Jessie Waalwijk on public engagement

“I am a program developer at Studium Generale - the platform of Utrecht University for knowledge and reflection - and project leader of Betweter Festival: an art and science festival that will be held for the third time on 5 October 2018. The festival is an extension of our Science Café, a talk show about science. Those evenings are so well attended that we wanted to tackle it bigger with a festival where science, art and music meet.

At Betweter Festival, we want to make scientific research more accessible to a large audience, and encourage visitors to adopt an investigative attitude and to reflect critically. Scientific research concerns all of us, doesn’t have ready-made answers and is a process in which the public can have a role as well. We would like to show that with the festival.

In addition, not only with Betweter Festival but also with our other events, we want to encourage researchers to share their research with people in an original and playful way. Prior to their participation at Betweter Festival, researchers are offered a training program. They learn how to talk about their research in the best way possible - after all, it is different to present at a music venue than in a lecture room.

For me, public engagement is to look beyond the traditional image of science. Science is everywhere and very diverse. It is cool right, to be able to expand our knowledge while holding a beer? Through the wonderful stories researchers tell us during our events, they offer insight and stimulate to think. The more often that happens, the better. Especially  when people realize this, become enthusiastic, and share it with friends, family and colleagues – that way knowledge will spread like an oil stain.”

Are you a researcher and do you have a creative idea to involve an audience (of adults) in your research? Get in touch with Jessie Waalwijk, j.m.waalwijk@uu.nl.