Public Engagement in action at Engage Actually
Tuesday, 3 December, was all about Engage Actually 鈥 the event for anyone looking to bridge the gap between science and society. Curious beginners and seasoned public engagement enthusiasts came together to get inspired, craft concrete plans for outreach activities, and simply catch up with like-minded colleagues.
Time, resources and support
We kicked off with an engaging interview with Isabel Arends, dean of the Faculty of Science, who shared her passion and vision for public engagement. Her dream: that everyone finds their own way to be visible outside their direct colleagues. This was followed by a lively panel discussion packed with tips on how to secure time, resources, and support for your plans. In an interactive session, participants sharpened their ideas: how do you make your plan both feasible and appealing to your audience? During the info market and networking drinks, colleagues shared their success stories 鈥 from festivals to workshops 鈥 and inspired one another to explore new opportunities.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad that I was able to attend,鈥 says Rianne Kluck, PhD candidate in Biology. 鈥淚t is good to see that we have come a long way compared to the past, but there is still a lot to be gained in the field of public engagement.鈥 She has already signed up for a focus group of the UU Open Science team about Recognition & Rewards for PhD candidates. But in the meantime, she is also starting closer to home: 鈥淚 want to set up a task force with a few colleagues in plant research to make it easier to get started with public engagement.鈥
Behind the scenes
鈥淚 really enjoyed being part of it,鈥 said Myrthe van Sandwijk, management assistant at the Student & Academic Affairs Office. Together with a few colleagues from the Bestuursgebouw, she was invited to attend the interactive session to help researchers look at their work through the eyes of someone outside their field. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to get a better look into what鈥檚 happening within UU and not just on stay your own little island. But I also really enjoyed brainstorming with a researcher and taking a look behind the scenes.鈥
Did you miss out on this edition of Engage Actually? Don鈥檛 worry, we鈥檒l be back at the end of 2025.
