Creating an open and engaged research culture

We aim to create an open and engaged research culture.

Why?

• Delivery of our other aims is reliant on the proactive involvement of our research community. The public and the science benefit most when it is the researchers who lead engagement.
• Engagement should be recognised as an integral part of researchers’ work so that they can dedicate time and expertise to excelling.
• Staff and students must be supported and confident in engaging the public effectively.

How?

• Running a varied and challenging engagement programme to provide a testing ground for researchers to build their experience and confidence.
• Offering advice, support and training to develop researcher-led engagement projects, including applications for funding and seed funds.
• Creating a lab champion network to inform and share our engagement approach and build a community of practice.
• Celebrating success through annual engagement awards and support efforts for wider accreditation for engagement at a University-level.
• Having our academic champion chair our Public Engagement Steering Committee, with appropriate principal investigators to ensure embedded academic oversight of engagement.

Current initiatives

Steering committee

Our steering committee provides academic oversight of our public engagement programme and allows us to respond to the needs and the interests of our scientific and external communities. The PESC meets four times a year to discuss current and future public engagement plans and pioneer ways to further embed public engagement at the Institute.

• Elisa Laurenti, Chair & Academic Champion for Public Engagement
• Greg Palmer, Public Engagement Manager
• Srinjan Basu, PI rep
• Fotios Sampaziotis, PI rep
• vacancy, PostDoc rep
• Seun Ogundele, PhD rep
• Shaline Fazal, Professional Services rep
• Laura Puhl, Research Communications and Events Manager
• Diogo Gomes, Public Engagement and Communications Manager for the Schools of Biological Sciences and Clinical Medicine
• Daniela Boraschi, Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public
• Bob Bragger, Cambridge and District Branch, MS Society
• Katherine Dixon, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute
• Helene Doerflinger, Wellcome / CRUK Gurdon Institute
• Amanda Stranks, Patient and Public Involvement team, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

Seed fund

Our Public Engagement Seed Fund aims to support staff and students in developing new ways of engaging the public with stem cell research. All Institute members and affiliates may apply as individuals or as a group. 

Funding: £500 - £2000

To discuss a potential idea and request an application form email the team at engage@stemcells.cam.ac.uk.

Want some inspiration? Check out previous seed fund projects:

* Affiliate lab groups.

Resources

Need advice on planning, delivering and evaluating public engagement activities? The MRC have created a helpful guide on PE.

Want to involve the public or patients in your research? Check examples of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) from the NIHR.

Institute Public Engagement prizes

Our Director presents annual prizes at our Institute Retreat to recognise contributions to work with public, patient and community groups. Previous winners are listed below.