Who we are
Who does public and community engagement with research at Oxford?
Public and community engagement with research (PCER) at Oxford is planned and carried out by departments and individual research groups. Research groups might work on specific projects with the public or community. Departments might share their work or seek public views.
There are also cross-divisional and cross-university opportunities to support researchers in engaging the public and communities with research. Examples include:
- Oxford Sparks
- Science Together: Oxford Researchers and Communities (STORC)
- The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)
- Festival of Social Science
Who can help researchers to engage the public and communities with research?
The environment for engagement with research within the University is shaped by divisional PCER leads and the central PCER team. Some departments, institutes, and units have dedicated impact specialists or public engagement facilitators (PEFs) who can provide support.
Seek support for engagement with research early in project planning. Engagement isn’t just about sharing research findings - at its best, engagement with research means identifying the research question, doing the research, and disseminating it, all in partnership with the people affected by it.
Divisional PCER leads
If unsure who to ask, contact your divisional PCER lead:
- GLAM: Dr Harriet Warburton
- Humanities: Dr Victoria McGuinness
- MPLS: Dr Michaela Livingstone-Banks
- MSD: Naomi Gibson
- SSD: Aileen Marshall-Brown
Governance
PCER at Oxford is overseen by the PCER Advisory Board, chaired by the Academic Champion for Public and Community Engagement with Research. Each division has an individual responsible for supporting PCER, either alone or as part of a broader portfolio linked to impact and/or knowledge exchange.
Connect with others
There are several networks and opportunities to connect with people doing public and community engagement with research. We aim to raise awareness among individuals and groups involved in public engagement.
Public Engagement Facilitators Network
If you’re a public engagement facilitator (PEF), join the PEF Network (PEFN) to learn from others and share your expertise. The network provides peer support and creates a community of professional services staff at the University of Oxford who support, facilitate, or lead public and community engagement with research.
The University of Oxford’s PCER team co-facilitates the PEFN, holding informal meetings once or twice a term. Members can interact flexibly through a dedicated MS Teams platform with subject-specific channels. The network is designed for and by the PEF community, and its direction is led by its members, their interests, and goals.
