Public Engagement: Connecting audiences and research

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Apply your knowledge and understanding of public engagement to develop and plan the practical delivery of an activity exploring Imperial research.
• Effectively communicate Imperial research to a non-specialist audience using appropriate language, styles and formats.
• Work effectively and appropriately with others as part of multidisciplinary teams to deliver pair and group tasks, including sharing constructive peer-to-peer feedback based on your growing understanding.  
• Evaluate public engagement experiences and ideas using the models and knowledge introduced within the course, and reflect on your personal skills and knowledge development.  
• Recognise how public engagement can enable research to have a range of impacts within wider society, and consider your own academic identity and potential role within this context.

This course will provide a broad understanding of public engagement within higher education and key concepts to consider when designing engagement activities. You will develop practical skills and hands-on experience as you work to devise, plan and deliver a public engagement activity. 

Sessions 1-3 will introduce the module and assessments, tutors and wider Public Engagement team. We will introduce engagement within a university context, the breadth of activities this might include, as well as the range of benefits it can lead to. The group will discuss different audiences for public engagement, including varying attitudes towards STEM, and why it is important to create inclusive, accessible public engagement. We will cover models of participation and engagement, and students will meet speakers from public, community engagement and outreach teams within Imperial College London.  

Sessions 4-6 will help you to formulate an idea for an engagement project based on an area of Imperial’s research. Consider how engagement can meet aims for both you, your research, and your public participants such as skills development, sharing insights and inspiration, and working on common challenges. We will explore practical tips and considerations for engagement delivery, including using communication, storytelling and tailoring activities to different audiences.  

Sessions 7-10 will involve presenting engagement ideas to the group and reflecting on examples of engagement you have had the opportunity to experience. We will hear from academic colleagues around how public engagement has enabled them to connect with diverse audiences and enhance the impact of what they do. And we will discuss how to measure the effectiveness of the engagement you deliver, and share your successes! Finally, find out how to get involved in more public engagement at Imperial and beyond. 

This module is structured to support you on a journey through the steps involved to develop and  deliver an engagement activity. Please note this does not involve the delivery of the activity with your audiences, just the development of the activity. Sessions will be delivered in a seminar format blending lecture, discussion and hands-on activities. You will be given a module handbook and access to the module Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) outlining all session topics, preparation, assessments and deadlines.  

You will explore a range of engagement formats and inclusive practice with case studies, visits and guest speakers from engagement teams across Imperial and externally. Sessions will be practical and discursive, favouring experiential learning and teamwork within multidisciplinary groups. 

As you develop and refine your engagement idea, you will receive support and formative feedback from tutors, peers and visiting speakers to incorporate within summative assessments. Specifically, you are expected to incorporate feedback from group presentations into the development of your coursework, including the activity materials and accompanying narrative. 

• Coursework: Activity Observation: Attend and submit written evaluation of a public engagement activity - 800-1000 words (2-3 pages) excluding references (40%) 
• Coursework: Engagement Idea: Develop an idea for an engagement activity based on an area of Imperial’s research, for a specified audience. Submit activity materials and accompanying narrative- 1,500-3,000 words (3-6 pages excluding references) (60%). Please note this does not involve the delivery of the activity with your audiences, just the development of the activity. 

First marks and feedback will be returned to you within the VLE within two weeks of assessment submission.  

• Requirements: It is compulsory to take an I-Explore module during your degree (you’ll take an I-Explore module in either your 2nd or 3rd year, depending on your department). You are expected to attend all classes and undertake approximately 105 hours of independent study in total during the module. Independent study includes for example reading and preparation for classes, researching and writing coursework assignments, project work and preparing for other assessments.   
• I-Explore modules are worth 5 ECTS credit towards your degree; to receive these you will have to pass the module. The numerical mark that you obtain will not be included in the calculation of your final degree result, but it will appear on your transcript.    
• This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 5 module.  
• This module is offered by the Public Engagement Team.