PEP Talk has supported Famelab, Cheltenham Science Festival, Greenman Festival, Being Human Festival and the upcoming British Science Festival. 

Forum Aim

“to promote, support and embed public engagement in professional practice at Swansea University”

We do this by:

• supporting researchers and staff to undertake wider participation in public engagement activities, share opportunities, ideas and best practice.
• delivering training that supports the uptake public engagement (eg. Public Engagement and Impact, Pathways to Impact, & Three Public Engagement project perspectives)
• providing assistance in sourcing, signposting and disseminating “public engagement” funding opportunities alongside training and mentorship.
• promoting public engagement as a pathway to impact via research and professional practices.
• encouraging activities that embed a change in culture which rewards the efforts of staff who undertake such activities coordinating, supporting and organising events and activities which promote the forum.

The university also recognises public engagement as a mechanism for impact that can influence individuals, communities, industry and policy developments in supporting the delivery of benefits and changes that our research activities deliver.

To date, PEP Talk have organised and supported the following public engagement events:

FameLab http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/about/famelab/

FameLab is a communications competition designed to engage and entertain by breaking down science, technology and engineering concepts into three minute presentations. This years’ heat was hosted in partnership with the Science café at The Dylan Thomas Centre, four contestants went through to the regional finals at Techniquest and Amy Jenkins, Psychology won the regional final and progresses to the national final. PHOTO?

British Science Festival , Swansea University on 6th-9th September 2016

http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/Event/british-science-festival-2016

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media-centre/latest-news/swanseauniversitytohostthe2016britishsciencefestival.php

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/research/impact/publicengagement/

The festival is being led by PVC Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott and supported by the Public Engagement Forum, who were instrumental in securing the hosting of the British Science Festival in Swansea in 2016

A family weekend will also take place on the weekend of 10th - 11th September 2016, coordinated by the University, the BSA, and local partners across the city.

Being Human Festival 2015

(http://www.swansea.ac.uk/riah/riah-public-lecture-and-event-series-2015-16/festival-of-humanities-2015/ and http://beinghumanfestival.org/)

In 2015, the Being Human Festival theme at Swansea University was ‘Heritage, Health and Wellbeing’ which involved an exploration of wellbeing and heritage through public-facing activities ( including debate, poetry, dramatic performance, art and enterprise) at a variety of venues including the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Clyne Farm Centre, the National Waterfront Museum and the University’s Singleton campus. The festival was made possible by a grant from the festival organisers, the School of Advanced Study, University of London and the support of the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the British Academy (BA) and the Wellcome Trust.

Cheltenham Science Festival http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science/

Working with the Cheltenham Science festival organisers, we help identify, support and recommend academics to present their research to a wider public audience, which supports and promotes their development at Swansea University.

Greenman Festival http://www.greenman.net/

 

Swansea University Public Engagement Forum – PEP Talk

The members are: Rhian Melita Morris ( Science), Kate Spiller (Arts, Humanities and Law), Dr Ian Mabbett (Chemistry), Dr Richard Johnston (Materials Engineering), Dr Aditee Mitra (Biosciences), Sharon Bishop (SPECIFIC), Bruce Rogers (Public Engagement Officer for Engineering), Emma Nehemiah (Public Engagement and Research Marketing Officer MID).