Knowledge, Engaged

We've reached the end of the University year and Ben is joined by colleagues from the Institute for Policy and Engagement, Phillipa Abery, Gabrielle Bunn and Tiffany Trundell, to look back on some memorable projects, achievements and baked goods of the past year. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Trace Metal Pollution w/Andrea SartoriusForest at Nottingham CastlePolicy Impact and Public Engagement Awards Follow us: LinkedIn Instagram

Earlier this month, the Institute for Policy Engagement took part in the UPEN Conference, which brought together universities and policy professionals to tackle a key question: how can we better measure the real-world impact of academic research on public policy? In our latest podcast episode, our Policy Programmes Manager, Tiffany Trundell, shared insights from the event and highlighted how we are helping researchers bridge this gap through our new policy cards — a simple tool to help academics communicate their research more effectively to policy makers. Want links? We have plenty: Join our mailing list! UPEN The Institute for Policy and Engagement Tiffany Trundell Follow us: LinkedIn Instagram

Ben is joined by Adam Pickering, a key face in the Nottingham Climate Assembly and Green Hustle, to talk about the upcoming Green Hustle festival, the recent Sustainable Growth Assembly held at the University of Nottingham, as well as how to actually (and effectively) inspire climate action. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Green Hustle Nottingham Climate Assembly Follow us: X Instagram

Science in the Park 2025 took place on 8 March and Ben sits down for a chat with Sally Nightingale and Phillipa Abery, who helped to organise the event. They talk about how it went, the superhero duty manager who clambered out of a lift during a power cut and listen to clips from exhibitors on the day of the event, featuring voices from University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Wollaton Hall. Want some links? We have plenty: Science in the Park 2025 roundup Institute for Policy and Engagement Wollaton Hall Follow us: LinkedIn X Instagram

What exactly is Public Engagement and Policy Impact? Maria Richards and Tiffany Trundell join Ben to talk about exactly that and why they are so important. They also talk about some of the most in demand questions and what might set you up for success. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Follow us: LinkedIn X Instagram

This week, Evidence Week is happening in Parliament and the University of Nottingham's own Sharmila Sumsurooah is there to share her new policy brief on Electrifying Air Travel. in honour of this, Ben looks back on a previous episode where Sharmila discussed this for COP26. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Electrifying Air Travel Policy Brief Follow us: LinkedIn Instagram

To close out 2024, we have a special bonus episode with everyone's favourite Director of the Institute for Policy and Engagement, Stephen Meek. Stephen has been at the Institute since it began, but is heading off to pastures new. Where? Well he tells all in this episode, as well as mentioning some fond memories from his time at Nottingham. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement A Just Transition to Net Zero Policy Commission NCCPE Watermark Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) Follow us: LinkedIn X Instagram

Climate action is vitally important and Ben chats with Chris Ives (UoN) and Chris Baker (Goldsmiths) about how community action can play an important role - especially with religious groups. Is this an untapped resource that could be used to make progress? Want links? We have plenty: ARTICLE: Engaging faith for a sustainable urban future Chris Ives Chris Baker The Institute for Policy and Engagement Follow us: LinkedIn X Instagram

September saw the fist BBC Proms to visit Nottingham! Resident composer and Associate Professor, Elizabeth Kelly, sat down with Ben to talk all about it, being inspired by the Nottingham lace industry and collaborations between Nottingham Trent's film students and University of Nottingham composition students. And that's before they talk about why tuba's should be a soloist instrument more often. Want links? We have plenty: Elizabeth Kelly The Institute for Policy and Engagement BBC Proms Carmina Burana at the Royal Concert Hall Mixed Reality Lab Streetwise Opera Into the Depths (YouTube) Follow us: X Instagram

If you had a Viking day at school, that would make for a pretty good day at school, right? Ben sits down with Kate Olley and the coordinators of Vikings for Schools, Emma Horne and Natalia Radziwillowicz to talk about the workshops they run, the recent award they won, and the axes they've swung. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Vikings for Schools Vikings for Schools Workshops Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards 2024 - Best Schools Initiative Midlands Viking Symposium Follow us: LinkedIn X Instagram

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, Ben sat with Sarah Cassidy, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham (and our Best Policy Impact award winner), to discuss her ground-breaking work on suicide prevention within the autistic community. Want some links? We have plenty: Sarah Cassidy Autistica Autism Centre for Excellence Cambridge The Institute for Policy and Engagement Institute Academy Programmes The Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards 2024 Winners and Nominees Follow us: X Instagram

2024 marks 200 years since Lord Byron’s death, so in this special episode, Ben visits Newstead Abbey, Byron’s family home, and chats with Sam Hirst, a University of Nottingham research fellow. They are joined by Phillipa Abery from the Institute for Policy and Engagement as well as three volunteers from Newstead Abbey, to talk about Byron, his poetry and Sam’s efforts at bringing Byron’s history to life for the public. Want links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement The Institute Academy Programme Newstead Abbey Romancing the Gothic (Web) Romancing the Gothic (YouTube) Follow us: X Instagram

Ben is joined by Pearl Agyakwa, a specialist in material degradation, and they talk about how that links to the University of Nottingham’s Zero Carbon Cluster programme, outreach work with the community and schools, as well as the social impact of engineering. Want links? We have plenty: Pearl Agyakwa Moritz Liesegang Electric Planes and Net Zero Aviation w/Sharmila Sumsurooah DIY Slow Cooker for your Wallet and the Planet w/Mike Clifford Clean Cooking, Kitchen Culture and Climate Change w/Mike Clifford SHAping Sustainable Futures Hub ICARE4Justice

Andrea Sartorius is a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham looking at the impacts of trace metal pollution on ecosystems. Grab yourself a brew and have a listen as Andrea and Ben chat about her research, what those impacts are, and what can be done about it. It turns out there's more to lead than Ben first thought... Want links? We have plenty: The Environmental Impacts of Historical Lead Mining (YouTube) Laura Hughes' Financial Times: The Unseen Dangers of Lead Contamination in the UK (paywall) The Institute for Policy and Engagement The Institute Academy Programme Follow us: X Instagram

The Institute for Policy and Engagement has some brand new award winners! That's right, the annual Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards 2024 have been announced (you can read about all the winners below) and Ben is sitting down with Paul Crawford, of Best Public Engagement Initiative fame. They talk all about his project (collaborating with Aardman Animations, no less), arts and health and much more. And during the episode, they talk about what creative hobbies they currently have - maybe you also have a creative hobby that fills your heart each day? Want some links? We have plenty: The Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards 2024 Winners and Nominees Paul Crawford's Profile Aardman Animations YouTube Channel What's Up With Everyone? Arts for Health

Ben is talking all things Science in the Park with special guest Sam Tang in this episode. Never heard of Science in the Park? (How??) Public engagement at its finest, Science in the Park has been entertaining and sharing knowledge from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and many local organisations for the past 15 years. Have a listen to hear all about it! Want some links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement Sam Tang Periodic Videos Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards - Best Schools Engagement Initiative Wollaton Hall British Geological Survey Girlguiding Nottinghamshire RSPB Nottingham Local Group

Public Engagement is a broad topic, so Ben sits down with fellow Institute for Policy and Engagement colleagues, Stephen Meek and Maria Richards, to pick it apart. They look at the NCCPE Watermark, what it is, what it means for the University of Nottingham (and what UoN received...) Want some links? We have plenty: The Institute for Policy and Engagement City as Lab NCCPE NCCPE Engage Watermark

Ben is joined by Dr Andrew Bennett, Director of the FRAME Alternatives Laboratory at the University of Nottingham, and Amy Beale, Head of Policy and Programmes at FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments). Together they talk all things research, stopping the use of animal testing, and what the benefits of the long-term relationship between University and Charity mean for policymaking and public engagement. Ethics, hamsters and grow-your-own-organs are just a tiny slice of the fun. Want some links? We have plenty: FRAME Andrew Bennett's profile (UoN) Andrew Bennett's profile (FRAME) Amy Beale REACH

Good public engagement and outreach requires good enthusiasm, and Jez Turner brings it by the bucket load. In this episode, Ben chats with Jez about his outreach work, his passion for lifelong learning, space, using satellites to identify potential slavery cases, and even, at one point, Nazi Germany. It's a wild ride this one. Want some links? We have plenty: Jez Turner's Profile Rights Lab Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity Foundation Engineering and Physical Sciences Courses

The climate crisis is usually talked about in terms of the big picture, but Mark Gillott talks to Ben about the local community-driven work he is doing and the massive impacts it could have on green energy as a whole. They discuss the Trent Basin project, Mark's revolutionary ideas and what the real meaning behind the flickering black and white symbol before an ad break on tv is (which blew Ben's mind). Knowledge, Engaged is brought to you by The Institute of Policy and Engagement at the University of Nottingham, to bring together the ground-breaking research done at Nottingham and you, the listener. Join us as we explore the work the researchers are doing and how it makes a difference in the world around them. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this episode was recorded virtually, so we apologise for any dips in audio quality, but the fascinating content remains. For more information about Mark and his work, as well as the Institute, please use the following links: Mark's Bio and Research: https://tinyurl.com/cbjmssav The UoN Energy Institute: https://tinyurl.com/7vmw4exh The Trent Basin Project: https://www.era.ac.uk/projects-research/trent-basin Project SCENe: https://www.projectscene.uk/ The Institute for Policy and Engagement: https://tinyurl.com/yh46zla8 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UoN_Institute