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| Titel |
Coffee Shops, Classrooms and Conversations: public engagement and outreach in a large interdisciplinary research Hub |
| VerfasserIn |
Jennifer A. Holden |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2014
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 16 (2014) |
| Datensatznummer |
250100753
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2014-16746.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Public engagement and outreach activities are increasingly using specialist staff for
co-ordination, training and support for researchers, they are also becoming expected for
large investments. Here, the experience of public engagement and outreach a large,
interdisciplinary Research Hub is described.
dot.rural, based at the University of Aberdeen UK, is a £11.8 million Research Councils
UK Rural Digital Economy Hub, funded as part of the RCUK Digital Economy Theme
(2009-2015). Digital Economy research aims to realise the transformational impact of digital
technologies on aspects of the environment, community life, cultural experiences, future
society, and the economy. The dot.rural Hub involves 92 researchers from 12 different
disciplines, including Geography, Hydrology and Ecology. Public Engagement and Outreach
is embedded in the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub via an Outreach Officer. Alongside this
position, public engagement and outreach activities are compulsory part of PhD student
contracts.
Public Engagement and Outreach activities at the dot.rural Hub involve individuals and
groups in both formal and informal settings organised by dot.rural and other organisations.
Activities in the realms of Education, Public Engagement, Traditional and Social Media are
determined by a set of Underlying Principles designed for the Hub by the Outreach Officer.
The underlying Engagement and Outreach principles match funding agency requirements and
expectations alongside researcher demands and the user-led nature of Digital Economy
Research. All activities include researchers alongside the Outreach Officer are research
informed and embedded into specific projects that form the Hub. Successful public
engagement activities have included participation in Café Scientifique series, workshops in
primary and secondary schools, and online activities such as I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of
Here.
From how to engage 8 year olds with making hydrographs more understandable to
members of the public to blogging birds and engaging with remote, rural communities to
Spiegeltents. This presentation will share successful public engagement and outreach
events alongside some less successful experiences and lessons learnt along the way. |
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