Are you a physical scientist or do you engage with STFC or use STFC facilities and undertake outreach, public engagement and science communication? If so then the “INTERACT” Symposium is for you!
What it’s all about: The STFC, IOP and SEPnet are organising a one day conference in Birmingham that promises to be both useful and fun! We want to help you share your enthusiasm for science. This lively one day event offers you the opportunity to be inspired by experienced outreach/public engagement champions, share your experience and good practice, take part in hands-on interactive workshops and parallel sessions. In addition there will be a marketplace showcasing engagement in practice that offers you a chance to see what resources are out there to help you.

Themes of the day are:

• Evaluation and impact: How to do effective evaluation and demonstrate impact, sharing case studies, what worked for REF and what didn’t. Looking forward to REF 2021

• Reaching traditionally hard-to-engage and underserved audiences: Working with the right partners, raising your skills and working with STEM influencers to reach low science capital audiences

• Schools outreach: How to work with young audiences and inspire them

• Sharing both good practice and a safe space for “what not to do”s: Understanding your audience, reflective practice and what constitutes high-quality public engagement

Who can attend: The symposium is open to all Physical Science researchers including engineering and facility users. Attending can also contribute to your continuing professional development.

This event is free to attend but you will need to register in advance. Please register at https://www.iopconferences.org/iop/1102/home by Friday 30 June.

Registered delegates will be invited to submit ideas for running a session or workshop that address the key symposium themes and there will an opportunity to demonstrate your outreach activities. Registered delegates will also be asked to vote on the final conference programme.

We all look forward to seeing you there.

Dr Neville Hollingworth
Public Engagement Manager
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1SZ

E: Neville.hollingworth@stfc.ac.uk