All Researcher Development Programme (RDP) courses

Researcher Development has moved to Inkpath.

In order to find scheduled training, book places and record your attendance, head over to Inkpath, select 'single sign-on' and log in with Raven.

Click here to Launch Inkpath

Researcher Development has moved to Inkpath.

In order to find scheduled training, book places and record your attendance, head over to Inkpath, select 'single sign-on' and log in with Raven.

Click here to Launch Inkpath

Researcher Development has moved to Inkpath.

In order to find scheduled training, book places and record your attendance, head over to Inkpath, select 'single sign-on' and log in with Raven.

Click here to Launch Inkpath

This is an in-person event.

This training will introduce you to the world of visual communication. We will look at visualising data versus visualising abstract concepts and think about appropriateness! How can you simplify a huge body of research into something that is visually enticing to people outside of your field? In this training you will learn how to create visual metaphors that illustrate your research as well as the basics of frame by frame and stop motion animation so that you may turn these illustrations into short animated gifs.

Have you ever wanted to get creative with your research? To discover how writing can bring a new perspective to your work? How your words can engage with new audiences about the academic research that you are passionate about?

This training will enable you to develop creative ways by which you can use writing to engage with the public; providing you with the resources to be more confident in developing and sharing creative writing responses to your area of research.

The course will introduce creative writing for poetry and prose, and textual writing for exhibition / display. It will discuss developing writing for performance.  The aim is to work with you to bring out the creative responses that lay within your own work. There will be the opportunity to receive written feedback throughout the week, and to discuss your work in a 1-to-1 session with the course tutor (if requested in advance).

The training will be led by David Cain. David’s most recent book, Truth Street, was shortlisted for the prestigious Forward Prizes for Poetry (2019). David brings his writing experience together with a passion for public engagement - he currently leads the delivery of the Cambridge Festival.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view the information about the course and book your place: https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjoyMzU2M319

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Please note that this course will be held in person.

Communicating your research via the media can be an effective way of reaching a wide audience. This workshop will help you understand what makes a news story and what to expect when engaging with the media. It will provide tips to help you tell your story most effectively and ensure your research is reported accurately, as well as explaining how the University can support you.

In this session Dr Holmes-Henderson (Durham University) and Owen Garling (Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge) will explain routes into policy engagement for researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines. They will explain the benefits for academics and their institutions of sharing academic research with policymakers in government, parliament and the devolved nations. This will be a practical and interactive session, with the opportunity to ask questions and design a strategy for getting started.

Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson is Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at Durham University where she holds a British Academy Innovation Fellowship (2022-2024). As an expert in Classics outreach and knowledge exchange, she engages diverse stakeholders to explore ways to widen access to the study of the classical world.

Working at the intersection of research, policy and practice, Arlene collaborates closely with policymakers in government and parliament on issues across the Humanities and Education. An affiliated researcher with the Bennett Institute, Arlene sits on AHRC’s Public Policy Advisory Board. Her successful policy engagement with a range of partners has been showcased in this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6gEzYV9RSY

Owen Garling is the Knowledge Transfer Facilitator at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy where he provides an important conduit between its own researchers and policymakers in the UK and internationally. His work helps to ensure that the Institute’s research is focussing on the questions that matter, and that it reaches the right policymakers and public audiences for making a positive difference. Owen’s work covers all of the Bennett Institute’s research themes: Place, Progress, Productivity and Decision-making in Government. With over two decades of experience of working in the public sector in and around Cambridge he has a particular interest in how the Bennett Institute’s work can support policymakers working at regional and local levels as well as at a national level.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view course information and book your place:

https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjoyNTQ0M319

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Please note that this course might be held in person.

This session will help researchers to deepen their engagement with policymakers. Led by Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson (Durham University) and Owen Garling (Bennett Institute for Public Policy) it will explore funding opportunities for collaboration with policymakers and will provide examples of successful partnership projects. Researchers from a range of disciplines will be offered support to disseminate their research in formats favoured by policymakers. The Bennett Institute and the Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy will outline the support available to researchers who want to become more policy-engaged. This will be a practical and interactive session, with the opportunity to ask questions and meet colleagues from across the University.

Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson is Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at Durham University where she holds a British Academy Innovation Fellowship (2022-2024). As an expert in Classics outreach and knowledge exchange, she engages diverse stakeholders to explore ways to widen access to the study of the classical world.

Working at the intersection of research, policy and practice, Arlene collaborates closely with policymakers in government and parliament on issues across the Humanities and Education. An affiliated researcher with the Bennett Institute, Arlene sits on AHRC’s Public Policy Advisory Board. Her successful policy engagement with a range of partners has been showcased in this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6gEzYV9RSY

Owen Garling is the Knowledge Transfer Facilitator at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy where he provides an important conduit between its own researchers and policymakers in the UK and internationally. His work helps to ensure that the Institute’s research is focussing on the questions that matter, and that it reaches the right policymakers and public audiences for making a positive difference. Owen’s work covers all of the Bennett Institute’s research themes: Place, Progress, Productivity and Decision-making in Government.

With over two decades of experience of working in the public sector in and around Cambridge he has a particular interest in how the Bennett Institute’s work can support policymakers working at regional and local levels as well as at a national level.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view the information about the course and book your place: https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjoyMzU2NH19

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view course information and book your place: https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjoyMzU1NX19

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Would you like to find out what audiences think about your activity but want to try something other than a questionnaire? Want to move beyond ‘any other comments’? In this session, find out about alternative evaluation techniques used in the University of Cambridge Museums, and how you could apply them to your own situation.

Sarah-Jane Harknett co-ordinates evaluation projects across the University of Cambridge Museums. Alongside this role, she also heads up the Public Engagement programmes at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view course information and book your place: https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjozMTAyM319

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Have you ever wanted to get creative with your research – to discover how writing can bring a new perspective to your research? How your words can engage with new audiences about the academic research that you are passionate about?

This training will enable you to develop creative ways by which you can engage with the public, providing you with the resources to be more confident in developing, and sharing, creative writing responses to your area of research.

The course will introduce creative writing for poetry and prose, and textual writing for exhibition / display. It will discuss developing writing for performance and for publication and work with you to bring out the creative responses that lay within your own work. There will be the opportunity to receive written feedback throughout the week, to share your work at a final showcase, and to discuss your work in a 1-to-1 session with the course tutor (if requested in advance).

The training will be led by David Cain. David’s most recent book, Truth Street, was shortlisted for the prestigious Forward Prizes for Poetry (2019). David brings his writing experience together with a passion for public engagement - he currently leads the delivery of the Cambridge Festival.

Get your research seen on social media! Shoot, adapt, edit & schedule visual content about your work to inform and excite. Learn from examples, activities and reflection. Taught by a filmmaker and social media manager with over 15 years experience in the field. Focus will be on IG, Twitter, YouTube & FB but skills and knowledge can be applied to all platforms. All you need is your phone, laptop & internet connection!

The course will be led by Ryd Cook. Ryd is a multi award winning film director, actor and mentor. His fiction and documentary films have screened in film festivals around the world. He has 15+ years of experience, filming, editing and producing a range of films. He has also been teaching practical filmmaking for over 10 years for all ages. He currently works as a director, cameraperson, actor and mentor.

This event is online only.

Successful public engagement can benefit research, researchers and the public – but how do you go about demonstrating this change? This workshop will guide you through the best evaluation processes showing you when, why and crucially how, to use evaluation to give you reliable and clear data. Demonstrate success to funders; record Impact for REF; learn how to improve your processes and have a better understanding of the people you are connecting with.

The workshop will be followed by the option of a one-to-one consultation to discuss individual and project specific evaluation approaches. These will take place after the workshop and last for 20 min. Please contact the ER team for information on how to book this session.

Dr Jamie Gallagher is an award-winning engagement professional with over ten years’ experience in the delivery and evaluation of quality engagement projects. Working across dozens of institutions and subject areas he has improved the reach, profile and impact of research engagement in almost every academic discipline.

As a specialist in evaluation Jamie provides consultancy services to charities and universities helping them to demonstrate their impact and to understand their audiences and stakeholders. He consulted on dozens of REF impact case studies in the latest round and works regularly with the vast majority of the Russell Group Universities.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view course information and book your place:

https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjozNjk2Mn19

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

Are you struggling to engage with public audiences beyond the usual suspects? Do you want to widen your professional network? Could you be the authoritative voice in your field? If these questions resonate with you then podcasting could be the answer. This training will give you all the skills, tools and information you need to get started with creating a compelling podcast, keep going after the first flurry of excitement, and increase your overall impact. The training will be led by Dr Anna Ploszajski, an award-winning materials scientist, writer, presenter, podcaster, performer, trainer and storyteller based in London.

Engaged Researcher has moved to Inkpath

To view course information and book your place:

https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/#/redirect/eyJuYW1lIjoiQWN0aXZpdHlEZXRhaWxQYWdlIiwicGFyYW1zIjp7ImlkIjoyNTQ0NH19

To view all the Engaged Researcher courses open for booking:

1) head over to Inkpath (https://webapp.inkpath.co.uk/)

2) select 'single sign-on', choose University of Cambridge, and log in with Raven

3) search 'Engaged Researcher' to find all of our courses currently open for booking.

We’ll be looking at the what, why and how of public engagement and introducing you to ways to plan an effective public engagement project. Topics:

• The what: definitions of public engagement, who are the public, what activities count as engagement, what are the goals?
• The why: University commitment to PE, REF, Funders
• The how: the Logic Model approach to planning PE, practical considerations, moving engagement online and opportunities at the University.

This course will be led by Dr Lucinda Spokes, Head of Public Engagement.

This course will cover how to use Social Media tools for Public Engagement.

The course will be delivered by Anu Hautalampi, a communications specialist with a focus on social media. Anu was the first Head of Social Media and AV for the University of Cambridge and created the University’s social media strategy. She currently leads on social media for UN Women globally.

From lab equipment to label makers, objects can help people to engage with your research in new and interesting ways. In this session we will look at how you can safely introduce objects into your public engagement, how close looking can help enthuse people and how even the most seemingly un-exciting artefact can tell stories.

Sarah-Jane Harknett co-ordinates evaluation projects across the University of Cambridge Museums. Alongside this role, she also heads up the Public Engagement programmes at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology where she regularly teaches with objects.

So much of research success relies on collaborations and professional networks. But many of us undersell ourselves and our achievements, or struggle to fit our whole career into a cohesive narrative. This is where personal branding comes in.

In this training, you’ll learn how to define your personal brand, and communicate that effectively through writing, presenting, images, websites and social media. You’ll do exercises which will help you see yourself from an outsider’s perspective, and be given the tools to make you the hero of your own story.

Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, presenter, comedian and storyteller based in London. She’s a materials generalist, equally fascinated by metals, plastics, ceramics, glasses and substances from the natural world. Her work centres around engaging traditionally underserved audiences with materials science and engineering through writing, podcasting, presenting and social media. Having developed her own unique blend of autobiographical scientific storytelling in her first book, Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making, she now trains professional technical people to communicate what they do better, through the study of story. In her spare time, Anna plays the trumpet in a funk and soul covers band and is an ultra-endurance open water swimmer. Oh, and it’s pronounced “Por-shy-ski”.

Have you ever thought about telling your research story through the universal language of photography?

This training will help you reach diverse audiences even simply by taking photographs with a smartphone! The workshop will look at how you can use photography as a tool to translate the key messages in your research work, the different styles and techniques to do so, and basic technical & software editing skills to perfect your shots.

You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one 20-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions and get project specific help.

The training will be led by Domininkas Zalys. Dom’s career in the creative industry began in Florence and further developed studying photography at the Cambridge School of Art. Dom has worked with Wired Magazine, Jordan Belford, Prof Stephen Hawking, and many more established people and businesses around the world.