title: Mapping public engagement with research in a UK University.
abstract: Notwithstanding that 'public engagement' is conceptualised differently internationally and in different academic disciplines, higher education institutions largely accept the importance of public engagement with research. However, there is limited evidence on how researchers conceptualise engagement, their views on what constitutes engagement and the communities they would (or would not) like to engage with. This paper presents the results of a survey of researchers in the Open University that sought to gather data to fill these gaps. This research was part of an action research project designed to embed engagement in the routine practices of researchers at all levels. The findings indicate that researchers have a relatively narrow view of public engagement with research and the communities with which they interact. It also identified that very few strategically evaluate their public engagement activities. We conclude by discussing some of the interventions we have introduced with the aim of broadening and deepening future researcher engagement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grand
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holliman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000941:ethics; D006113:United Kingdom; D014495:Universities / Q000941:ethics; D000078329:Workforce
references.citation: PLoS Biol. 2010;8(11):e1000549
references.pmid: 21151343