How to include public engagement in your URSS project

How to include Public Engagement in your URSS Project

Please check the main URSS webpages for the most up-to-date information on bursary amounts, eligibility and project length, as this may change from year to year.

This webpage supports URSS students with 'Step 4' of their research projects: 'Share your research'.

One of the things you must do to complete Step 4 is to create a public engagement output. This is because researchers often do public engagement as part of their research projects, so by doing some yourself you're getting a well-rounded experience of what being a researcher is like.

What is public engagement?

Public engagement is about talking to people outside of the university about the work that goes on here. That could be something you've learnt on your course or a piece of research by you or someone in your department.

Good public engagement involves having a two way discussion with the people you choose to engage with. As well as telling them about the work you're an expert in, you also make space for them to share their responses, thoughts and perspectives. Questions and conversations with members of the public have inspired researchers to take their research in different directions, or to engage in collaborative or co-produced research projects - public engagement can be very powerful!

What to learn more? Check out our online resource 'What is Engagement'?

Why do we do public engagement?

This video summaries why public engagement matters for Warwick students.

Here are some other reasons why we do public engagement:

Personal enrichment (many people enjoy their engagement work and find it very rewarding)
Stronger research that is more connected to society
Opportunity to develop new skills and set yourself new challenges
Chance to share what you're passionate about with more people
Influence more people and voices to be passionate about the subject your care about

Want to learn more? Check out this student blog, 'When Science Meets Society'.

Guides, toolkits and learning resources about public engagement

Follow the links to learn about each topic:

Our full range of resources can be found in our Skills Festival.

The How: You have 2 options

You can complete the public engagement element of your URSS project during the summer whilst you are doing your research, or you could do it in the Autumn term once your project is complete.

1. Complete your public engagement requirement independently

The only limit here is your creativity! Some of your options include:

Online engagement - a podcast, blog post/s, social media content, videos. You could ask to host this on your department's website/social media.
A live, public event - you or your supervisor might know of a public event, a school, or community group that you could share your research with. This could be through a talk, a game, a quiz or other interactive activity. Remember, conferences don't count as public engagement because you're sharing with other researchers, not the general public!
Working with partners - your research may have been done collaboratively with a community partner, it may have involved Citizen Science, or you may have worked with policy makers
Other - please specify.

Looking for inspiration? Check out what previous URSS students have done for their public engagement element.

2. Take part in the Resonate Roadshow event

If you want to share your research with the public at a live event, then why not get involved with a special event that Warwick Institute of Engagement are running specially for URSS students to showcase their projects?

In 2026, this event is taking place on Saturday 5 December.

For this event, you will need to design a table-top activity or engagement stall. If you want to get a better understanding of what this event will look like, take a look at photos and descriptions of the 2023 event.

You will be fully supported to prepare for the event:

Skills masterclasses with external experts in Autumn Term
'Office hours' to discuss your plans available throughout Autumn Term
Rehearsal sessions with the event managers in the lead up to the event, giving you the chance to practise your activity

Everything you need to know, including timelines and how to sign up to the event, can be found on the Resonate Roadshow for URSS 2026 webpage.

Further support and advice on URSS and Public Engagement

If you are a student or a supervisor looking for further advice or signposting to internal or external contacts regarding public engagement, please contact Kate Laister-Smith at

For information on all other aspects of the URSS scheme, please visit the URSS webpages and contact urss@warwick.ac.uk

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