Public engagement as a tool for making research accessible to the public

At the Institute for Policy and Engagement, we believe that research should never remain locked behind academic walls. Our mission is to bring knowledge to life, opening doors for communities to question, learn, and contribute to research happening at the University.

Over the past six months, four remarkable University of Nottingham postgraduate researchers joined us on placements as Public Engagement Ambassadors, supporting this vision in creative and practical ways. This unique opportunity gave them hands-on experience in planning, delivering, and reflecting on public engagement processes, while contributing directly to the Institute’s flagship events and community partnerships.

As their time with the Institute wraps up, each ambassador has taken time to reflect on what they have learned, how they have grown, and how these lessons will inform their research. We are proud to share these collective insights, celebrating their individual journeys and the impact they’ve had on the Institute and the wider Nottingham community.

Bringing research and communities together

Emily Smith, Doctoral Student in the School of English

Working with the Institute in the last six months has been a rewarding experience for me. As an ambassador, I have gained valuable insights into how effective public engagement happens and what it takes to plan and deliver it from start to finish.

During my placement, I worked on several events. In March, I helped organise Science in the Park at Wollaton Hall, where I supported logistics and managed a section of the venue, ensuring vendors and volunteers had everything they needed to engage families with exciting science activities.

My main project, however, was the Sustainable Growth Assembly and the follow-up Green Hustle Festival. These events involved multiple partners and taught me a lot about balancing different stakeholders’ needs and keeping things on track. I helped prepare event instructions, organised a lunchtime biodiversity walk with the University's Estates team and managed participant registrations.

On the event day, I enjoyed networking and having meaningful conversations about sustainability. Afterwards, I helped turn the key findings into prompts for the Green Hustle Festival which was held at the Old Market Square. There, I spent time in the Listen Inn tent alongside local climate activist groups, which created a positive, collaborative environment for talking with the public about sustainability ideas. These conversations deepened my understanding of why public engagement matters and how to meet people where they are. I also developed new report writing skills by contributing to the official event reports, an area I had little experience in before.

Working with the Institute team has been fantastic. The public engagement team was always supportive and ready to help, while encouraging us to take real ownership of our projects. This balance of independence and support really boosted my confidence and skills. The whole team made me feel like a valued member from day one.

Strengthening dialogue through public engagement

Ayoola Abimbola, doctoral student in the School of Education

My journey as a Public Engagement Ambassador with the Institute for Policy and Engagement stemmed from my desire to strengthen my communication skills and learn how to share impactful research with a wider audience. The Institute provided a supportive and enriching environment that helped me grow through hands-on involvement in various projects and events.

One of the most significant projects I helped deliver was Science in the Park, an annual family-friendly event hosted at Wollaton Hall by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. This event gave me the chance to engage directly with the public, especially young people who came to learn about science in a fun and accessible way. From coordinating logistics to helping design activities, I learned how important it is to pay attention to every detail to ensure an event runs smoothly.

Working with a dedicated team, especially alongside Sally Nightingale, was a highlight for me. I saw how teamwork and shared responsibility are vital in delivering a successful event. On the day, I welcomed visitors and made sure families had a positive and inspiring experience.

As it is with most events, we faced unexpected challenges while planning and delivering the event. An example of this was when a sudden power outage occurred, disrupting the flow of events at the main exhibition hall. Our team stayed calm, communicated clearly, and prioritised everyone’s safety. This taught me a valuable lesson and reinforced the value of adaptability and teamwork in high-pressure situations, skills I know will benefit me throughout my career.

I also contributed to the Sustainable Growth Assembly, organised with Green Hustle CIC and local partners. This event created space for communities and stakeholders to discuss how Nottingham can build a fairer, greener, and more inclusive economy. Joining the discussion groups was transformative; I could share ideas and see how collective dialogue can shape actionable strategies that empower communities.

My participation in this event gave me fresh insight into my own research, which aims to influence Nigerian education policy by amplifying teachers’ voices. I now better understand how to engage educators and policymakers in meaningful conversations that lead to real change.

The role of public engagement in making research accessible

Michelle Duong, doctoral student at the Department of Chemical Engineering

In the last few months, I have had the pleasure of working with the public engagement team at the Institute for Policy and Engagement. During this time, I have gained insights from the team on how we can bridge the gap between research and the wider public, ensuring that complex ideas are accessible, engaging and relevant.

Having volunteered at the previous editions of Science in the Park, I was able to build on that experience to enhance the volunteer process for this year's edition, ensuring that participants not only contributed to the event but also gained valuable learning experiences. 

As a Public Engagement Ambassador, I was responsible for managing a team of 66 volunteers across six zones at Wollaton Hall. From recruitment, to preparing information packs, developing new roles, delivering briefing sessions, and coordinating shifts, there was so much to learn! It felt great to be a part of the organising team, and to work with the Institute team and absorb all their expertise on partnership working. 

The biggest learning curve of the event was when an unexpected power cut occurred which required a full site evacuation. The initial panic and stress hit me fast, but I wanted to challenge myself to step up and take a lead on ensuring my team of volunteers firstly, felt safe and reassured in the situation, and secondly had clear instructions on how to proceed with the event.

Fortunately, power was re-stored an hour later and just like clockwork, volunteers were back in positions and Science in the Park was back in action! The situation really tested my leadership and management skills, but I can add crisis management to the list and know how to think and act under high-pressured situations.

My PhD research project is part of a Prosperity Partnership called Net Zero Acrylics, which is a collaboration between academia and industry to de-fossilise the acrylics industry and reduce acrylic plastic waste. Through this experience, I also saw how valuable it is to embed public engagement into my research on sustainability and plastics. 

Building confidence in stakeholder engagement and community management

Zinhle Koza, doctoral student in the School of Law

As an international human rights researcher specialising in children’s rights, I am passionate about bridging the gap between academia, policy, and public engagement. Serving as a Public Engagement Ambassador was a refreshing and rewarding experience that added new depth to my PhD journey. After several years of working independently, it was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with other PhD students, sharing ideas, supporting each other’s efforts, and rediscovering the energy that comes from being part of a team.

From designing child-friendly activities for the Science in the Park event to contributing to the Sustainable Growth Assembly and Green Hustle Festival, I explored how public engagement intersects with academia, policy development, and community participation. These experiences not only strengthened my communication skills, particularly in making complex ideas accessible to children and young people, but also deepened my understanding of event delivery, evaluation, and the value of public feedback in shaping inclusive and effective engagement strategies.

Participating in the Sustainable Growth Assembly was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my placement. It provided a valuable opportunity to observe how diverse groups, including community members, local activists, policymakers, and researchers, can collaboratively exchange insights and co-develop ideas for a more equitable and sustainable future. Contributing to the facilitation of these discussions and synthesising participants’ contributions enhanced my confidence in engaging with multiple stakeholders and navigating differing perspectives. This experience reinforced my appreciation for structured, inclusive dialogue as a vital mechanism for generating community-informed solutions and fostering genuine policy impact.

One of the key factors that encouraged me to apply was the placement’s flexibility, often requiring no more than an hour a week. This, combined with the option to contribute during evenings and weekends, allowed me to engage meaningfully without compromising my academic commitments.

I am especially grateful to Sally Nightingale, whose support, guidance, and encouragement made the entire experience enjoyable and easy to be part of.

Looking ahead

Our Public Engagement Ambassadors made a vital contribution to the delivery of both new and flagship activities, including Science in the Park, family-friendly initiatives and events focused on professional and community consultation. Their dedication and professionalism shone throughout, and I’m delighted that the experience has been such a positive one for them.

Working with this year’s Public Engagement Ambassadors has been an absolute joy. Each of them brought fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a genuine commitment to making research meaningful and accessible. They have shown how curiosity, teamwork and good communication can open doors between the university and our wider communities.

We are incredibly proud of the skills they have built, and we know they’ll carry this passion for engagement wherever their careers take them next. We wish them every success and look forward to seeing the brilliant impact they will continue to make, as researchers, collaborators and champions of public dialogue.