What is public engagement with research?

Public engagement describes the many ways in which university research is shared with wider publics; aiming to benefit society by informing, inspiring, involving and enriching people and places; researchers by developing new scope, perspectives and skills; research by enhancing its quality and relevance; and universities by making their activity more innovative, transparent and accountable.

Public engagement encompasses myriad forms of multi-directional interaction such as talks, festivals, co-produced projects, interviews, demonstrations, debates, interactive events, exhibitions, short courses, consultation, and participation. Engagement can be undertaken by any staff and students, often in partnership with local and global stakeholders, and may take place anywhere, in university campuses or elsewhere: indoors, outdoors, on site, on air or online.

Every university has been invited to sign up to the Manifesto for Public Engagement, showing their commitment to share “knowledge, resources and skills with the public, and to listening to and learning from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage” (NCCPE 2017), which the University of Lincoln is a signatory of.