1. Communicating your research outside of academia
9th July 2014
Dr Charlotte Mathieson
Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick

2. Public engagement activities
Workshop plan:
Introduction
Warm-up exercise
Public engagement activities
Radio
Blogging
Podcasting
Discussion: the value of humanities research

3. Communicating your research outside of academia
Starting questions
Who is the ‘public’ with which you’re engaging?
Why would they want to listen to me?
What is the format?

4. Did you know that…?
One fact about your research – something engaging, entertaining, interesting, unknown, culturally relevant

5. Did you know that…? the ‘hook’ Engage your audience
Refocus your perspective

6. Exercise 1: the radio pitch
You have 2 minutes to talk about your research on the radio
Summarise your research for a non-specialist audience and communicate the importance and value of your research
No going over time!

7. Exercise 1 (cont…) Some pointers: Front-load No jargon
Visualise/conceptualise
Use an example
Use your ‘did you know?’

8. Exercise 2: Online writing
Blogs (individual)
Group/ Association run blogs
Magazine-style websites
Opinion pieces

9. Online writing (cont…)
How do the writers engage a non-specialist?
What techniques/strategies do they use?
What is different to a piece of academic writing?
Think about: style and tone; language; structure; length

10. Exercise 3: podcasting your research
You have the opportunity to devise a 10 minute audio/ film podcast about your research to a non- specialist audience: what would you focus on?
Draft a brief outline of a podcast idea
This is about finding one ‘impact nugget’ from your research

11. Getting started on public engagement as an ECR
Think ahead
Move out of your comfort zone
Find out what’s out there
Comms/ press office 
Raise your own profile
Use your initiative & put yourself forward

12. Types of impact Audiences Types of impact
Government bodies (local, national, international)
Informing policy-making, providing evidence
Charities, NGOs, voluntary groups
Resources for use in campaigns, challenging existing policy
General public, communities of interest e.g. swimmers, parents
New attitudes and beliefs, challenging conventional wisdom
Schools, teachers and learners
Teacher training, new teaching resources
Practitioners e.g. nurses
Changing practice, training
Businesses/industry
Creation of databases, providing consultancy to improve efficiency
Table by Nadine Lewycky, Arts Impact Officer

13. Impact activities Social and digital media, traditional media
Public talks, discussions or debates
Participatory dialogue events (focus groups, workshops)
Arts events or exhibitions
Festivals
Schools outreach
Conference with external audience members
Training, CPD or consultancy
Spin out companies or IP

14. Further resources
Arts Faculty Impact Webpage: RCUK Web Page: REF 2014 Web Page: NCCPE: Vitae:

15. Impact and ECRs http://phdlife. warwick. ac
Impact and ECRs career-researchers/ Case Study: Impact in the Arts the-arts-and-humanities/ Getting out there with your research mathieson-%E2%80%9Cgetting-out-there%E2%80%9D-with- your-research