The RCUK vision for public engagement The three aims

Aim 1: Recognising and responding to public views

Aim 1: Recognising and responding to public views RCUK aims to identify public attitudes and values to be considered through the lifecycle of research, and foster debate that will enable public aspirations and concerns to help inform Councils' policies and research strategies.

Strategy RCUK will: take a lead on researching public attitudes and values implement and support existing mechanisms communicate the outcomes of RCUK public dialogue programmes to the relevant research communities, as well as making them accessible to the public.

Recent achievements Commissioned Involve to conduct a review of RCUK public dialogues and consultations Led an open data dialogue Supported 12 talented young people to attend the Planet under Pressure 2012 conference Led conducted a public dialogue to help frame and promote discussion of the issues raised by synthetic biology research (led by EPSRC and BBSRC) commissioned a public dialogue on geoengineering (led by NERC)

Ongoing and future activities Bring public attitudes and values into their decision-making processes Continue to support the current cross-Council research programmes on public engagement Continue to be actively represented on the Government’s Sciencewise Panel Ensure that public views are considered when shaping the future research agenda for Global Food Security

Targets for 2015 Implement actions to embed public engagement across all disciplines within the Research Councils’ and within the cross-Council research programme themes. These include: providing online information and resources for staff holding regular meetings with the PER Network and theme leaders disseminating the RCUK dialogue guide to relevant Research Council staff monitoring the inclusion of public engagement within Pathways to Impact

Targets for 2015 Consider the future RCUK PER strategy for the next spending review to ensure it closely aligns to Councils priorities and is embedded in the impact and research agendas. Work with others to articulate a convincing evidence-based rationale for public engagement.

Aim 2: Inspiring young people

Aim 2: Inspiring young people RCUK aims to help secure and sustain a supply of future researchers to support the research base that is critical to the UK economy by encouraging engagement between young people and researchers.

Strategy RCUK will: enhance the experience of contemporary research for young people and school teachers, encouraging more young people from a diversity of backgrounds to pursue relevant studies beyond 16 and follow Research & Development careers, and enabling more to act as informed citizens work towards research environments where public engagement with schools becomes a standard part of skills development opportunities on offer to researchers

Strategy (2) RCUK will: work to influence education policy in order to increase the role of contemporary research in the school curriculum ensure that teachers, curriculum bodies and others involved in the post-primary classroom who wish to involve contemporary research have the opportunity to do so encourage partners who are delivering extra-curricular and informal education to include contemporary research contexts

Recent achievements Launched the School-University Partnerships Initiative Funded a £1 million programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for science teachers in the UK Worked with BIS and the Department for Education through representation on the STEM joint ministerial meetings Conducted a review of schools policy, resulting in an approach that brings researchers and schools together

Recent achievements (2) Supported the Nuffield Science Bursaries Scheme Sponsored the Best Use of Research prize at the Big Bang National Science and Engineering Competition Worked with the Association for Science Education’s (ASE) schoolscience.co.uk and the National STEM Centre’s E-library Organised over 3,000 placements to connect young people and researchers Represented RCUK on the STEM careers Advisory Group launched an online suite of researcher careers case studies to inspire the next generation to think about pursuing a career in research.

Ongoing and future activities RCUK PER will: award grants to twelve universities to work with secondary schools under SUPI work in partnership with the Science Learning Centre Network to provide CPD continue to provide RCUK school resources, including career resources, to teachers and young people continue to fund the Nuffield Research Placements contribute to the evidence base relating to education in general.

Targets for 2015 By 2015, RCUK PER will: further develop partnerships with bodies involved in the funding and provision of enrichment activities for students further develop relationships and influence bodies involved in the co-ordination of enrichment activities for students and provide advice to Ministers support grant holders under SUPI to develop and share best practice review the existing portfolio of CPD courses create an online resource with over 60 case studies to make a career as a researcher more visible to young people.

Aim 3: Supporting researchers

Aim 3: Supporting researchers RCUK aims to achieve culture change in the HE and research sectors so that public engagement is embedded alongside research and valued as an important activity through encouraging researchers to engage with the public and supporting and rewarding those who do so.

Strategy RCUK will: continue to provide flexible and responsive funding and training to support researchers to engage with the public work with partners to improve recognition and rewards for researchers who engage with the public, and to achieve a more positive culture for public engagement provide opportunities for researchers to engage with non- specialist audiences by working in partnership with expert deliverers such as the mass media, science centres and festivals across the UK.

Recent achievements Developed a Concordat on the expectations and responsibilities of research funders Supported the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) Supported the Beacons for Public Engagement Commissioned eight new RCUK Public Engagement with Research Catalysts Celebrated ‘The Research Behind Sport’, with the Cutting Edge 2012 series in the run up to the London 2012 Games.

Recent achievements (2) Produced a case studies booklet which captures the benefits of public engagement for research and researchers Supported regional science festivals and organised local events including the Bristol Festival of Nature and the Green Man festival in 2012

Ongoing and future activities RCUK PER will: continue to fund the RCUK Catalysts until 2015 work with the other Signatories and Supporters to implement the Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research work with Research Careers and Diversity internal and external colleagues including Vitae and partners to ensure that public engagement is integrated within the Researcher Development Framework

Targets for 2015 By 2015, RCUK PER will: conducted a meta-evaluation of the Beacons for Public Engagement initiative produce an implementation plan for embedding the Concordat convene a workshop to support Research Councils to embed the principles of the Concordat support the RCUK Catalysts to capture and disseminate best practice produce public engagement case studies to support Pathways to Impact

Targets for 2015 (2) RCUK will support the NCCPE in: disseminating learning and good practice from the Beacons for Public Engagement and other universities providing advice to new and existing manifesto signatories to promote public engagement and support culture change to encourage HEIs to embed public engagement as a strategic priority focusing on practical activities to support the HE and research communities in implementing the Concordat.

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