Working with communities for more meaningful public engagement

“How long did you take to travel here?” It sounds like a simple question, but a simple question can be the basis of a truly engaging experience. This was the start of an insightful two days in Bristol for the Engage Live 2024 conference. It gave me the chance to hear from a professional public engagement community that’s vaster than I ever thought possible.

The opening plenary set the stage for the next 16 years for academia, with Steven Hill, Research England, calling for ‘change not publications.’ He wanted to see transdisciplinary research become the norm, alongside co-creation including with diverse communities, to affect societal change. This strongly aligns with Research Data Scotland’s vision – to help researchers access linked datasets across areas such as education, health and the environment – and our efforts to include our public panel across our work. I knew we were in for a great couple of days. 

Addressing the challenges

Across the two days, the core themes of the conference were accessibility, diversity, and the stories about the many challenges some communities and public engagement professionals face. One story came from Dr Tanvir Bush, registered blind due to a degenerative eye condition. She highlighted that, despite the disabled community being the largest minority group – a quarter of UK adults – we are still living within an ableist society.

On the second day of the conference, Professor Ima Jackson, Glasgow Caledonian University, spoke about her aims to address the systemic racism which is embedded in many research systems through a new anti-racism observatory. Receiving £2 million of funding, it will launch in late 2024 and will have oversight of the anti-racism approach in Scotland, act as a place to store collective knowledge, and support co-production.

Thankfully, the conference practiced what it preached and created an inclusive space for all. Dr Tanvir Bush applauded the event’s accommodation for her accessibility needs, but I also noted a quiet space for those who needed the time away from the conference buzz, gender neutral toilets, and rooms that were accessible to all. These changes only made the event better for everyone.

Still a lot to learn

Day 2 continued to put a spotlight on the struggles we still need to overcome and asked; ‘What about the people behind the engagement?’ We’re struggling too. New research on ‘Relational Practice’ found that people in relational roles, such as public engagement, don’t have the support they need to address the unique challenges they face.

We hold deep conversations with communities and often touch on triggering subjects. Over time, public engagement professionals carry the stories of many people with them. In the past, I have felt this burden and strongly support the call for greater mental health support for all of us in relational roles. 

Looking to the future

However, I wouldn’t be in my role today if I wasn’t happy to hear people’s stories and be a part of the change. The conference managed to engage the engagement professionals by showing us why we do what we do and why it matters. The event finished by asking the audience what we want to see in 2040. Like the anonymous quotes, I’d like to see a 2040 where the silos are broken, and where everyone’s knowledge is valued.

Find out more about how RDS works with the public through our Scotland Talks Data public panel and Public Engagement Fund.