Creative research communication: Theory and practice

305 Pages·2016·7.283 MB·English

by  Clare Wilkinson, Emma Weitkamp

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This book explores new and emerging approaches to engaging TO
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people with research, placing these in the wider context of research
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communication. Split into three sections, Creativeresearch
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CREATIVE
communication explores the historical routes and current drivers for
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public engagement, before moving on to explore practical approaches
and finally discussing ethical issues and the ways in which research
communication can contribute to research impact. RESEARCH
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Starting from the premise that researchers can and ought to
participate in the public sphere, this book provides practical guidance R
and advice on contributing to political discourse and policymaking, COMMUNICATION
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as well as engaging the public where they are (whether that is at the C
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theatre, at a music festival or on social media). By considering the
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plurality of publics and their diverse needs and interests, it is T
quite possible to find a communications niche that neither offers up MI T H EO RY A N D P R AC T I C E
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bite-sized chunks of research, nor conceptualises the public as lacking
the capacity to consider the myriad of issues raised by research, ME
but explains and considers thoughtfully the value of research
endeavours and their potential benefits to society. UR
It’s time for researchers to move away from one-size fits all, and NE
embrace opportunities for creative approaches to research S
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communication. This book argues for a move away from metrics C
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and tick box approaches and towards approaches that work for you,
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as an individual researcher, in the context of your own discipline
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and interests R
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C C L A R E W I L K I N S O N
Clare Wilkinson is Associate Professor in Science Communication
at the University of the West of England
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A N D E M M A W E I T K A M P
Emma Weitkamp is Associate Professor in Science Communication
at the University of the West of England
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Cover: Huichol yarn painting via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
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www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
Creativeresearch communication

Creative research
communication
Theory and practice
Clare Wilkinson and Emma Weitkamp
Manchester University Press
Copyright © Clare Wilkinson and Emma Weitkamp 2016
The right of Clare Wilkinson and Emma Weitkamp to be identified as the authors
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
Published by Manchester University Press
Altrincham Street, Manchester M1 7JA
www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for
ISBN 978 0 7190 9651 8 paperback
First published 2016
The publisher has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for
any external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does
not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or
appropriate.
Typeset in Sabon by
Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire
Contents
List of figures, tables, boxes and case studies vi
Acknowledgements viii
Part I Introduction 1
1 Creative research communication 3
2 History 17
3 Participants 34
Part II Approach 55
4 Face-to-face 57
5 Art 87
6 Digital 108
7 Social media 131
8 Political 160
9 Crowd-sourced research 186
Part III Conclusion 203
10 Impact 205
11 Ethics 235
12 Dissemination 256
References 267
Index 292
Figures, tables, boxes and
case studies
Figures
6.1 Interactivity and interaction seen as dimensions of public
engagement projects 116
7.1 Typology of social media 142
Tables
7.1 Guides to working with the media 133
8.1 International definitions of public/citizen engagement and
participation 165
8.2 Problems in evidence-based policymaking 178
9.1 Key planning steps for citizen science projects 193
10.1 Evaluation methods 216
Boxes
3.1 Segmentation models 43
3.2 Determining a segment is workable 44
3.3 Identity-related categories for cultural institutions 45
3.4 Determining the target segment 48
4.1 Virtual museum and gallery examples 73
4.2 Tips for preparing for face-to-face presentation 79
4.3 Tips for dealing with nerves in face-to-face presentation 81
4.4 Managing conflict and controversy in face-to-face
communication 83
5.1 Example projects bringing artists and researchers together 97
5.2 Practical tips on collaborative working 101
6.1 Digital story examples 122
Figures, tables, boxes and case studies vii
7.1 Ten tips on writing for popular publications 135
7.2 Pitching to editors 137
7.3 Explore your digital profile 138
7.4 Top tips for academic bloggers 145
7.5 Altmetrics 158
8.1 Resources providing guidance on public engagement 170
8.2 Tips for designing engagement 171
8.3 Tips for communicating with policymakers 184
10.1 Resources for designing aims, questions and objectives 212
10.2 Unusual public engagement outputs 215
10.3 Selected frameworks and guidance for evaluation design 222
10.4 Free online analysis programmes 225
11.1 International ethical codes and guidelines 247
12.1 Making reports user friendly and accessible 259
12.2 Evaluation archives and databases 260
12.3 Research communication conferences 262
12.4 Selected academic journals of relevance to research
communication 263
Case studies
4.1 Brain Day, Centre for Brain Research, University of
Auckland 67
4.2 Connected Communities Public Dialogue Day 75
5.1 Look At Me! Engaging older women with research 94
5.2 Arts@CERN 99
6.1 Sticky, animation and science communication 119
6.2 Virtual Romans – merging technology and archaeology 125
7.1 Garnering blog readership 146
7.2 Second Life: Science Circle 156
8.1 The People’s Campaign for Decentralised Planning 162
8.2 Science for Environment Policy 182
9.1 Citizen journalists contributing to public health 190
9.2 Public Lab: supporting communities to tackle
environmental concerns 195
10.1 The Centre for Appearance Research and Dove Self-Esteem
Project 209
10.2 The Thrill Engineer 231
11.1 Ethically impossible 239
11.2 Ethics and older people 244
Acknowledgements
Many people have contributed to this volume, directly and indirectly.
We would like to thank all those who spoke to us as we developed the
case studies and agreed for their work to be included in this book. We
would also like to thank all the students we have worked with over the
years who have inspired and challenged us in our conceptualisation
of the field. Through these challenges, these students have also indi-
rectly highlighted the need for a book such as this that draws together
the disparate strands of the field of research communication. We also
acknowledge the projects we have drawn on as we developed this text;
these projects demonstrate the rich diversity of research communication
activities undertaken by academics and practitioners alike.
part i
Introduction