The Power of Public Engagement in STEM
Scientists know that public engagement is one of the most powerful ways to connect their work with society, spark curiosity, and make research more accessible to all. But what exactly does it take to organise a successful and effective event? And what steps should a researcher take if they’d like to get more hands-on with public engagement?
The British Neuroscience Association’s (BNA) biennial International Festival of Neuroscience includes a public programme of events that take place in the host city during the lead up to the conference. The aim of the Bring Your Own Brain (BYOB) programme is to include as broad a spectrum of people with interests in the brain as possible, and to leave a legacy of the BNA’s visit to the city.
The most recent festival took place in Liverpool in April 2025 and in this guest blog, Dr Susannah Walker, the BNA’s Liverpool representative and curator of this year’s BYOB public programme, reflects on the importance of engaging the public with research. She also shares some of her highlights from the programme, and offers tips for scientists who are keen to get more involved with public engagement.
Why public engagement matters – especially in neuroscience
Engaging the public with science is really important for a number of reasons.
Firstly, there is a clear appetite among many groups for finding out about the research going on in their area. In 2022 the UK based Campaign for Science and Engineering conducted a survey of over 1800 members of the public from all round the UK. They found that while 65% of people agreed with the statement “I know hardly anything about the research being done in my area” a similar number (64%), said they would like to hear more.
However, curiosity about and trust in science are much lower in younger than older age groups with surveys indicating only 16% of young people find scientists approachable and only 12% believe scientists represent their views and values. Thus, there is clearly work to be done.
When it comes to neuroscience specifically, I think it is a great topic to engage the public with because it has broad appeal and a relatable impact in many people’s lives. Neurological and mental health conditions are widespread, people are often interested in finding out more about their own behaviour and there are lots of neuro-myths out there ready to be challenged.
Curating an engaging programme for all ages
Bring Your Own Brain 2025 was a 6-week long programme of events starting during Brain Awareness Week in mid-March. The events took place at venues across the Liverpool city region. The overall aim of the programme was to inspire, entertain and engage people of all ages with the science of the brain. To achieve this the Liverpool Neuroscience Group worked in partnership with our member universities (Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University and the University of Liverpool), museums, charities and other civic institutions. We combined traditional talks with art, comedy, and hands-on activities to showcase the neuroscientific research going on in Liverpool, to inform people about the brain’s adaptability and also, hopefully, to debunk some common misconceptions about how the brain works.
For example, we had a two week-long residency at a local children’s science museum, Eureka! Science + Discovery, during the Easter holidays. A group of STEM ambassadors hosted a pop-up stand focused on the brain and the senses – visitors could test their sense of smell and taste and have a go at some crafting activities including making pipe-cleaner neurons and brain hats.
We also hosted two neuro-themed comedy nights where some very brave local neuroscientists took to the stage armed with routines designed to bust some brain myths as well as raise laughs.
Pictured: Performers at the NeuroNights comedy events in Liverpool
Highlights and rewarding moments from the festival
I think for me, one of the most rewarding activities was the neuroscience outreach programme for local schools. Across two days, more than sixty 16- and 17-year-olds studying A-level biology came to Liverpool John Moores University to take part in a series of interactive sessions that covered brain structure and function, as well as the visual and somatosensory systems. A key aim of the session was to give students insight into the breadth of neuroscientific research, from molecule to behaviour.
What was really rewarding about this was the enthusiasm the students showed. We were fully booked within 2 days of opening up applications, the days themselves were fun with lots of questions and interaction. The feedback we got afterwards was also really encouraging with 100% saying they found the activities interesting and engaging.
In fact, a subgroup of 18 of these students chose to attend the BNA conference itself where they had a bespoke education session that recapped and built on some of the things they had learned on the outreach days. They also attended a keynote lecture and a poster session. This opportunity to see how research is presented and discussed by scientists is invaluable for these students who will soon have the chance to apply to university themselves.
Pictured: Some of the A-level biology students who attended the BNA Festival thanks to the Bring Your Own Brain initiative
Community impact & lasting connections
One of the primary impacts of the programme was increasing awareness of the neuroscientific expertise and research going on across Liverpool. By doing this we’ve been able to establish partnerships between local neuroscientists and schools, museums and charities, all of which can now be built upon moving forward.
For example, a somatosensory neuroscience focused session we hosted was attended by a number of members of a social group for people living with chronic pain. They fed back that the sessions gave them novel insight into their condition, and they would like other similar events in the future.
While the Easter programme at Eureka! Science + Discovery was the first such partnership the museum has had with a local university, it is something their Head of Learning has confirmed she would do again. Indeed, they have already sought input from one of my colleagues, a visual neuroscientist, on the design of an illusion-themed programme running later in the year.
We were also able to connect with The Brain Charity, who are a national charity based in Liverpool supporting people with neurological conditions. While they already had strong links with neurologists at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, they weren’t aware of the Liverpool Neuroscience Group and the relevance of the fundamental research going on at the universities to their clients. Since making this new connection we are now helping them to build a network of experts they can call on to support media requests, funding bids and talks for their members.
The benefits for scientists
Getting involved in public engagement offers many benefits for scientists, and can result in very different conversations about your research than you might have at a talk to university students or other academics. The challenge of making complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience is a great way of developing communication skills, but these two-way interactions can also give a fresh perspective on your research.
Public engagement is hugely rewarding, and in my experience, public audiences, no matter what the age group, are always very interested and engaged in the events they attend. By reaching out to groups who are underrepresented in STEM we can have a big impact on how they view science and scientists, and increase how relevant our work feels to their lives.
Plan ahead and know your audience
For me the main key to successful public engagement is planning. Knowing why you are doing something and who you are doing it for are the first steps.
Also, match the nature of your event to the likely size of your audience and plan accordingly. During the BYOB programme we found that having really meaningful conversations with small groups of people as they engaged with our activities could be more effective than large events where there is less time for individual interaction.
Finally, make sure you gather feedback from those who participate in your events. This helps you to know what worked well from the attendees’ perspective which you can combine with your own reflections to inform future events.
Take the plunge and learn from others
For anyone looking to get more involved with public engagement, I’d recommend seeking out those who are already running events and learn from them. My university public engagement officer has been a huge asset in providing training, offering advice, and fostering connections. Through her I met other researchers at my university with lots more public engagement experience than me who I was able to seek advice from and collaborate with.
Finally, look out for national and international events like Pint of Science, find out who co-ordinates them in your local city region and ask to get involved – I can assure you people co-ordinating PE programmes are always looking for volunteers!
More articles on public engagement & scicomm
If you’re interested in finding out more about public engagement and science communication, why not check out some of these other great articles on the Hello Bio blog:
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Public Engagement: Why Bother as a Scientist? - guest blog by Soraya Meftah
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Engaging the Public, Patients and the Next Generation with Your Science - guest blog by Dr Chloe Thomas
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Improving public understanding of science - guest blog by Mann Virdee & Ella Courtie
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The Importance of Science Communication - guest blog by Chinmaya Sadangi
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