Bringing science to audiences of all ages, Hatherleigh Science boasts a series of public evening lectures and a day-long Saturday science fair that invites members of the public to get involved with science in interactive and engaging ways, taking world-leading research outside of university cities and bringing it to new rural audiences.
Author: Catherine Hurcombe
Creative Approaches to Knowledge Exchange: The Interplay of Arts and Science in Sexuality Studies
Dr Ina Linge from the Department of Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies, speaks to Catherine Hurcombe about her experience of public engagement, relating 20th century sexuality studies to modern audiences.
Community-led cancer awareness: Community Conversations about Cancer
In our final blog piece from our 2024-25 cohort of Engaged and Participatory Research Fund awardees, Lucy Kirkland tells us more about Community Conversations about Cancer, a project which investigated inequalities and underrepresentation in cancer diagnosis, working with a network of community partners across Exeter.
Communication and Play: Creativity as a Valuable Tool in Engaging Audiences with Education
Dr Caitlin Kight from the School of Education talks about her experience of applied research, exploring the benefit of creativity in pedagogy, from Lego Serious Play to collaboration with the National Trust.
From a Quantum to a Human Scale: Bringing Physical Sciences to Communities
Dr Luke Smith from the Department of Physics and Astronomy speaks to the public engagement team about how public engagement can be used to address misinformation and inspire new audiences, sharing his experiences of studying quantum biology and the future applications of this microscopic world.
Lifestyle interventions in the Muslim community to help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Dr Phil McBride reflects on a recent project which explored lifestyle interventions to combat type 2 diabetes in the Muslim community, benefitting from direct collaboration with community members through informal discussions supported by our Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Fund.
How Art Brought Research to Life at FUTURES 2025
Central to the FUTURES Festival celebrations was the creation of new artwork, and encouraging visitors to explore their artistic side through walking tours, our craft zone, and workshops. Each of these activities worked with members of the local community to bring new voices into a variety of research disciplines.
SmogOff – Community Testing of Air Pollution
Dr Jo Garrett and the team from Then Try This share insights into their work on SmogOff, a project supported by Civic University Agreement funding to engage local communities with air quality monitoring, and encourage new understanding of air pollution and its impact on our local environments.
Community Connections: Informing Urban Liveability Research
Dr Federico Botta shares insights from his team’s collaboration with Exeter Science Centre, in which both parties sought to better understand Exeter residents’ views on urban liveability, supported by the 2024-25 Engaged and Participatory Research Fund.
Infrastructure Disruptions, Resilience and Economic Mobility in the Off-Grid City
Professor Federico Caprotti and Dr Whitney Pailman share updates on their work exploring the relationship between community resilience, entrepreneurship, economic mobility and navigating infrastructure disruptions in urban, informal settlements in South Africa. With support from the Engaged and Participatory Research Fund, the researchers worked closely with local residents and policymakers.