Public Engagement with Research is a two-way process that aims to benefit both the public and researchers, and ultimately enhance the quality or impact of research. Members of the public can be involved in many ways, in the design, conduct and dissemination of research. Activities can take different forms, to inform and inspire, consult and listen, or collaborate with the public.
MORU-Oxford Engagement Meeting
8 April 2025
On 27 March, members of the Public and Community Engagement with Research (PCER) team at the University of Oxford met with MORU colleagues and other engagement colleagues from the University. The session focused on sharing strategies for community engagement, evaluating engagement, and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
AMR booklet by Shuma Banik
3 December 2024
IHTM alumna, Shuma Banik, has written and painted a booklet about the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Assam, India.
The Important Role of Young People in Tackling AMR
20 November 2024
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health and socioeconomic crisis. Regardless of its impact on human and animal health, food production, and the environment that could happen to everyone, everywhere, there’s still much to be done to raise public and stakeholder awareness. A global online survey of nearly 200 stakeholders from human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors also highlighted the need for increased public awareness and action.
Dialogue drama on adolescent pregnancy in a marginalised migrant population on the Thailand-Myanmar border
20 November 2024
A participatory-action approach involving community members and adolescents resulted in a dialogue-drama on adolescent pregnancy, contraception, and choice in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. The dialogue-drama augmented discussion of traditionally taboo issues and this ethnographic method is potentially useful for similar global health settings.
Forum Theatre: Exploring Community’s Power and Raising Awareness
23 October 2024
Forum Theatre, a branch of the so-called Theatre of the Oppressed, is an interactive and participatory form of theatre developed by Brazilian theatre practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s. This unique approach has the potential to explore a community’s voice and raise awareness by empowering people with a tool that encourages them to change reality through their own suggestions for real social issues.
Youth Ambassadors Aim to Raise Tetanus Awareness Through Public and Community Engagement Activities
24 September 2024
OUCRU Youth Science Ambassadors (YSA) project, launched in 2021, has become a key youth engagement activities of OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement Group. Becoming part of the project, young participants are empowered to lead, propose, plan, and execute their own initiatives addressing specific issues they identify themselves.
KWTRP exhibits at the Kenya National Research Festival 2024
12 September 2024
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) hosted an exhibition as part of the British High Commission Pavilion during the Kenya National Research Festival 2024. Under the theme “Research Partnerships and collaborations for Socio-Economic Transformation” the festival aimed to raise awareness about the diverse spectrum of research activities in Kenya and internationally encouraging collaboration.
Community Engagement and Involvement: Enhancing Research Impact
31 July 2024
At OUCRU, we have integrated public and community engagement projects into our research program since 2011. But what exactly is community engagement (and involvement), and why is it important to global health research? Let’s take a look at the summary of a new free course on MESH, a community engagement knowledge and professional support hub by The Global Health Network, and the research outputs made by and led by community members at OUCRU throughout the years to find out.
Visit MalariaWorld
24 July 2024
The Malariaworld exhibition was developed in conjunction with World Malaria Day 2024 to raise awareness of malaria and malaria research, and to highlight some of our contributions to malaria research. You can now visit our virtual exhibition!
OUCRU welcomed ASEAN Social Impact Program students for a Science Visit
31 May 2024
On 31st May, the Public and Community Engagement Group at OUCRU re-launched the Science Visit project. This event saw 25 enthusiastic students from Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Phillipines, and Cambodia. This student group is a part of the ASEAN Social Impact Program (ASIP), visit OUCRU. They joined a lab tour and participated in several group games centered around the clinical trials process.
Nurturing Future Generations’ Passion for Science through Engagement with Children and Teachers
30 May 2024
At OUCRU, we believe that science can excite and inspire children, contribute to their understanding of the world, and present opportunities for life skill development. The better children understand and appreciate science, the better-informed decisions they can make throughout their lives.
Public and Community Engagement to Support Vaccine Research
1 May 2024
The Public and Community Engagement group at OUCRU has a strong commitment to community engagement, particularly in the field of vaccine research. Let’s look at some featured projects in all OUCRU’s local offices, spreading out from typhoid in Nepal to TB in Vietnam.
Visit our exhibition: Malariaworld
17 April 2024
The Malariaworld exhibition has been developed for World Malaria Day 2024 to raise awareness of malaria and malaria research. We highlight some of the Nuffield Department of Medicine’s contributions to malaria research. Come and visit our exhibition at the John Radcliffe Academic Centre, 22-29 April 2024.
OUCRU celebrates World Health Worker Week 2024
3 April 2024
In the 1st week of April each year, the global community comes together to celebrate health workers, the backbone of the health industry and society. This year, the theme is #SafeSupportedHealthWorkers. The Frontline Health Workers Coalition and its partners are leading the effort. The goal is to unite advocates, health workers, leaders, and communities worldwide to call for investment, protection, and support for the health workforce. This is especially important in low—and middle-income countries.
School Leavers Attachment Scheme
22 February 2024
KWTRP hosted 153 students for the Annual School Leavers Attachment Scheme (SLAS) Open Day. The SLAS open day targets top performing students in Kilifi to give them an opportunity to information from various stakeholders and scientists that would help them firm up or redefine their career aspirations. It is an opportunity to give the students information about the need to take science and health related careers with the focus on creating the next pool of researchers in Kenya, Africa and beyond.
12 Remarkable African Life Scientists– An inspirational book for young people
18 February 2024
Dr Tabitha Mwangi, a former KWTRP scientist now working in the UK, has written an inspirational book targeted at High school going children but also useful in shaping students already in university in shaping their career journeys.
Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance: OUCRU's Fight Against the Silent Pandemic
23 November 2023
OUCRU are tackling the global health threat of Antimicrobial Resistance – a silent pandemic claiming millions of lives yearly. Learn about our collaborative research, our interventions in local hospitals, and our ongoing efforts to combat AMR.
Public Engagement Activities in Nepal to celebrate World AMR Awareness Week
22 November 2023
As part of the global efforts to raise awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) during World AMR Awareness Week, OUCRU Nepal has been actively engaging in public outreach activities since 2016. These initiatives aim to educate and empower individuals to take action in preventing the spread of AMR and promote responsible antibiotic use in the country.
World AMR Awareness and Public Engagement at OUCRU
21 November 2023
At OUCRU, we are committed to raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance in the communities we work with. To fulfil our commitment, OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement team has organised several activities and projects across our sites. The aim has been to educate and empower individuals to take action in preventing the spread of AMR by promoting responsible antibiotic use.
Community Engagement on Human Resources for Health Needs at IF Oxford Festival
1 November 2023
In a world driven by innovation and technology, healthcare remains a cornerstone of society. Understanding the healthcare system's challenges is crucial for professionals and the public. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering knowledge and awareness the Health Systems Collaborative (HSC) team participated in community engagement as a part of the IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival. This event allowed participants to explore the human resources for health challenges while highlighting our work to address these issues in the UK and worldwide.