The University has signed the Manifesto for Public Engagement, which has been developed by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCPP).
The Manifesto states that:
“We believe that universities and research institutes have a major responsibility to contribute to society through their public engagement, and that they have much to gain in return.
We are committed to sharing our knowledge, resources and skills with the public, and to listening to and learning from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage.
We are committed to developing our approach to managing, supporting and delivering public engagement for the benefit of staff, students and the public, and to sharing what we learn about effective practice.”
The manifesto is signed on behalf of the University by Professor Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor, who said: “This is an important commitment to make and one which will challenge us all to ensure that we fulfil these aims and make Bath a leading centre for innovations in public engagement”.
Professor Matthew Davidson (from the Department of Chemistry) will act as the University’s nominated contact with the National Centre.
Professor Davidson has a long-standing commitment to public engagement through a range of activities including the development of the successful Public Engagement Training programme in the EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre in Sustainable Chemical Technologies. Among other things this involves an annual student-led exhibition at the Cheltenham Science Festival.
Professor Davidson said: “The University of Bath is pleased to be a signatory to the Manifesto for Public Engagement. We fully support the aims and are committed to sharing our knowledge, resources and skills.
“We are already very active in this area, including for example our annual Bath Taps into Science Festival, the Images of Research photographic competition, and the Bath Science Café.
“We look forward to working with the National Coordinating Centre to further enhance this work and involve more people across the University.”
A group of maths communicators from the University who participated in the Royal Society Summer Exhibition