We aim to increase the public engagement skills and experience of those in the ICT community, so they can also better recognise the benefits of engagement and be empowered to share their learning with the wider ICT research community through best practice activities.
These activities are an important part of inspiring others and driving sustainable public engagement culture change within higher education institutions and the wider community. We first launched a survey in Spring 2024 to assess the current perception of public engagement in the ICT community, the skill levels, and what support people would like in this area.
The results of this survey will be published soon.The result of the survey were also used to aid us in designing a symposium with and for the ICT community, using their feedback and suggestions to guide our programme.
On 16th Dec 2024, SMQB hosted the free online Public Engagement x Computer Science Symposium which brought together those in the ICT community who are interested in learning more about public engagement in this field.
This event aimed to bridge the gaps highlighted in the survey mentioned above, by providing training opportunities, case studies, networking, and advice from EPSRC around impact and funding.
Recordings of the symposium sessions can be found below:
Case Study and Inspiration with Professor John Terry
In the first session of the day, we heard from Professor John Terry sharing his thoughts and experience of Public Engagement.
Professor John Terry opens the first session offering valuable and personal experiences in Public Engagement.
Workshop 1A: Engaging Diverse Communities with ICT
How do you begin to talk to different communities about your computer science?
How do you build the confidence to do so?
In this workshop, we learnt all about how to Engage Diverse Communities with Professor Keeley Crockett and Dr Sarah Linn from Manchester Metropolitan University, and Jo Brodie from Queen Mary, University of London.
Our EPSRC Public Engagement Champions guided us through the process of engaging diverse communities using ICT.
Workshop 1B: Creating Engaging Events: tips, Tricks and Advice
Wanting to participate in public engagement is one thing, but how to you actually host events and make sure people will actually turn up?!
In this workshop, we heard from Jessie Pearce from the Alan Turning Institute, and Dr Wendy Yanez from UoB, who both have years of experience hosting public engagement events, particularly in the Computer Science field.
Workshop 1B: Creating Engaging Events
Coding for Change: Panel Discussion with EPSRC ICT Public Engagement Champions
In this session we hear from 3 EPSRC ICT Public Engagement Champions from across the UK: Professor John Terry (University of Birmingham), Professor Keeley Crockett (Manchester Metropolitan University), and Professor Paul Curzon (Queen Mary University).
With decades of Public Engagement experience between them, this is an insightful discussion about personal experience, and the future of engagement in the ICT community.
Three EPSRC ICT Public Engagement Champions deliver an insightful discussion on their experiences and the future of engagement in the ICT community.
Workshop 2: Engaging for Impact featuring EPSRC
In this session we hear from Dr Michelle Lascelles (EPSRC) and Dr Nikolaos Venetsaneas (University of Birmingham) as they tell us how public engagement can help with research, how to incorporate into grants, and how to measure this as impact.
Dr. Michelle Lascelles and Dr. Nikolaos Venetsaneas explore how public engagement can enhance your work and provide guidance on measuring its impact.