Dr. Laurel Edmunds – is a Senior Research Fellow working in collaboration with the NIHR Oxford BRC and relevant researchers across the University of Oxford. She is currently leading on a series of systematic reviews evaluating women in academic medicine and research efficacy in the NIHR Oxford BRC. Dr. Maria Milano – is a research assistant at the Radcliffe Department of Medicine in Oxford University. 1. How do you understand “Societal Engagement” in biosciences research? Societal engagement is a two-way process resulting from the interaction between researchers and the public in order to obtain a mutual benefit. It is signified through different types of activities: collaborating activities which aim to create or decide something together with the public (e.g. partnership working); receiving activities where the views, knowledge and experiences of the public are used to inform, build, or even change decisions (e.g. surveys); transmitting activities with the intention of inspiring and informing the public (e.g. science festivals). 2. What are the current standards and actions to achieve better Societal Engagement in Oxford University and in England in general? A key focus of the University of Oxford is to equip academics and researchers across the entire institution to develop and deliver public engagement with research activities. We have specially trained personnel that run courses and offer resourses (eg www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk) to support researchers with their engagement activities. Societal engagement is now recognised as an academic accomplishment in the UK as part of the Research Excellence Framework (a rank of effectiveness and achievement of the UK researchers, by …
