There was a wee exchange on Twitter about this on the day EPSRC's release came out. I suggested that for the most part public engagement is better integrated with the research than bolted on. Others emphasized the size of their pinches of salt. (My own pinch is hefty, BTW.)
I have heard of one EPSRC project now in progress (which happens to be largely to do with public-engagement) that has a sort of real-time formative impact-evaluation integrated within in (and outsourced, I believe, to a contractor). Is there much activity, I wonder, among public-engagement folk aimed at getting PE similarly embedded? (I'm thinking that relying on academic researchers in engineering and the physical sciences to take the initiative on incorporating PE within their research projects is unlikely to get results fast.)
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Kenward
Sent: 11 August 2010 15:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] EPSRC ends public engagement scheme
The cuts are biting deeper at the Research Councils. After pulling the plug
on their glossy publications, we now see some of them withdrawing support
from Public Engagement in Science and Technology.
"As part of an ongoing review of how we allocate our resources, EPSRC will
no longer be funding public engagement activities via the Partnerships for
Public Engagement (PPE) Scheme."
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2010/Pages/publicengagementagenda.asp
x
You can take the next bit with as big a pinch of salt as you like:
"Public engagement is inherently linked with research, and it has always
been our intention to integrate it within EPSRC's portfolio."
EPSRC says that it hasn't abandoned PEST and will get into consultation
mode. It might be worth chipping in if you have any views on the issue.
___________________________________
Michael Kenward
Science Writer & Stuff
Genetically modified words for sale
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