Deadline Extension | Discover: Issue 2 – Call for Public Engagement with Research Contributions

posted by Alistair Berry | 14/11/2019

The University of Lincoln’s Annual Report on public engagement with research, Discover (see https://pearl.lincoln.ac.uk/discover-issue-1/), showcases inspiring activities in which staff and students have engaged with the world beyond the university. The report, available in full-colour publication online and in hard copy, recognises, celebrates and promotes a remarkable range of activity which includes giving talks; contributing to films and exhibitions; running events; staging interactive activities; working with local businesses; organising focus groups; hosting debates; involving members of the public in research and much, much more.

Following its successful launch in 2018, a call is now open for the second issue of Discover with an extended deadline of 29th November 2019, to be released in 2020. We are looking for features that are composed in the style of Discover – Issue 1 (see https://pearl.lincoln.ac.uk/discover-issue-1/). Guideline categories and word counts can be seen below, although there is flexibility in this to suit your article.

To help guide copy-writing, articles should broadly aim for one of the following categories:

PUBLICLY ENGAGED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Articles up to 500 words sharing research projects that are involving people in the process or offering two-way engagement with the findings. Written in the third person. Please include the following, where available, in your contribution:

- - A brief summary of the research or topic that the engagement related to
  - What were the aims of the engagement?
  - What was the activity and how did it involve the public?
  - What methods did you use to assess the success/impact of the activity?
  - What impact did the activity have? (Approximately how many people were involved?
  - What effect did it have; e.g. enriching lives, changing attitudes, supporting learning, changing behaviour, improving health, instilling skills, stimulating discussion/reflection?)
  - What were the key highlights / achievements of the engagement? Are there any lessons to learn from it?

REGULAR EVENTS IN SPOTLIGHT

Articles up to 500 words providing a report, summary or update of events that take place (or are going to take place) on a regular basis. This could be annually, weekly or monthly. Examples might include Research Café style events or annual festivals. Written in the third person.

CENTRES AND RESEARCH GROUPS IN SPOTLIGHT

Articles up to 500 words that share aims, strategies, achievements, projects, and activities being carried out by a collective of research for example a Research Group, Centre, Institute or Team engaging people in research. Written in the third person.

NEWS

Articles up to 300 words sharing updates on a new event, activity or network that has or is taking place. Written in the third person.

VIEWPOINTS

Articles up to 500 words telling an engagement with research story, event, project or experience, sharing personal insights. Only up to a few Viewpoint pieces will be accepted. Written in the first person.

Please look carefully at other articles in the category you have selected in the first issue of Discover carefully before writing and submitting, to ensure that you are following similar styling – this will help reduce the editing process. If you have an activity or news that you feel does not fit into one of the above categories please get in touch to discuss – we want to share and celebrate your news.

All submissions should please include:

- - Lead author name(s) and school(s)
  - 1-3 high quality images
  - a maximum of 3 references to published works, websites etc. relating to the research or the public engagement which will enable readers to find out more
  - up to 6 keywords summarising the content of the article, including the discipline(s) the subject relates to (e.g. demonstration, physics, quantum mechanics, schoolchildren)

Contributions should be submitted to pearl@lincoln.ac.uk by 29th November 2019. If you would like to submit an article but this deadline is not possible for you, please get in touch. Any queries please contact the PEARL team on the above email.