Public Engagement
- intermittent fieldwork
- variable timescales
- variable resource requirements.
Public engagement provides the opportunity to meet people from outside the university with shared interests, potentially to tell them about your research, but also to consult with them and discuss the work you both do and possibly generate research questions and data together. This provides mutual benefit for all involved: increasing the relevance of research and enabling others to be part of the scientific process.
- Should I use an Public Engagement?
Engaging with non-academics is essential to completely understand research questions and their implications on society, and by engaging with relevant groups it increases the impact of our research.
For the researcher it improves quality of research, provides motivation, develops skills, meets funders requirements, builds trust in research. However, it can be time-consuming, and it is essential to work with specific public groups, not just the ‘general public’.
For the public it enables them to be a part of the research process, contribute to topics they have lived experience in and understand the importance of research. You should be aware of the power dynamics in any situation with a number of stakeholders – make sure the public’s expertise is fully valued.
- How do I use Public Engagement?
Public engagement can take a range of forms, including citizen science (when the public help generate/analyse data), outreach (science festivals/school visits), artist collaborations, consultation groups, and many more options. More examples are available: https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/do-engagement/choose-method.
- Examples of Public Engagement in Sustainability Research
- References and Resources
- SSRP projects using Public Engagement
Sustainable supply chain development in forest communities
Tools for safe and sustainable artisanal fishing
The resilience and sustainability of small farms
Prediction of food security crises and effective responses
People, pollinators and pesticides in peri-urban farming
Understanding trade-offs between SDG's in urbanising contexts
Achieving sustainable trade post-Brexit: the UK and beyond
Blockchain for Sustainability
SDG 17++: Managing cross disciplinary trade-offs for sustainable development
Suggested citation: Petherick, K. (2019). Public Engagement [online] Sussex Sustainability Research Programme Research Methods for Sustainability Catalogue. Available at: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/ssrp/resources/research-methods/public-engagement.