MVLS Engagement Team Updates - April 2020 - COVID-19 and Public Engagement

FAQ’s related to public engagement and our coronavirus response are available at Coronavirus: FAQS For MVLS Staff. If you cannot find any required information please contact MVLS-Engage@glasgow.ac.uk


Sadly many of our traditional public engagement activities are cancelled. And while the Glasgow Science Festival 2020 will no longer take place this June, and Pint of Science is rescheduled for 7-9 Sept 2020, our friends at the Glasgow Science Centre have found a new way to engage audiences with GSC AT HOME. We encourage you to share any novel engagement approaches you have seen, or adopted, to keep in touch with public and community groups, and we will spread the word about what is working. MVLS-Engage@glasgow.ac.uk or via the MVLS Engage Yammer group. 

While our Centre for Virus Research is crucial to national efforts to combat the Coronavirus pandemic by supporting three main COVID-19 research areas, they are also contributing editors for a new UKRI website Coronavirus: the science explained . With the full facts about the virus, the disease, the epidemic, and its control all written for public audiences. A great place to direct anyone looking for trusted science information on coronavirus.

In times of national and global crises, it is important that the voice of the pubic and communities are heard.
It is also vital that public and patient involvement in maintained in the rapid expansion of COVID and related studies.

The MVLS PPIe have convened a virtual PPI group that can:

review lay summaries from COVID related studies and reviews

review patient facing study documents

review public guidance document

offer patient perspectives on study design and recruitment

If you are interested mailto:tracy.Ibbotson@glasgow.ac.uk


Training & Networking

MVLS Gatherings, our networking and training events, have been postponed until further notice.
Opportunities to share materials and resources on-line are being explored.
Check out existing resources and training at www.gla.ac.uk/mvls-engage
Contact MVLS Engagement Team for support to continue your engagement commitments via digital platforms.

Video for public engagement:

Dr Zara Gladman, UofG Public & Community Engagement Advisor, is developing a short webisode series to help those wishing to develop video engagement resources.
View her introductory video on Twitter or YouTube

Public Engagement Funding for Research

Looking for funding support?

The team are happy to work with researchers to help develop applications as part of research grants, or to dedicated internal or external funding awards.
We can:

provide advice on applying for internal and external public engagement funding

help find the right funder for your project

offer guidance on completing application forms

Contact MVLS-Engage@glasgow.ac.uk

MVLS Engagement with Research Fund – supports researchers to put public engagement ideas into practice and gain skill and experience. Awards of up to £2,500 are available and applications are invited until 31 July 2020. Our fund remains open and we are happy to chat through your ideas.
For external public engagement funding, please check funders’ websites for up to date information. At this time most funders are maintaining funding deadlines. You may, however, wish to adjust your delivery timelines or approach to reflect the current situation. To discuss your funding ideas please contact MVLS-Engage@glasgow.ac.uk

Alison Caldecott and Becky Hothersall
MVLS Engagement Team
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences
University of Glasgow

First published: 9 April 2020

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