Engaging and involving people living with diabetes in designing a study about dental implants to replace missing teeth 18 December 2024
With the support of a PPI Small Grant, Dr. Ammar Ahmed Zaki’s project aimed to engage people living with diabetes in exploring the connection between diabetes, gum disease, and dental health. From creating accessible recruitment posters to developing a lay-language questionnaire, Dr. Zaki ensured the project was inclusive and patient-centered. This PPI project not only brought essential patient voices into diabetes research but also highlighted the importance of clear communication and thoughtful logistics to make research more relevant and impactful.
Runa Kawsay Raymikuna: Cosmic celebrations of life’ 11 December 2024
With support from the Public Engagement Small Grant Scheme, Runa Kawsay Raymikuna (Kichwa for “Cosmic Celebrations for Life”) brought the ancient agricultural festivities of Ecuador’s Kichwa people to life in a public photography exhibition. Held on July 26, 2024, at Cotacachi’s Casa de la Cultura, the exhibition spotlighted the spiritual and philosophical foundations of Kichwa traditions, challenging modern ideas about development, consumption, and individualism. Led by Kinti Orellana Matute, a PhD student with Kichwa heritage, the project invited the public to experience the Kichwa’s deep connection to the cosmos, honoring the cycles of corn cultivation through vivid photographs and community stories. This event, supported by local indigenous authorities, marked a significant cultural moment for Cotacachi, celebrating the Kichwa people’s worldview and inspiring a renewed appreciation for their rich heritage.
AI-MULTIPLY: Community Art Exhibition 4 December 2024
In May 2024, with support from our Community Engagement Small Grant, AI-MULTIPLY’s community art exhibition opened at Oxford House in Bethnal Green. The exhibit showcased powerful artwork by local participants, sharing their experiences of managing multiple long-term health conditions. Through creative workshops—using ceramics, collage, and AI-generated art—the artists explored health, community, and resilience, sparking important conversations and connecting the public with the AI-MULTIPLY study’s mission.
Engaging families in East London with research, advocacy and support around child growth 27 November 2024
In July this year, a group of researchers based in the Blizard Institute were able to host an event for study participants after winning a Public Engagement grant from The Centre for Public Engagement. The team had recently completed a study called Child Growth and Development in East London (CGDEL), which involved local children from Tower Hamlets.
Involving Women in the Development of a Grant Application to Reduce Inequalities in Antenatal Care 20 November 2024
In this post, we’re thrilled to feature Christina Derksen’s work, supported by last year’s Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Small Grant. Through this project, Christina connected with women from diverse communities who had recently given birth to explore ways to make maternity experiences fairer and more inclusive. A key focus of her project was on improving communication, especially for women from minority backgrounds who often face communication barriers and inequities in maternity care.
Reflections on a Participatory Research Practice-Sharing Event 19 November 2024
Bonus Blog Post! On 30 October 2024, the Centre for Public Engagement hosted a dynamic practice-sharing event on participatory research, co-led by Dr. Aoife Sadlier (QMUL) and Chelsea McDonagh (Young Foundation). Drawing on insights from lived experiences and the principles of participatory research, attendees explored successes, failures, and the realities of co-creating knowledge.
Locating communities in community-based learning: empowering local community groups in university-community partnerships. 13 November 2024
Welcome to the first post of our Engagement Blog for the 2024-25 academic year! We’re excited to start with insights from Dr. Rehan Shah and Dr. David Geiringer, whose project received support through a CPE Small Community Grant. The project, titled Locating Communities in Community-Based Learning: Empowering Local Community Groups in University-Community Partnerships, exemplifies our commitment to fostering collaborative learning experiences that bridge academic and community goals. We hope Dr Shah’s reflections inspire further engagement and ideas for making a positive impact together.