“Public Engagement” in science is a broad term which describes the many ways which bring the public and researchers together in a way that mutually benefits both groups. Generally, public engagement activities coming out of the Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine (CGTRM) aim to inspire, inform, collaborate with, or consult the public.
As much as possible, public engagement should be a two-way process, in which researchers listen to and have open discussion with the public to help research better fit societal needs and serve the public.
The “public” can include:
- Local community groups
- Young people
- Patients
- Underserved and disadvantaged groups
- Students
- Government and policy makers
Collaborating with artists to create public exhibitions and creative workshops exploring stem cell research, including contributing to the Spare Parts season at the Science Gallery London.
Why is public engagement a priority for the CGTRM?
For the CGTRM and Our Research
Public engagement can increase access to, contribution to, and interest in the research at the CGTRM. This will raise the profile of research at the CGTRM and keep the research relevant to the public, which in turn will make its value clear to funding bodies. This will also help to dispel misconceptions about stem cell and gene therapy research which are often subject to misinformation and misunderstanding.
For Widening Participation
As a university, King’s College London has a commitment to working “with underrepresented learners and their supporters, empowering them to access, thrive and succeed in higher education”. We can serve this commitment to widening participation by using the outstanding science and scientists at the CGTRM to encourage pupils from underserved communities to consider studying and pursuing careers in STEM.
For Staff and Students
Interaction with the public can motivate staff and students, helping them see the relevance and utility of their work in wider society. Public engagement activities also aid in the development of a wide range of transferable skills from event planning to presentation and public speaking.
For Funding Bodies
The majority of research undertaken at the CGTRM is publicly funded by government or charitable bodies (i.e. UKRI (BRC/MRC), Wellcome Trust, DUK, JDRF). It is our responsibility to make sure that this research is transparent and accessible to this public and that they public is best served by the research undertaken. In many cases, funders also have expectations for public engagement which we must endeavour to fulfil.
Leading panel discussions about the reality of stem cell research at Science Fiction Theatre Festivals.
Key aims
Young People
Aim: To engage with young people to inspire and enthuse them about science and about pursuing higher education and future careers in science
This also contributes to the KCL commitment to widening participation as we aim to work with schools with students from backgrounds which are underrepresented in academic research.
How will this be achieved?
- Continue to develop activities for children and young people
- Visits to local primary and secondary schools to deliver talks and activities.
- Hosting events at the CGTRM for secondary school and sixth form aged students.
- Engaging with undergraduate science students at KCL
- Encouraging researchers to join already established tutoring/mentoring/teaching programmes e.g. Nuffield Research Placements, Brilliant Club Scholars Programme, In2 Science
Local Community Groups
Aim: To build a collaborative and inclusive relationship with Lambeth and Southwark communities so that they are aware and can have input into the research at the CGTRM
How will this be achieved?
- Running workshops and events open to the community i.e. for Team London Bridge, local fundraising evens
- Taking stalls/activities to local fairs
- See section above
Patient Interaction
Aim: To consult with patient groups on the research conducted at the CGTRM to shape our research to fit the needs of the public and make the most impact.
Patient groups often express feeling “used” by researchers when it benefits them (e.g. for grant proposals) therefore to avoid this wen also aim to keep patients in the loop in regard to the research that comes from their input or will be relevant to them.
How will this be achieved?
- Building a relationship with patient groups and advocacy groups (e.g., through lab tours and Q&A sessions)
- Presenting work to relevant patient groups in and outside of KCL both when needed for grants and as part of the normal research process
Increasing Reach
Aim: To increase the reach of both research at the CGTRM and understanding of scientific research in general.
By increasing our social media presence which will have the benefit of both raising the profile of CGTRM research and peeling the curtain back on scientific research, giving the public insight into a real research environment.
How will this be achieved?
- Increased posting of research outputs on Twitter and Instagram
- Continued posting of talks and events at the CGTRM
- Starting a CGTRM TikTok account and posting videos on techniques used in and research done.
- Livestreaming experiments on TikTok Live
Improvement
Aim: To refine and improve the quality our public engagement and outreach activities and events by building on previous experience.
This will be achieved through collecting and implementing feedback and evaluation from each event held.
Hosting visits for summer school and outreach programmes across London and internationally, with initiatives such as The London International Youth Forum, King's STARS, Native Scientist and the Social Mobility Foundation.