Why Connecting Science?

What prompted me to set up this network? Well, there is a lot of fantastic science communication and public engagement going on in the UK, where I am based. The UK's Beacons for Public Engagement project , for example, is at the forefront of supporting science communication in Britain and fostering an university culture that values it. There is a myriad of organisations, projects and individuals across the country promoting and performing outreach work.

Trouble is, there’s so much going on that it’s hard to keep track of it all. Part of my job involves providing science communication courses for scientists, and the feedback I get suggests that researchers need a place to help them get started, meet like-minded colleagues, exchange ideas and experiences, and find out what resources and public engagement activities are out there, both in the UK and internationally.

And although initiatives like the Beacons project are starting to change academic culture, a number of researchers have told me that their efforts to communicate science are still not not valued by their universities, research institutions or their peers. These scientists could benefit from contact with colleagues and organisations who could offer encouragement and support.

Hence Connecting Science. I hope it will help address the issues I’ve just mentioned, but also do something more. Although I will be adding information and resources, the success of this network depends on users interacting with each other. I hope people and groups will make connections they might not otherwise have done, that they will synergise and create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

So please do join in, set up groups, start debates and send me news and feedback on how it’s all going. The site will grow and evolve over time (for more info on how the site works, see the note on House Rules), but I’d like to find out more about the sorts of things network members would find useful--so please visit the first forum post and add your thoughts.

Many thanks--and happy networking!
Claire (more on me here)