People: Dr Kerry Leslie
- Current role:
- Other
- Institution:
- RCUK
- Discipline:
- Other
What motivated you to engage the public with your work?
While undertaking my PhD at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, I attended a course at UCL on engaging with the public (run by COPUS). I found this really interesting and I followed it up by running an astronomy club at a local school. This eventually led me to a career in public engagement with research – this is outlined in the RCUK Public Engagement with Research strategy.
Describe the public engagement activity you have done.
Details of the RCUK Public Engagement with Research programme can be found at our website.
In my previous role, I had responsibility for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s public engagement programme.
What are your top three tips for other researchers who might like to engage the public in their work?
- Think about the purpose of your engagement activity and the audience for your activity - use this to inform the approach in order to engage effectively.
- Reflect on how successful (or unsuccessful!) your activity was and share this with others (and take advantage of learning from others too)
- Take advantage of the support and resources available.
What are your top three resources to support your engagement work?
What’s in it for me? The benefits of public engagement for researchers: This RCUK publication includes a selection of some of the highlights and first hand experiences of a range of researchers across the UK of the positive benefits arising from engaging with the public.
The engaging researcher: This Vitae and National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement publication highlights some of the many ways researchers can engage the public, offers practical tips for getting started and explores how public engagement can benefit researchers and the public.
Engaging young people with cutting edge research: An RCUK brochure providing helpful signposts and opportunities to both researchers and teachers on how to get started working together.
Are there areas of specific expertise you would like to be consulted on by people visiting our website?
My specific expertise is in public engagement with research
