About public engagement at Birkbeck
Our vision
Public engagement with research includes making our research and knowledge accessible to the public and working with publics to produce that knowledge.
Birkbeck is a place where we connect, collaborate, challenge received wisdom and build on the expertise of life and work, as well as 'official' knowledge. We see public engagement as at the heart of our values and as a core part of our research, enabling us to interact with a wide and diverse range of people for the betterment of our research and our researchers.
'We believe public engagement is an essential part of a strong research culture that supports interdisciplinary study and acknowledges the importance of non-academic expertise.' Professor David Latchman, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck.
Public engagement and impact
Public engagement and impact agendas share some common aims. Not all public engagement qualifies as 'impact' though, and vice versa. The key is engagement with people, rather than any specific outputs.
Birkbeck's Impact Officers can help and advise on impact pathways or plans:
- Faculty of Business and Law: TBC
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: David Convery
- Faculty of Science: TBC
As stated by Research Councils UK: 'Public engagement may be included as one element of your Pathway to Impact. Engaging the public with your research can improve the quality of research and its impact, raise your profile, and develop your skills. It also enables members of the public to act as informed citizens and can inspire the next generation of researchers.'