Researcher Development Programme (RDP) course timetable

Engaging young people with your research can be very worthwhile and rewarding. This training session will support you with your public engagement work with schools by introducing you to the UK school system and discussing how public engagement work can fit with existing school priorities. We will consider ways in which your work can make an impact and briefly consider how public engagement can work with underrepresented groups and contribute to diversity and inclusion initiatives. You’ll be introduced to ways in which the University already works with schools to provide you with ideas for collaboration. Lastly, we’ll begin to think about how to plan and design activities suitable for school audiences.

At the end of this session, you’ll hopefully feel more confident about how to work effectively with schools and can start thinking about your own public engagement work. The group session will be followed by the opportunity for a one-to-one 15-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your projects, ideas and questions and get project specific help.

This course will be led by Michelle Tang. Michelle currently works as the Deputy Head of Widening Participation for the University (within the Cambridge Admissions Office). In her role, she oversees a team who work with over 200 schools and 5000 school-aged students each year in a number of widening participation programmes including the University’s flagship HE+ programme, the Sutton Trust Summer Schools and the Insight programme. She has also previously worked as a Schools Liaison Officer, travelling and visiting schools all over the UK but particularly in Yorkshire, Berkshire and Scotland. Michelle completed the Teach First Leadership Development Programme in 2016, during which she worked as a primary school teacher in north London, and holds a PGCE from the Institute of Education. She is passionate about social mobility and the transformative power of education in closing equality gaps.

Everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. This safeguarding training has been designed specifically to support researchers who may be new to working with children and schools. In this introductory session, we will understand what safeguarding and child protection means and what it involves, discuss potential signs that a young person might be being abused and what to do if you have a safeguarding concern. We will look at some general good practice as well as how to plan events and sessions with safeguarding in mind.

This course will be led by Michelle Tang. Michelle currently works as the Deputy Head of Widening Participation for the University (within the Cambridge Admissions Office). In her role, she oversees a team who work with over 200 schools and 5000 school-aged students each year in a number of widening participation programmes including the University’s flagship HE+ programme, the Sutton Trust Summer Schools and the Insight programme. She has also previously worked as a Schools Liaison Officer, travelling and visiting schools all over the UK but particularly in Yorkshire, Berkshire and Scotland. Michelle completed the Teach First Leadership Development Programme in 2016, during which she worked as a primary school teacher in north London, and holds a PGCE from the Institute of Education. She is passionate about social mobility and the transformative power of education in closing equality gaps.

Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies.

But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan, shoot & edit high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm!

You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one 30-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions and get project specific help.

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 course gives an introduction for researchers working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Clinical subjects into how to engage with the public through media. It will cover the differing types of media, what makes research newsworthy, how to work with the communications office to gain media coverage, what to expect from an interview (print, pre-recorded, live) and how to communicate well in interviews. It will be delivered by the University Communications team.

Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies.

But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan, shoot & edit high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm!

You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one 30-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions and get project specific help.

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.

Practical extension of the Research Storytelling theory session to put knowledge into practice with your own research. This includes individual coaching, peer mentoring sessions, and a final showcase session which also looks at the next steps to take these stories further. Attendees must have already attended the Research Storytelling Introduction session or the Research Storytelling course delivered in the past years. 20-min one-to-one sessions with the trainer on 20 or 21 October must be booked directly with the trainer.

The course will be led by Sarah Cruise. Sarah is passionate about the art and science of communication and eloquential is her rattle bag of knowledge, skills and experience which she uses to train, coach and facilitate. Sarah collects research from areas such as psychology and neuroscience, along with practitioners experience from the performing arts to fill her bag of tricks, tips and advice. Sarah has been involved in public engagement training since 2006, working closely with Cambridge University. She is also a peripatetic teacher of communication and performance skills in schools and a co-presenter on the Gin & Topic podcast.

We’ll be looking at the what, why and how of public engagement and introducing researchers to some of the 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 Lucy Spokes, the Head of Public Engagement. The group session will be followed by the opportunity for a one-to-one 15-minute session where you can discuss your projects, ideas and questions and get project specific help. This individual optional session can be booked either with Lucy or with Dr Selen Etingu-Breslaw, the Public Engagement and Impact Manager (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and Technology).

We’ll be looking at the what, why and how of public engagement and introducing researchers to some of the 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 Lucy Spokes, the Head of Public Engagement. The group session will be followed by the opportunity for a one-to-one 15-minute session where you can discuss your projects, ideas and questions and get project specific help. This individual optional session can be booked either with Lucy or with Dr Selen Etingu-Breslaw, the Public Engagement and Impact Manager (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and Technology).

Practical extension of the Research Storytelling theory session to put knowledge into practice with your own research. This includes individual coaching, peer mentoring sessions, and a final showcase session which also looks at the next steps to take these stories further. Attendees must have already attended the Research Storytelling Introduction session or the Research Storytelling course delivered in the past years. 20-min one-to-one sessions with the trainer on 20 or 21 October must be booked directly with the trainer.

The course will be led by Sarah Cruise. Sarah is passionate about the art and science of communication and eloquential is her rattle bag of knowledge, skills and experience which she uses to train, coach and facilitate. Sarah collects research from areas such as psychology and neuroscience, along with practitioners experience from the performing arts to fill her bag of tricks, tips and advice. Sarah has been involved in public engagement training since 2006, working closely with Cambridge University. She is also a peripatetic teacher of communication and performance skills in schools and a co-presenter on the Gin & Topic podcast.

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.

Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies.

But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan, shoot & edit high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm!

You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one 30-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions and get project specific help.

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.

Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies.

But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan, shoot & edit high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm!

You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one 30-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions and get project specific help.

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.

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.

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.

This session builds on the introductory ‘Working with Schools’ session and dives deeper into the landscape of schools and primary/secondary education in the UK today. In the first half, we will consider: what are the key issues and challenges in schools today? With this understanding, we will talk about ways in which universities work with schools and what effective partnership looks like. In the second half, we will consider how to plan programmes and activities using pedagogical principles including constructing Theories of Change, embedding evaluation and implementing some popular teaching theories which may influence our practice.

This course will be led by Michelle Tang. Michelle currently works as the Deputy Head of Widening Participation for the University (within the Cambridge Admissions Office). In her role, she oversees a team who work with over 200 schools and 5000 school-aged students each year in a number of widening participation programmes including the University’s flagship HE+ programme, the Sutton Trust Summer Schools and the Insight programme. She has also previously worked as a Schools Liaison Officer, travelling and visiting schools all over the UK but particularly in Yorkshire, Berkshire and Scotland. Michelle completed the Teach First Leadership Development Programme in 2016, during which she worked as a primary school teacher in north London, and holds a PGCE from the Institute of Education. She is passionate about social mobility and the transformative power of education in closing equality gaps.

This training will introduce researchers to the importance of quality public and patient involvement in their research and look at current best practice. You will find out about local support available in the region to help plan, deliver and build PPI into research, so as to improve research for patients, services users, and carers. The session will include examples and case studies of how local researchers have incorporated PPI into their research.

The training will be led by Dr Amanda Stranks, the PPI/E Strategy Lead at NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.

Successful engagement with the public can benefit research, researchers and the public – but how do you go about demonstrating this change? Evaluation of engagement doesn’t just help us demonstrate the value of our PE initiatives but can help bring us closer to our audiences by giving the public a strong clear voice. 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. Join this course to learn how to:

• Demonstrate success to funders;
• Record Impact for REF;
• Improve your processes;
• Have a better understanding of the people you are connecting with.

The group session will be followed by the opportunity for a one-to-one 15-minute session with the trainer where you can discuss your ideas and questions, and get project specific help.

This course will be led by Jamie Gallagher. Jamie is an award-winning freelance science communicator and engagement professional. He has delivered training around the world, from the skyscrapers of Hong Kong to tents in the African bush. Having had four years’ experience as the central PE lead for the University of Glasgow he has worked on improving the reach, profile and impact of research engagement in almost every academic discipline. Specialising in evaluation Jamie provides consultancy services to charities and universities helping them to demonstrate their impact and understand their audiences and stakeholders. Jamie is also an associate editor of the Research for All journal. He was named as one of the “100 leading practising scientists in the UK” by the Science Council and as one of the “175 Faces of Chemistry” by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He won the International 3 Minute Thesis Competition and Famelab Scotland. www.jamiebgall.co.uk @jamiebgall