Sign up for our newsletter

Biography

I am an interdisciplinary researcher and impact analyst with a background in biology, anthropology and medical ethnobotany. I am currently working on a National Institute of Health Research-funded project on improving the patient experience through participatory methods (http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/ebcd/) and video narratives of health experiences (http://www.healthtalkonline.org/). I also work as Research Design Service Advisor for RDS London advising on qualitative methods for applied health and social care research (http://www.rdslondon.co.uk/).

My PhD research in ethnobiology, completed at the University of Kent, examined the role of patients and healers in the informal health sector in the Cook Islands (South Pacific) and highlighted the diverse social and ecological functions of medicinal plants. I have conducted social and ecological fieldwork in the Cook Islands, Greece and the UK which examined the impact of social and environmental change (including climate change) on community health and wellbeing.

Recent work at the Centre for Health and Social Care Research at Canterbury Christ Church University focused on the evaluation of outcomes, social impact and economic sustainability of public, private, third sector and cross-sector services in health and social care. Recent projects include evaluating the impact of regional services that offer support to children and young people on the brink of school exclusion, victims of domestic abuse, vulnerable adults and children with special needs. I also examined the contributions of early intervention initiatives such as parenting support programmes, horticultural therapy and community gardening to the reduction of health inequalities and promotion of social cohesion. This work has contributed to the co-creation of knowledge and empowering local communities with research methodologies.

I have also taught anthropology and ethnobotany at the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent and developed online tools to support community engagement, distance learning and international inter-university collaborations (http://www.opensciencenetwork.net/). The repeated recruitment of non-traditional students in my programme and their progression into Higher Education demonstrates the importance of communicating complex theories and academic content to a wider audience to widen participation and promote lifelong learning.

What motivated you to enage with the public?

I believe public engagement is key in maximising the social impact of Higher Education institutions in the fields of health and social care, anthropology and ethnobotany. Despite the central role of public engagement in knowledge exchange activity, it remains institutionally unsupported and its impact is unmonitored. Public engagement can enhance academic research design as well as increase its applications and benefits to the wider society. This is also demonstrated by increased recognition of patient and public involvement in health sciences research by relevant funding bodies.

Through this network, I am hoping to better develop my own understanding and experience of public engagement, learn about best practice in this field and exchange knowledge and methodologies with other professionals. I am interested in the development of robust evaluation tools to measure the impact of engagement and highlight innovative ways forward. Furthermore, I would like to pilot the use of social media and online platforms to engage the public in academic work not only as participants but also as peer-reviewers.  I foresee these developments to have a positive impact not only to academic research but also to external parties, thus creating a more outward-facing, credible and engaged research practice.

Describe the Public Engagement work you have done?

Public engagement is at the core of all health and social care knowledge exchange projects I have been involved with. During 2010, I co-ordinated an LLN-funded volunteer engagement programme where volunteers worked with academic members of staff to develop tools to capture the impact of their organisation. As part of this project I organised and delivered engagement events and training sessions for volunteers. In this project public engagement was a two-way process and the beginning of an ongoing dialogue to enable externals to enrich, refresh and challenge Higher Education, ensuring it is grounded in and relevant to society. Outcomes were co-presented with volunteers and service managers at the University Vocational Awards Council conference (http://www.uvac.ac.uk/services/uvac-conference-2010/). Further experience in public engagement includes focus groups with service users, community gardening projects, cross-cultural communication, outreach youth work, community centre and school visits. 

I have also participated in numerous Open Days at the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent and London Anthropology Day events were I communicated scientific knowledge to the public through my presentations and hands-on activities with Polynesian artefacts and ethnobotanical specimens.