Shaping our engagement
Over the past few years, HW Engage have been conducting a programme of deliberative engagement across the West Lothian region. This was funded by the Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), supported by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
As part of their place-based engagement initiatives, HW Engage have been collaborating with local libraries to transform library venues into points of exchange between university research and community voices. West Lothian Libraries have been a vital entry point into local communities and since 2018 we have built an ongoing partnership with them.
Deliberative engagement involves bringing new voices into research, working with a range of people from different localities and lived experiences to share their views through informal dialogue. At Heriot-Watt University we have pioneering research across AI and Robotics, Healthcare Technologies and Quantum Technology, with a range of research expertise that is unlocking large scale innovation and impact. Given the rapid acceleration of these technologies, it’s essential that we build trust and understanding in these technical developments given the impact they will have on people’s futures. It’s also essential that we build an understanding of how these technologies will shape and impact people’s daily lives.
As part of this, we conducted public focus groups in various library spaces, exploring public perceptions of AI and Robotics research across October 2023, Net Zero transition technologies across April 2024 and Quantum Technology across September 2024. These focus groups were composed of a mix of age groups, genders and lived experiences – some participants having worked in technology sectors, others working with young people as teachers, some being retired and many other backgrounds. This enabled us to build an understanding of public knowledge, which will help inform and shape our future activities - both from a research and public engagement perspective.
You can find out more about these activities and public discussions through the below brochure or contact engage@hw.ac.uk to find out more.