thanks, Andy - this is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.
>
> My only concern with this would be that it *might* run the risk of being another thing that most researchers are unaware of.
yes; if (*big* if) I end up pursuing this idea further I'd want to try and ensure it somehow linked directly with the JeS grant application system. So zero additional effort or knowledge needed at the initial stage by the researcher, and also tied to a system that research office people are also familiar/engaged with. Otherwise, I agree, it would be another scheme with god intentions, but little penetration.
> but personally I would like to see more help available for the "engagement officer" role so that they can be as connected and informed as possible on behalf of their institution.
Makes sense, but I don't see this as mutually exclusive - perhaps would even be mutually beneficial.
One further point to consider is the issue of fellowship applications (especially by early career stage researchers): these are highly competitive (so a low success rate), and written by researchers who are often unfamiliar with the institution they hope to work with. Further more, they are often the ticket to a permanent job at a *different* institution to the one they start working at (because they have demonstrable funding success AND bring money with them!).
This creates various barriers: (i) identifying the in-house support, (ii) may be less worthwhile for the institution in terms of time investment at the grant application stage and (iii) may not be the best idea to tie engagement/impact related activities too tightly the institution rather than the grant.
Tori
Dr. Victoria Herridge
Department of Palaeontology
Natural History Museum
London
SW7 5BD
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On 12 Oct 2011, at 10:20, Andy Lloyd wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Victoria Herridge [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 11 October 2011 10:47
>
>> However, the idea I had wasn't to replace the expertise of staff employed in e.g. research
>> offices or science communications, but to supplement them with a tool that put researchers
>> (and their KE/PtI money) directly in touch with people/organisations from *anywhere* who had >expertise in policy or sci comm, and wanted to be involved. I.e. not just limiting a
>> scientist to an in-house programme (however excellent), and forging direct links between the
>> scientist and these other relevant fields.
>
>
> Tori
>
> My only concern with this would be that it *might* run the risk of being another thing that most researchers are unaware of. With such a plethora of options already available to researchers it would seem (as an outsider) a simpler task for each institution to have a function (a person or a group) who act as an interface for the researchers, much as the Beacon universities have piloted. At the British Interactive Group we're seeing more people in this sort of role coming to our events specifically to make connections with the wider science communication community, and I'm sure other groups are too. I think it would be unreasonable to expect every researcher to be fully conversant with the PE world (and still have time to do research!) but it's not unreasonable (in my view) to expect every institution to be. A tool like you suggest might be a useful directory, but the best engagement (and impact) often emerges from conversations between researchers and communicators.
>
> I hope this isn't unhelpful, but personally I would like to see more help available for the "engagement officer" role so that they can be as connected and informed as possible on behalf of their institution.
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy
>
>
> Andy Lloyd
> Centre for Life
> Chair, British Interactive Group
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