Category: Funding

The Public Engagement with Research team has been privileged to support Professor Federico Caprotti and Dr Whitney Pailman through our Engaged Participatory Research Fund. This work forms part of a larger project, exploring energy provisions and infrastructure for communities in South Africa’s informal settlements. In this piece, we’ll be looking at the lifecycle of this project, demonstrating the possible uses of publicly engaged research.

Peter Lefort discusses his recent Springboard-funded work, the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit, which builds on research exploring the positive impact that small-scale changes can have on the climate crisis. The toolkit forms part of a much larger project, focussed on bringing this methodology to new audiences.

Dr Lucy Hawkes shares insights into the Thunnus UK project, which investigates the return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to the nation’s waters. Using the Springboard Fund, the research team were able to share their findings through a public stakeholder event that invited attendees to contribute to this growing area of ecological research.

Dr Anna Price from the department of Health and Community Sciences speaks to us about her recent project, which investigates the perspectives of young people seeking neurodevelopmental assessment through Devon’s healthcare providers. Supported by Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) funding, her experience highlights the complexities of patient outreach work, including both its challenges and benefits.

This project, based at the Loveland site near Falmouth, Cornwall, received the Bridging Communities award to support its ongoing work combining ecological food growth with community wellbeing in nature. Dr Tim Hughes discusses his experience of using this fund to develop the project.

Professor Catherine Leyshon offers her insights on the University’s partnership with Volunteer Cornwall and the Volunteer Sector Forum, focusing on a recent study conducted for this project using the Bridging Communities Fund.

Dr Susan Greaney, Lecturer in Archaeology, describes the role the Bridging Communities Fund played in supporting ongoing collaborations between the University of Exeter, National Trust, and Historic England. This project, informed by local archaeological sites, is focused on bringing new development opportunities to students, staff, and heritage volunteers.

Dr Laura Sangha shares details of her role in the ongoing Leverhulme Trust project, exploring the value of wills in helping us understand the material culture of early modern England. With support from the Springboard fund, this project has encouraged public engagement through active volunteering and workshop opportunities.

Peter Lefort discusses his work on the Exeter Doughnut project, which uses Doughnut Economics to explore and expand upon the socioeconomic opportunities the city of Exeter has to offer. Bridging Communities funding was used to develop this project, encouraging conversation between a range of local stakeholders.

Dr Lauren Struszczak spoke with us about her recent project – Systematic review of Nutritional interventions in older Adults in the Community at risK of malnutrition (SNACK): understanding characteristics, implementation, and effectiveness. Her work used PPIE (Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement) funding to incorporate lived experiences into this valuable study.