Storying a Way to Public Engagement

Through the Woods and Over the Bridge:

Storying a Way to Public Engagement

What if no one comes?

What if no one cares?

What if no one believes me?

In this era of alternative facts, the rejection of experts and the rampant spread of misinformation by social media, our young researchers can feel uncertain about the place of scientists in society.  At the same time, it is more important than ever that scientists reach out to the public, person to person, to share their experiences, their practices, their knowledge and their common humanity.

The questions above came from a focus group with postgraduate researchers in the field of regenerative medicine, all of whom are required to engage with the public, but most of whom had not yet done so.  When asked what they feared most about doing a public event, this is what one young woman said.

There are two threads that run through every great story. The first is the hero’s journey - accomplishment, success, overcoming obstacles and returning home with the cure - the thread of individuation and self-actualisation.  But there is another theme, a theme as relevant to medical research as to any other human practice, the theme of connection, disconnection and re-connection.

We also spoke to researchers who had experience of public engagement.  In contrast to the fears expressed above, they told stories of the joys of connecting through public engagement, connecting to children, to adults, to patients and to communities.

The focus groups fed the game development. A game that leads researchers who are new to public engagement out of the deep dark woods towards the brightness on the other side, to the glow of connectedness, meaning, collaboration. While playing the game, they explore opportunities, come face to face with common challenges and overcome these by drawing on their own creative resources and finding the right help.  When they finally cross the bridge to the other side, gifts await.

Everyone’s supportive, everyone cares

Community Feeling

It was the greatest thing