Project Description

Science Engagement aims to involve individuals that are not part of the scientific community in science initiatives. Over the past decades, the Science Engagement field has seen a tremendous growth, with the development of new funding opportunities and an increased institutionalisation. However, obvious challenges still exist, namely related to the lack of incentives for scientists and science-related institutions to get involved in Science Engagement initiatives and advocate for it in their circles. With this Commitment to Action, Ana is working on collecting evidence and learnings on solutions and actions that foster the institutionalisation of the Science Engagement field, through literature revision and a participatory workshop approach.

PROJECT Lead

Ana Faustino, Quality Manager at Falling Walls Engage and the International Year of Science Engagement, Falling Walls Foundation & Falling Walls Engage Winner 2018.

Outputs

• Organisation of the workshop “Institutionalising Science Engagement: the key to promote science literacy and informed decision-making in society” as part of the Berlin Science Week in November 2020. This workshop included a panel and Q&A session with experts working in the field of Science Engagement institutionalisation, followed by group discussions on solutions and actions that promote this institutionalisation, with Science Engagement practitioners from all over the world.
• Drafting of a report on solutions and actions that promote the institutionalisation of Science Engagement, including a brief state-of-the art and the learnings gathered in the workshop mentioned above.

PROJECT Description

The objective is to identify elements of innovative and successful Science Engagement projects involving hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations, and create a guide for Science Engagement practitioners to plan, implement and evaluate similar projects. The project will produce a typology of what constitutes hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations in the context of Science Engagement. Also, the team will review the literature and projects from the finalists of the Falling Walls Engage Finale, and give visibility to case studies focused on Science Engagement projects involving hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations.

PROJECT LEADS

• Bernard Appiah, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University (USA), Founding Director of the Centre for Science and Health Communication in Ghana & Falling Walls Engage Winner 2019.
• Julian Ferreras, Scientist at the Institute of Subtropical Biology (CONICET-UNaM), Coordinator Posadas Science Cafe & Falling Walls Engage Winner 2019.

 Partner

Syracuse University

 Outputs

• A typology of hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations for Science Engagement practitioners.
• Case studies of Science Engagement approaches involving hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations, with emphasis on approaches, evaluation methods and outcomes (one of the case studies will involve a systematic review of Science Engagement projects that reach out to cancer patients that are also deaf).

PROJECT Description

This participatory research project aims to explore the challenges and opportunities in Science Engagement funding. The project aims to capture insights from Science Engagement practitioners and funders through lived experiences, to map out their needs and influence the funding space in order to make it more diverse, accessible, and inclusive of Science Engagement projects. The team strives to contribute to the building of a Science Engagement funding landscape that is more impactful and sustainable.

PROJECT LEADS

• Stephanie Okeyo, Founder of Under the Microscope & Falling Walls Engage Winner 2019.
• Kyerewaa Akuamoah Boateng, Public Engagement Officer (the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) & the University of Ghana) and Falling Walls Engage Winner 2019 & 2021.

TEAM

• Biko Sewe, Head of Strategy & Communications
• Winnie Belyon, Community Manager
• Francis Dzabeng, Data & Statistics Lead

PartnerS

Under the Microscope & the West African Center For Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP)

Outputs

• A white paper about the Science Engagement funding landscape which will document the experience of practitioners, knowledge on funding structures, the needs of practitioners and funders, as well as proposed solutions that strengthen the field of Science Engagement.