Public Engagement with Research

Public engagement with research describes the many ways our researchers inspire and engage members of the public with the design, conduct and dissemination of research.

As a signatory to the National Coordinating Centre's Manifesto for Public Engagement, the University strives to embed public engagement in all that we do, to ensure our research is societally relevant, accessible and inclusive.

Engaging the public and our communities with our research is vital to the University's mission to create and exchange knowledge for the benefit of society, and an integral part of Strategy 2025. Our Engaged Research Strategic Plan sets out how we will embed our vision, driving public dialogue around issues that will affect all of us in the future.

Our Engagement Activities

Heriot-Watt researchers engage with audiences in a variety of ways, including public events, exhibitions and festivals, through social media engagement, debate, dialogue and discussion. We also seek to involve the public in our research through citizen science, participatory action research, consultation, co-design and co-production.

Festivals across our global locations give us the opportunity to share our research with a wide range of public audiences inspiring an engaging diverse communities in our research.

If you are a Heriot-Watt researcher interested in being involved in public engagement, contact the HW Engage team.

Edinburgh Science Festival

Edinburgh Science Festival is the world's first science festival and one of Europe's largest celebrations of science and technology. Throughout its history, Heriot-Watt researchers have been involved in talks, debates, discussions exhibitions and workshops to share their research and inspire the next generation. Check out the Edinburgh Science Festival website to see what is coming up in the next festival.

Orkney Science Festival

In September every year, the vibrant and exhilarating Orkney International Science Festival brings visitors from near and far to its exhibitions, talks and workshops.

Each year, researchers from both our International Centre for Island Technology in Orkney, and our Edinburgh campus get involved in the festival, sharing their marine and environmental research. Further information can be found on the OISF website.

Edinburgh International Festival

Each summer, a series of spectacular events proudly serve up the most incredible smorgasbord of culture you could ever imagine, filling Edinburgh's performance venues, event spaces, and now the online world in late June, July and August.

Heriot-Watt researchers regularly take part in the Book, Film and Art Festivals, as well as taking to the stage during the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. The Cabaret first ran at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe, and has got bigger and better every year. It is a unique programme of events which offers the public an opportunity to engage with world-class researchers in an entertaining environment. Check out the Edinburgh Fringe website to see who is taking to the stage this year.