Blog
Benefits and Opportunities for a National Community of Practice
In 2018, we conducted a short online survey to capture the thoughts and strategies of individuals and organisations involved in public engagement with research in the UK. Over 70 individuals ...
Ten Challenges and Barriers to Public Engagement and Citizen Science
In 2018, we conducted a short online survey to capture the thoughts and strategies of individuals and organisations involved in public engagement with research in the UK. We asked them ...
Key lessons and areas for development
Throughout the course of this OPENER programme we have not only been conducting our own community events, training and capacity building exercises, but we have been investigating the current status ...
One PhD student’s journey in the discovery of SciArt
Louise Arnal, creates us an animation to reveal how she came across the value of communicating her research through cartoons: "Up until last year, I had done nothing in science ...
Science, poetry, motivation and community
Is such a Zen-like poem of interest to the physical sciences? We now live in an era in which the latest development for the justification of investment of resources for ...
Can curiosity save our planet?
On a sunny summer’s day about five years ago, I was doing the laundry – not particularly enjoying it. I hung the clothes on the line in my garden to ...
The varied nature of CoPs: insights from citizen science gatherings
June was a busy month in the citizen science calendar. One of the OPENER team embraced this opportunity for learning, sharing and discussing participatory science approaches by darting between 6 ...
Q: What do you get when you cross a scientist with a poet?
A: Beautiful, thought-provoking audio visuals, that's what. One of the aims of the OPENER project is to open up science for all, and this includes reaching new audiences. OPENER's very ...
The Dictionary of Science: What is the role of language in opening up research?
“Civilisation depends upon science and high technology, yet most of us are excluded from the language, value and methods of science. This is a recipe for disaster.” Carl Sagan Carl ...