Dr Laura Wicks

Job title

Elected Staff Member

Qualifications

BSc, MSc, PhD, PMQ

Laura is the Public Engagement Lead at Heriot-Watt University and is part of the Research Engagement Directorate. She leads a team of community, public and patient involvement specialists who connect, share and involve the public with Heriot-Watt's work locally, nationally and internationally, ensuring that the University enacts its civic and social responsibility. Laura has been awarded multiple public engagement grants from across a range of agencies, including from several research councils and from charities and donors. Laura supports academics from across all departments, ranging from theoretical physics to languages and design, encouraging and developing projects which bring together skills from different domains to create impact.

Laura has achieved many awards for public engagement and advocacy, and is regularly asked to speak at conferences about how public engagement is embedded within university practice.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Southampton, a Master of Science in Marine Environmental Protection from the University of Wales and a Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology from the University of Wellington. She also holds a Project Management Qualification from the Association for Project Management.

Laura joined Heriot-Watt as a postdoctoral researcher, focused on understanding the impact of climate change on cold water corals. Within her research position, she delivered teaching in a range of areas and led public engagement and outreach for large European Union projects. She established HW Engage, the University's public engagement initiative, in 2013, moving into a professional services role and building a team of specialists. During Laura's PhD and postdoctoral research, she worked in universities across New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii, shaping her understanding of how research can be conducted for societal benefit. Living in New Zealand has deepened her appreciation for the vital role our environment plays in enhancing wellbeing and fostering societal positivity.

Laura is interested in social responsibility and sustainability; embracing social responsibility means recognising that our actions today shape the world of tomorrow, inspiring us to contribute positively and leave a lasting impact on our communities and the planet. Heriot-Watt was founded for the benefit of working people and Laura's professional interests lie in how we work with our partners and diverse communities to improve lives across our cities and regions.

Laura interests include DIY (she has been renovating her house for many years with the help and hinderance of a ten-year-old daughter and an Irish Setter). She enjoys outdoor fitness boot camps and running, despite the Scottish weather.