The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) is delighted to announce that 18 public engagement with research projects have been shortlisted in the NCCPE Engage Competition 2016. Far from being disengaged with society, researchers are engaging with the public in innovative and effective ways. From inspiring young people with new advances in knowledge, to encouraging members of the public to contribute to research, university public engagement is thriving.
Finalists have been selected from over 180 entries which demonstrate a broad range of high quality activities to inspire and involve public audiences. Their work ranges from digitally reconstructing city histories to protecting endangered species; from working with older people as researchers to delivering hyper-local science festivals; from young children conducting their own research to influence the United Nations, to using theatre to improve oral health outcomes.
Paul Manners, Director of the NCCPE said “The Engage Competition is a highlight of our work at the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement. It uncovers amazing people, projects, partners and research. This year did not disappoint. The quality of the applications has been higher than ever, showcasing the very best of engagement practice across all disciplines and participant groups - reaching from the very local to the global.”
There are six competition categories, and the winner of each category will receive a prize of £1,500 to go towards further public engagement work. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony as part of Engage 2016, the NCCPE’s annual conference, on 29th November 2016.