School of Life Sciences Public Engagement Strategy
As a signatory to the National Coordinating Centre's Manifesto for Public Engagement, the University uses this definition of engagement to frame the ways that we inform, consult and collaborate with the public.
Engagement is a two-way process, and there are a range of opportunities to get involved with our research and meet researchers.
Work with our researchers
We believe that anyone can contribute to cutting-edge research, not just scientists. We have a number of projects that you can get involved with:
Buzz Club: Be a pollinator researcher and help Professor Dave Goulson and his lab to better understand pollinating insects. The Buzz Club run a number of projects aiming to better understand and protect bees and other pollinators, including Hoverfly Lagoons (help design habitats for breeding hoverflies), Earwi'GO (create earwig 'hotels'), Strawberries Rock (a project which is looking in to a home remedy for pecked fruit) and more. Visit the Buzz Club for more information.
SPaRCS: Are you a Year 12 or Year 13 form student or teacher? Get hands-on lab experience as you help Dr Jon Baxter to unravel instability of chromosomes. Visit Schools Partnership Researching Chromosome Stability for more information.
Rewilding Sussex: This community group was set up by Dr Chris Sandom in 2014 to engage people with rewilding locally. They are always keen to hear from enthusiastic individuals who feel they can contribute in some way. Find out more about Rewilding Sussex.
Hear from our researchers
Are you interested in meeting our researchers and learning from them as the best way to improve the environment or your health?
Talks: Our academics contribute to a number of local talk series and community groups, such as Cafe Scientifique and Sussex Universe.
Soapbox Science: The School of Life Sciences leads the Sussex team organising Soapbox Science Brighton, which was set up in 2017. Soapbox Science promotes women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Misfolding: The project employs music, performance and digital arts to communicate these developments in brain science and dementia research in an imaginative and poetic way.
Dark Clouds Bright Skies: University of Sussex researchers, Dr Chris Sandom and Dr Joseph Walton along with Brighton based artist, Daniel Locke, took on the challenge to develop a 24-page comic in just 24 hours to illustrate what a sustainable future for the South Coast of England could look like by 2050.
Meet our researchers
We take part in a range of events local to Sussex, bringing interactive activities for everyone to get hands-on with. This include: The British Science Festival, Brighton Science Festival, Lewes STEM Fair, Big Bang East Sussex. If you would like our researchers to visit your event, contact lifesci@sussex.ac.uk