Engaging with the public to strengthen science and society
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IMPACT Engaging with the public to strengthen science and society A vibrant, varied programme of public engagement enables NERC to inform, influence and inspire, and also to listen and learn. Why it matters As the UK’s largest funder of environmental science, we have a responsibility to listen to society and share the science we fund. Maximising the impact of the science we fund means ensuring that both its outcomes and its methods engage people outside of academia, building trust and embedding credibility. Just as importantly, research must be relevant to real-world needs and responsive to citizens’ concerns and aspirations. The key to achieving all this is to involve and engage with people – not least because the public’s concern for the environment and interest in solving complex environmental questions continues to grow 1 . What we did We deliver a suite of projects that create and strengthen the interface between the public and the science we support, involving people in environmental science and enhancing our already world- class research. Our strategic public engagement programme funds a variety of projects, for example: Engaging Environments initiative built networks across different areas of research and with people outside academia to engage the public with current issues in environmental science. Concerns and aspirations of the public were considered through public dialogue activities as part of NERC’s digital environment programme. UK Geoenergy Observatories engaged with people local to earth science sites in Glasgow, Cheshire and Cardiff. The data collected is open for all to see, and made accessible through feedback from public consultation. The AccessLab project paired researchers with public groups and aimed to reduce knowledge inequality. Researchers experienced the difficulties many face when accessing research and helped public groups access solutions to the challenges they face. Engaging Numbers: Operation Earth programme 80% said they were now more interested in environmental science Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 200,000 people engaged with NERC research 75% said their understanding of the environment had increased [email protected]
Transcript of Engaging with the public to strengthen science and society
IMPACT
Engaging with the public to strengthen science and society
A vibrant, varied programme of public engagement enables NERC to inform, influence and inspire, and also to listen and learn.
Why it mattersAs the UK’s largest funder of environmental science, we have a responsibility to listen to society and share the science we fund. Maximising the impact of the science we fund means ensuring that both its outcomes and its methods engage people outside of academia, building trust and embedding credibility. Just as importantly, research must be relevant to real-world needs and responsive to citizens’ concerns and aspirations. The key to achieving all this is to involve and engage with people – not least because the public’s concern for the environment and interest in solving complex environmental questions continues to grow1.
What we didWe deliver a suite of projects that create and strengthen the interface between the public and the science we support, involving people in environmental science and enhancing our already world-class research. Our strategic public
engagement programme funds a variety of projects, for example:
Engaging Environments initiative built networks across different areas of research and with people outside academia to engage the public with current issues in environmental science.
Concerns and aspirations of the public were considered through public dialogue activities as part of NERC’s digital environment programme.
UK Geoenergy Observatories engaged with people local to earth science sites in Glasgow, Cheshire and Cardiff. The data collected is open for all to see, and made accessible through feedback from public consultation.
The AccessLab project paired researchers with public groups and aimed to reduce knowledge inequality. Researchers experienced the difficulties many face when accessing research and helped public groups access solutions to the challenges they face.
Engaging Numbers: Operation Earth programme
80% said they were now more interested in
environmental science
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
200,000 people engaged with
NERC research
75% said their understanding
of the environment had increased
Impacts and benefitsShaping policy, shifting attitudes Informing the government’s clean air strategy and positively influencing industry were outcomes from Trans.MISSION. This collaboration between NERC and the 2018 Hay Festival paired award-winning artists with world-leading scientists to demonstrate the importance of NERC research. One output, the ‘Clean Air Starts at Home’ animation2, went on to help shape a Defra strategy3 that provides a platform for air pollution-cutting proposals. The animation also stimulated public discussion, prompting a number of chemicals companies to consider how to make their products greener.
Inspiring science for the next generation Over 200,000 children and their families had their appetite for science whetted and their understanding heightened thanks to Operation Earth. Running from 2017 to 2019, this initiative enabled visitors to 11 science and discovery centres across the UK to learn more about how environmental science benefits their daily lives – and even have a go at being a scientist themselves. After taking part, over three quarters said that they were more interested in environmental science and that their understanding of the environment had increased (see p.1).
Connecting museum visitors with scientists More than 3,500 people seized the chance to engage with environmental science and scientists when they
July 2020
Some of the scientists behind the successes
1. IPSOS MORI (2019). Issues Index May 2019 shows 20% of the public, the highest score for three decades, believe that the environment is a major issue for Britain, http://tiny.cc/tk5fkz
2. More information http://tiny.cc/4t7fkz3. DEFRA (2019). Clean Air Strategy 2019, http://tiny.cc/hq5fkz4. FOAM (2019). AccessLab news release, http://tiny.cc/2s5fkz5. More information http://bit.ly/38Z2l6w
Professor Ally Lewis: A leading atmospheric chemist, Ally played a pivotal role in Trans.MISSION. Working with Aardman Animations and the actor Marcus Brigstocke to produce an animation exploring the vital yet largely invisible issue of indoor air pollution, he helped shape its content, pinpointed the key messages it needed to convey and ensured the science underpinning the film was accessible for non-technical audiences.
Dr Sara Mynott: Marine ecologist and science communicator, Sara facilitated conversations between NERC scientists, artists and conservation practitioners as part of the AccessLab programme4, which aims to reduce knowledge inequality. By working closely with these groups, she experienced the difficulties many face when accessing research and helped them to find and assess evidence that could help identify solutions to the challenges they face.
Professor Peter Stott: A world-renowned climate scientist, Peter has harnessed NERC funding to lead a new approach that applies storytelling expertise to science communication. The Climate Stories project5, for instance, produced a book, a film and artwork that demonstrated the power of this approach. One of those involved, PhD student Tim Gordon, went on to win a prestigious competition designed to identify and support the world’s most talented new science communicators.
attended Your Planet Needs You, held at London’s iconic Natural History Museum in November 2018. Showcasing a host of arts-based exhibits, this after-hours event put a range of environmental issues under the spotlight, from plastic pollution to coral reef degradation. After attending the event, 50% said they had learned something new about environmental science and they had spoken to a researcher there face to face.
Investing for the futureOur new strategy is a clear statement of intent. We want to engage diverse groups throughout the process of our science, strengthen our research and accelerate efforts to find solutions to issues like climate change. Our public dialogue processes, for instance, addresses hot topics such as the digital environment, enabling us to listen to the public to help shape research programmes.
AccessLab
“The Engaging Environments ‘Climate Stories’ project gave me a huge boost in both skills development and the confidence to do more science communication.”Tim Gordon, winner of the British Council’s FameLab International Final 2019
