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What motivated you to engage the public in your work?

The institute where I work has a long history of providing opportunities to engage with the public. I originally got involved by giving an interactive lecture on viruses to 300 visiting sixth formers. Chatting with the A-level students about my work was very rewarding and I remember them being very vocal in their opinions about research ethics and what they thought research money should be spent on. They clearly appreciated me taking time to explain my work to them and to discuss with them issues ranging from animal experiments to compulsory vaccinations. After this initial positive experience, I then decided that I wanted to start organizing my own PE events. Initially I was motivated because I thought it was important to let everyone know what I know, but I now realise it's as much about me finding out what I don't know, and of course making sure that everyone has a fun and exciting experience of science.

Describe the public engagement activity you have done.

I've been lucky that getting involved in PE has enabled me to do a range of different activities. I run hands-on workshops at NIMR for year 11/12 students, covering topics such as DNA, virology and immunology, and I ended up taking our popular DNA crime-solving workshop to the Big Bang Fair in Westminster. I go out to local schools to give seminars at science clubs and also to promote science careers to year 10 students. For primary school children I have taken an assembly showing what scientists do, and how viruses are spread. As a volunteer for STEMNET I have recently been filmed for Teachers TV promoting the positive benefits of STEM ambassadors visiting primary schools. In addition to PE aimed specifically at school children, I have also taken demonstrations along to science festivals and a community street fair, where we've had people aged 2 to 82 having a go at making DNA fingerprint gels.

What are your top three tips for other researchers?

1. Why not start off by finding someone else in your organization who is already doing some PE and helping out at one of their events. That way you can see if you enjoy the experience without having to worry about all the organization of the activity. And if there isn't anyone already doing PE, then get in contact with STEMNET and they can help find people in your area.

2. If you are interested in working with school children, then make sure you get your CRB sorted as some schools won't let you in the door unless you've had an up-to-date check and they can take months to arrange. If your organization doesn't have the ability to arrange CRBs then you can get them by joining up to the STEMNET ambassasors scheme.

3. If your first attempt at PE isn't what you'd hoped it would be don't be put off. There are so many  different ways you can engage with the public, you can just try something different and see if that works for you.

What are your top three resources to support your engagement work?

1. Great colleagues: I had a great mentor who introduced me to the experience of PE and subsequently have found a lot of people at NIMR and the MRC who are keen to get involved with PE activities that I run.

2. STEMNET: The ambassadors scheme is an excellent way of getting involved in loads of engagement opportunities with young people. They provide training, deal with CRB checks and pair up scientists with schools.

3. Funding from research councils.  Grants from RCUK and MRC to fund everything from science equipment to take out to schools, to travel costs and providing tea and coffee for participants.

What would you say to encourage another researcher to engage with the public?

"The public" are not just a homogeneous group of people who happen not to be scientists; they are everyone from the primary school child who in ten years time may either be your PhD student or a merchant banker, to your elderly aunt who is wondering what her taxes are spent on.  They are the people who vote in the Government that may set your budget, and they are the people who despite the fact that they love to read the newspapers and watch the TV still trust you more than their politicians and journalists. Collectively they are more experienced, more clever, more creative and more perceptive than you can hope to be. Individually they can be challenging, fun, grateful for your time and generous with their own. They are the people who ultimately will live with the consequences of your discoveries, good or bad, and they want to know what you think.