1. Engaging Experiences Dr Stuart Allan stuart.allan@manchester.ac.uk
Faculty of Life Sciences
Dr Stuart Allan
manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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’

5. Benefits to the researcher
Enjoyment
Satisfaction
Contacts/opportunities
Improved communication skills
Money – grants actually get funded!

6. Examples
“The Body Experience”

7. “Making sense of your brain”
Examples
“Making sense of your brain”

8. Examples “You know it makes sense”
Interactive pub quiz with demonstrations at Manchester, Nottingham and Melbourne for the World Congress of Neuroscience.
“Stroke research: from test tube to treatment”

9. “A day in the life”

10. The dozens of volunteers over the years…
And of course the funders….
The Physiological Society, RCUK, Wellcome VIP, IBRO, FENS/EDAB, UoM, FLS