Graham Turner: PE Challenge Winner

Congratulations to Professor Graham Turner (Heriot-Watt University)- the overall winner of the Public Engagement Challenge 2009/2010. This was announced at our Annual Gathering, where Fionna Carlise (International artist and Edinburgh Beltane artist-in-residence) presented a sketch and an award of £2000 in recognition of the Knowledge Exchange Café event which featured research on Deaf Issues and British Sign Language (BSL).

Picture Credits: Deaf Action

This award recognises the high impact ratings this event achieved on all the elements which we consider are particularly important for quality public engagement events*. In particular, the event has clear potential to feed into public policy, with the current public consultation on a BSL Bill for Scotland.

The event also benefited from a collaborative approach, with a partnership including:

• Deaf Action;
• the Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD);
• Moray House School of Education (University of Edinburgh).

“[The event featured] Important information that needs to be available to deaf people. Please keep it going.”
Quote from a Deaf participant
“It was useful for Deaf people & hearing people to see the background work that is being done to attain equality of life for Deaf citizens in Scotland.”
Quote from a hearing participant

See more pictures at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31660&id=133216540026436

7 more fantastic Challenge events

The Public Engagement Challenge showcased innovative public engagement events and best practice- we thank each successful applicant for their valuable contribution to public engagement in Scotland.

The initial awards, ranging from £500 to £1500, enabled the following pilot initiatives to take place:

• A workshop with Edinburgh College of Art researchers involved with (Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) “tagging” technology engaging in dialogue with a local “anti-ID” community group (NO2ID) and other publics about the opportunities and privacy issues associated with this new technology
  Download a booklet summarising learning from this workshop;
• A display of 3D images featuring plant biology and biomechanics, compiled by Edinburgh Napier University engineers and hosted at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  See pictures here;
• EdSign (Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University and The University of Edinburgh) organised a series of bilingual talks delivered in English and BSL. These were a forum for discussion between Deaf and hearing audience members
  View the project blog
• The Royal Society Edinburgh ran a public competition as part of their Climate Change public inquiry in the Highlands to increase involvement from locals;
• University of Edinburgh Geoscience students developed a drop-in visitor activity at Our Dynamic Earth, raising awareness of Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) and highlighting plans to make Scotland a world-leader in this area
  View a short film here;
• A University of Edinburgh PhD student piloted an event at the Glasgow West End Festival. This generated debate about research on the ethics of modern consumerism
  More details and pictures can be found here.

There were also two projects aimed at expanding the Edinburgh Beltane ethos, and facilitating a culture of public engagement across the partnership:

• An in-house training programme at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh encouraged the skilled scientists and horticulturalists to develop their own drop-in activities;
• Subsidised delegate passes for the Edinburgh International Science Festival allowed partner members to experience excellence in science communication at preferential rates.

* The criteria for high-impact events include: Community involvement and benefits; Timeliness; Innovation; Research relevant to public policy; Cross-discipline events/activities; Cross-partner events/activities; Contributions in kind including hosting at a partner institution; Public engagement partners involvement and support; Formative evaluation and dissemination strategy; Funding leverage potential; Potential to feed into public policy making process