volunteers over the years…
And of course the funders….
The Physiological Society, RCUK,
Wellcome VIP, IBRO, FENS/EDAB, UoM,
FLS