A scientist engaging with a child at a festival event

Public engagement

Our public engagement mission is to make our research accessible and responsive to society, for the mutual benefits of inspiration, knowledge exchange and trust.

Scientist engaging with member of the public

What is public engagement?

The term public engagement is used to describe the many ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public for mutual benefit.

Our Public Engagement Mission & Strategy

Empower and inspire the next generation.

Generate increased trust in fundamental research and ensure our research remains relevant to society.

Embed public engagement into our research culture.

Microscopy image of HeLa cells stained pink with blue nuclei

13/07/2022

Henrietta Book Club

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Stylised illustration of an adult fruit fly (Drosophila)

The Great BioQuest

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Child looking through a microscope at a festival event with a scientist nearby

15/03/2022

Seeing closer!

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Smiling student working on plates at a lab bench.

Aspiring Scientists Training Programme (ASTP)

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Teachers and scientists carrying out an activity on a laptop

Scientists Collaborative Project with Educators (SCoPE)

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Illustration of scientist in a lab coat applying a temporary tattoo to a member of the public. Scientist has a speech bubble and is saying "DNA"

Tattoo my Science

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Experiments in Art & Science

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Illustration of two people kneeling with palms touching and their bodies made of little geometric shapes to represent cells

Letterbox Science

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Table with beakers and flasks containing brightly coloured crochet. In the background there is a Gurdon Institute banner with the tagline "Studying development to understand disease"

Stitching Science

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For Institute staff and students

Public Engagement Team

We have a dedicated public engagement team that work with staff and students across the institute to design, build and deliver a diverse and dynamic public engagement programme.

DoerflingerNewB&W

Public Engagement Manager

Hélène Doerflinger

Natalie Walls BW portrait

Public Engagement Coordinator

Natalie Walls

Emma Rawlins BW portrait

Public Engagement Ambassador

Emma Rawlins

Silver Engage Watermark

The Gurdon Institute was awarded a Silver Engage Watermark award in 2020.

The Engage Watermark is an award granted by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) to higher education institutions to recognise their strategic support for public engagement and their commitment to improve the support offered.

Silver Engage Watermark from the National Co0ordinating Centre for Public Engagement

Contact the public engagement team

Do you have an idea for a collaborative public engagement project with our scientists? The Gurdon Institute is always open to co-creating new projects, and we would love to hear from you.

Five researchers at a public engagement event wearing orange Gurdon Institute t-shirts