Agenda for Public Engagement Conference

Plenary  session

  • Opening remarks : Chris Abell, Pro-VC for Research, University of Cambridge
  • Opening panel discussion:
    • Steven Hill (Director of Research at Research England, UK Research and Innovation);
    • Paul Manners (Director, National Centre for Coordinating Public Engagement);
    • Chris Abell (Pro-VC for Research, University of Cambridge); 
    • Moderator – Dervila Glynn (Cambridge Neuroscience IRC Coordinator, University of Cambridge)  

 

Workshop Sessions

  1. Planning and evaluating your project 

Led by Heather Lusardi (Senior Project Manager, National Centre for Coordinating Public Engagement) &  Lucinda Spokes (Public Engagement and Festival Manager (Science), University of Cambridge)

Want to improve your public engagement practice but don’t know where to start? Logic models are graphical tools used to plan and evaluate the success of a project.  This interactive session will show how these logic models can be used to break down the components of a public engagement project to help you deliver your intended outcomes.

  1. Finding, and connecting with new audiences in the city and region

Led by Jane Wilson, Culture and Community Manager, Cambridge City Council & Jennifer Bull (Engagement Coordinator, University of Cambridge Museums)

Get a snapshot of types of audiences in the city and region, who may not engage regularly with the University. Come hear from experts about ways you could find and make connections with them.  This session will help participants understand the local and regional context, and to think more clearly about tools and choosing locations to reach people

  1. Why should we engage?

Led by Richard Holliman (Professor of Engaged Research, Open University) & Helene Doerflinger, Public Engagement Officer for the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge

Whatever your role you will need to develop and deploy rationales for engaging beyond your academic colleagues and professional staff. In this workshop, we will co-produce and share a diverse suite of rationales that researchers and public engagement staff can deploy in support of future high-quality engagement activities.

  1. Linking public engagement with research and planning for REF impact

Led by Paul Manners (Director, National Centre for Coordinating Public Engagement & Charlotte Sausman (Senior REF Impact Coordinator, Research Strategy Office, University of Cambridge) 

This session will cover how public engagement is defined and captured for REF2021 and the tools and techniques to measure and evaluate public engagement for REF purposes.  The session aims to help participants come away informed and encouraged to develop public engagement impact case studies in their departments and units.

 

In addition to the above sessions, there will be opportunities for both facilitated and informal networking throughout the afternoon.