Would you like the opportunity to develop an outreach activity and engage with a local secondary school? Are you passionate about your subject area? Are you interested in taking your research into the classroom? Want to develop your outreach skills? Then this free public engagement training opportunity is for you!

SUPI: Engaging with Schools. This one-day, interactive workshop for researchers explores the why, what and how of engaging with secondary schools.

When: Thursday 17 November, 9:30 – 17:00. (Registration from 9:15am, ready for a prompt start at 9:30am).
Where: The University of Manchester (room TBC)
Who: Postgraduate Researchers, Postdoctoral Research Associates, Research Staff and New Academics with little or no experience of school outreach. Open to all disciplines.
Registration: https://app.manchester.ac.uk/FFSES8000

About the Training

This one-day, interactive workshop for researchers from any discipline who are interested in communicating their research to a secondary schools audience. It explores the why, what and how of engaging with secondary schools.

On this practical course you will:

  • Explore how engaging with schools can benefit you, your research and the schools with whom you engage.
  • Explore the collaborative nature of developing effective working partnerships with schools and teachers.
  • Consider a range of methods and approaches for presenting contemporary research and the research process to secondary school students.
  • Improve your familiarity with the current school environment (including curriculum, operational protocols, and positive learning environments).
  • Enhance a range of skills including communication, collaboration, and project management.
  • Generate activity ideas for bringing contemporary and inspirational research contexts into formal and informal learning to enhance and enrich the curriculum.
  • Develop evaluation and reflective mechanisms for assessing the impact of your activities as well as your own professional development.

And there’s additional funding and support

But we don’t just want to inspire you with great ideas. We want to help you develop those ideas into concrete plans! This course is all about developing confidence, networks, and experience in engaging with local secondary schools.

Following the one-day workshop you will look to develop your ideas for an outreach activity to pitch at the follow up Dragon’s Den event. Winning ideas will be given funds and matched-up with a secondary school. And you will be supported along the way with optional drop-in surgeries, where you can talk through the development of your ideas with experienced engaging researchers.

If you have any queries please email: roz.webster@manchester.ac.uk

What is the School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI)?

The Research Councils UK (RCUK) funded School-University Partnership Initiative (SUPI) is a scheme providing opportunities for schools and universities to bring contemporary research to life for young people. Find out more here: www.supi.manchester.ac.uk and www.rcuk.ac.uk/pe/PartnershipsInitiative/

Roz Webster | Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Officer (SUPI & Academic Enrichment for Biology, Medicine, and Health)