Public engagement with research
What is Public Engagement?
Public engagement describes the many different ways that research and its benefits are shared with members of the public. Engaged research is meaningful for both parties and encompasses interactions over any or all stages of the research process (from issue formation to evaluation and dissemination).
As the leading commissioner of UK environmental science, NERC emphasises the value of public engagement. Our Royal Charter states NERC's obligation to 'encourage public engagement and dialogue', 'communicate research outcomes' and 'generate public awareness' of the environmental science we fund. Public engagement brings benefits to research, ensuring relevance to society and a wider perspective on social and ethical implications. Similarly, public engagement is also beneficial to society through broadening attitudes, empowering people and enriching citizenship, as well as inspiring members of the public and future researchers.
Through our own public engagement with research strategy we aim to:
- Convene informed public debate about contemporary issues in environmental science, including the ethical and social implications.
- Inform, interest and inspire members of the public and future researchers in environmental science and the processes of research, in a way that is accessible and relevant.
- Carry out public dialogue - external link on complex and controversial issues. Actively listening to members of the public allows NERC to make decisions that are relevant to society.
Public engagement for researchers
NERC recognise that engaging the public in your research can:
- improve the quality of research and its impact
- raise your profile
- develop your skills
- enable members of the public to act as informed citizens
- inspire the next generation of researchers.
Public engagement is a condition of all NERC grants and fellowships, as stated in section GC20 of the NERC research grants and fellowships handbook (see the download section on this page).
Public Engagement as a Pathway to Impact
Public engagement activities are considered a pathway to potential economic and societal impacts. Researchers can request resources and time to undertake relevant public engagement activities to achieve their Pathways to Impact.
We are working to embed our public engagement within research grants (in line with the RCUK Concordat for engaging the public with research - external link) and encourage grant applicants to do this. RCUK has more information and guidance - external link about public engagement as a Pathway to Impact.
New 2017 funding call and event
We are currently planning an ambitious, large-scale investment (of up to £1·3 million over three years) to achieve national impact in public engagement with one or more contemporary issues of environmental science.
We are inviting applications to attend a community consultation event on 6 April 2017 in Manchester, the outputs of which will directly inform the call, which we plan to launch shortly after.
2016 Funding call: Engaging the UK public with the big issues of environmental science
NERC has backed 18 projects to engage the UK public with environmental science around challenging issues. Details about the Funding call are available.
Hannah King is our public engagement officer, based in the Communications & Engagement team here at NERC, and is the main point of contact for any questions or queries about engaging the public with environmental research.