Madelijn Strick: "Public engagement starts at the lecture hall"

It is up to lecturers to teach students why public engagement is important, according to dr. Madelijn Strick in a blog published in the DUB. 

Universities have been concerned with attracting the general public to science for a few years now. Unlike research agencies, universities produce fundamental knowledge: universities have the time to conduct longer research and are allowed to ask questions about things that don't have a direct payoff to universities or society. To cement the position of universities as fundamental scientists, learning to communicating with the outside world is a must. 

The public student

This initiative has to be taught as early on as possible. Not only should universities teach the rigid systematics of scientific research, they should give students the opportunity to reach out to society and develop a personalised vision on science. That way, students will learn to share their knowledge in a way that everybody understands. 

Knowing who we are is not enough to claim our role in society. The outside world needs to understand and acknowledge our role as well. For that reason it is important to learn how to communicatie with the outside.