CORE: Creative outreach for resource efficiency

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: Civil and Building Engineering

Abstract

Being more efficient with resources, i.e. water, energy, packaging, transport, raw materials and waste, benefits the environment through more effective use of finite assets and reductions in emissions; it can also collectively deliver savings for business and, at a national level, make UK industry more profitable. Recent UK government policy and strategy has created a step-change in support for resource efficiency (RE) initiatives, underlining the UK's commitment to development in this area. As a result, RE has become a headline term within UK government and business, stimulated by the EU flagship initiative on RE under the Europe 2020 strategy, which provides a long-term framework (roadmap) for action. However, with the UK's rate of recycling of municipal waste still ranked only 11th in Europe and growing pressure to address materials' scarcity, there is strong evidence that public engagement in RE needs to be increased further. Outreach to users and the general public as well as businesses is critical to the delivery of any national RE targets and aspirations. Yet there are many different 'publics', or stakeholders, because the subject domain is extremely broad, complex and highly multi-disciplinary. Despite the presence of support, guidance and frameworks for engaging non-academic parties in research, more needs to be done to excite people about the potential opportunities that can be gleaned from RE. So, this is a timely opportunity to explore the nexus of current policy direction on RE, delivery of needed, transformative research (through the EPSRC's Resource Efficiency area) and societal engagement. CORE (Creative outreach for resource efficiency) aims to support the delivery of a vibrant and creative outreach programme to maximise public and user engagement in RE. It is an enabler project, helping other EPSRC-supported projects (funded through the EPSRC's Resource Efficiency sandpit) to deliver high-impact, world-class science. Essentially, through-life, the CORE project will gain momentum and broaden its outreach by continually cycling through a three-stage process of capacity building (based on existing networks and contacts); disseminating key results to targeted audiences and getting feedback; and then, reaching out to new participants (academics and others), with a view to long-term survival and winning subsequent funded projects. The project will ideate, coordinate and support the use of vibrant and creative outreach mechanisms for exciting public and user engagement activities; organise specific events and activities; establish a new, one-stop online shop for information, dissemination and knowledge-sharing; support the targeted dissemination of high-quality outcomes; sustain and develop a healthy, collegiate community of practice; and, identify and communicate news of outreach, collaboration, enterprise and research opportunities. CORE will strive to be vibrant, visual and creative, ensuring that academics 'get out of the lab', provoke public debate and deliver world-class engagement on their projects. This project will directly support outward-facing activities of value with appropriate public and user groups through an Innovative Outreach Fund, cross-cutting themes and policymakers' events. Partner institutions will use exciting mechanisms (such as pop-up labs, crowdsourcing, podcasts, social design and innovation, physical hands-on and fun demonstrations and schools events) to encourage dialogue, co-create outcomes and deliver impact with a range of stakeholders. This project has strong links to the EPSRC's research themes of: 'Living with Environmental Change', 'Engineering' and 'Manufacturing the Future'. CORE responds to the national and European policy agendas on resource efficiency and so will place the UK in a leadership position on engagement, co-creation and, hopefully, partnership building in this emerging area.

Planned Impact

The range of possible transformative outcomes on resource efficiency (RE) that could arise via CORE (both through its own endeavours and by funding the 'More with Less' EPSRC sandpit-funded projects, SFPs, to deliver outreach activities), relate to many aspects of public life, so it is vital to deploy our funding carefully to ensure societal and economic impacts are delivered for four key groups of beneficiaries (business, policymakers, education and civil society). First, business and industry (including designers, manufacturers, contractors, consultants, and SMEs), professional institutions (e.g. BSA; RSC; IMechE; IOM3; ICE; CIWEM; IEMA), their members, peer networks (ECI; CIRIA; Environmental Sustainability, Materials and Modern Built Environment KTNs). The scope of outreach here crosses many industries and professions, so the development of a stakeholder strategy (WP2b) will be vital to direct effort accordingly. UK industry will benefit from results that lead to greater RE, lower environmental impacts, less waste (therefore lower costs). There will be improved efficiency of operations from having access to new data and knowledge about how to reduce impacts, hence national competitiveness will be enhanced. Related professional bodies, peer networks and their members will benefit from having opportunities to input to research and gaining early access to research outcomes, informing their strategy and policy development. Policymakers (e.g. DEFRA, BIS, EA), near-government bodies (e.g. EPSRC, WRAP) and standards-making committees will be able to input to the direction of CORE and SFPs and gain early access to results through the Westminster Workshops (WP3b). Through CORE, policy-makers will benefit from UK science and engineering taking a leading role in innovation in knowledge development in RE and be informed by case studies of novel methods of increasing public engagement with science and engineering. Standards bodies will be more informed on the emergence of new technologies and approaches, such that suites of standards relating to RE can be updated. Education providers (i.e. schools and colleges and representative bodies such as HEA and STEM) will benefit from targeted outreach, improving pupil engagement with research and increasing aspiration levels. Sustainable development (within which RE nests) is introduced in the National Curriculum as a key concept in Geography in key stage 1, alongside knowledge and understanding of environmental change. The concept is continued at key stage 2, changing to environmental interaction and sustainable development for key stage 3. Sustainability and RE is also picked up in science at key stage 3 and 4, making it a core theme taught from 3 to 16 year olds and beyond. Schools teaching to a personal and social education framework whether it is 'Global citizenship' or 'connected learning thematic units' etc., also highlight sustainable development. This subject is regarded as an ideal vehicle for interdisciplinary learning and can bring relevance, depth, challenge and breadth to learning. Sustainability themes are therefore embedded within the curriculum, and within the life of the schools, but RE brings a new perspective by exploring difficult trade-offs. CORE will aim to deepen engagement and excite the public through novel, targeted outreach activities (e.g. WP3a), directed to community groups, product users and social enterprises. They will benefit from live, 'social innovation exchange' with researchers, hands-on experience of physical demonstrators and the opportunity to debate key issues (consumerism, waste, materials scarcity etc). Voluntary and charitable (i.e. third sector bodies and NGOs in this domain, such as; WWF; FoE; Forum for the Future; UK Green Building Council and WBCSD) will also be targeted to input to research direction; they will benefit from closer contact with major research consortia and a chance to challenge conventional science.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Art-Science collaboration with BurtonNitta 
Description V&A (London) exhibition of Art-Science collaboration 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2015 
Impact Articles in .Cent magazine, Disorder magazine, the V&A magazine and in the French Magazine Usbek & Rica Numero 21. This work was nominated for the STARTS PRIZE '16, the grand prize of the European Commission honoring Innovation in Technology, Industry and Society stimulated by the Arts. 
URL http://burtonnitta.co.uk/InstrumentsOfTheAfterlife.html
 
Title Landscape Within 
Description The 'Landscape Within' Project is a development of the previous collaborative project 'Instruments of the Afterlife', focusing on the synthetic biology work of the Horsfall lab, and is supported by a Wellcome Trust Arts Award awarded to the artists Burton Nitta. The first piece of artwork resulting from this project has been exhibited as part of Digital Design Weekend, V&A, London, (23 - 25 September 2016); at Tank Gallery, St Saviour's & St Olave's School, London (November - December 2016), and at MU Gallery, Eindhoven (December 2016 - February 2017). Further work and exhibitions include the Old Truman Brewery (London), the Westminster Reference Library (London), TEDx London, Southbank Centre (1 July 2018). 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact Over 7000 people interacted with our piece directly at the V&A. The Digital Design Weekend overall audience was around 20,000. Nearly 100 students have visited and interacted with the piece when exhibited at schools. The artwork has proved to be a teaching aid for a diverse range of subject including: Design, Art, Science, Technology, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and material on the research underway in the Horsfall Lab was also provided. We have no numbers for the gallery in Eindhoven, as yet. 
URL http://burtonnitta.co.uk/LandscapeWithin.html
 
Description Our findings very much relate to engagement practices, specifically linked to resource efficiency. These are detailed in the case studies on the CORE project website.
Exploitation Route We have spoken with a number of stakeholders including EPSRC to ensure our findings will be publicised sufficiently. The inclusion and publicity around the CORE case study on the NCCPE website in August 2017 was also helpful.
Sectors Creative Economy

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Education

Environment

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

URL http://www.core-community.net/case-studies
 
Description Findings arising from the project and its partner activities have had an impact on engagement practices related to resource efficiency and the circular economy. For example, the artist collaboration with Burton Nitta at the VandA in September 2015 was particularly influential. The 'exploded phone' and Operation Game created by the EPSRC funded CLEVER project (related to the CORE project) has been used at several events and in schools. Our teaching packs arising from two projects have been distributed and are being used in National Curriculum sessions in Leicestershire schools, which is having a societal impact around raising awareness of the value of materials, recycling etc. Impact continues through the artists Burton Nitta, who have continued to make use of the artefacts and knowledge gained through the collaboration, and have included CORE within their presentations and installations in London, Barcelona and elsewhere.
First Year Of Impact 2015
Sector Creative Economy,Education,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

 
Description EPSRC Circular Economy Positional Paper
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Participation of two academics on the project team in an expert workshop on circular economy metrics for a major UK infrastructure project. This was undertaken under an NDA, so cannot be reported in detail at this time.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Article in Birmingham Mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article in Birmingham Mail about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in Composites World Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in Composites World Magazine about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.compositesworld.com/news/recycled-carbon-fiber-to-be-featured-in-125-mile-canoe-race
 
Description Article in Droitwich Spa Advertiser 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article in Droitwich Spa Advertiser about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in Express and Star newspaper 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article in Express and Star newspaper about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in JEC Composites Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in JEC Composites Magazine about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.jeccomposites.com/knowledge/international-composites-news/racing-kayak-made-out-recycled-...
 
Description Article in Observatoire del Plastico Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in Observatoire del Plastico Magazine (Italian Magazine) about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in Plastics and Rubber Weekly 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in Plastics and Rubber Weekly about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in Recycling and Waste World Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in Recycling and Waste World Magazine about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/people/academics-create-high-performance-racing-kayak-out-of-re...
 
Description Article in South Africa SA Plastics Composites & Rubber magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in South Africa SA Plastics Composites & Rubber Magazine about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in The Chemical Engineer Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Interviewed for an article in The Chemical Engineer magazine Sep 2016 Issue 903. Article entitled "Whatever Floats your Boat". Originated from EPSRC blog. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in Worcester Evening News 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article in Worcester Evening News about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Article in the Institute of Mining Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Media Coverage with specialist press. Article in Institute of Mining Magazine about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.iom3.org/news/2016/mar/16/exhume-team-creating-kayak-recycled-carbon-fibre-international-...
 
Description BBC Radio 4 Today Show interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live interview with John Humphries on Future Technologies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester Breakfast Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview on radio station about manufacturing a kayak from recycled composite material. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description BBC Radio Ulster Talkback interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact live interview with William Crawley on Future Technologies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description BBC news article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Short interview and follow ups to enable research to be included in a abc news feature article
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35279854
 
Description CORE - Blog on EPSRC about CORE Community enagement activity at V&A (London) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog describing engagement activity at V&A museum in London. The purpose was to raise the profile of the CORE project and its collaboration with internationally renowned artists, Burton Nitta.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/blog/articles/the-larva-the-test-tubes-and-the-trombone/
 
Description CORE - Engage Conference 2015 - National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (Bristol) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Poster presentation at Engage Conference, to raise awareness amongst delegates of the work of the CORE Community and its engagement activities. Delegates asked questions. The event raised the profile of the project, and enabled participants to network effectively.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/events/engage-conference-2015
 
Description CORE - Stand at Advanced Engineering Show, NEC (Birmingham) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Stand at the Advanced Engineering Show, NEC Birmingham to engage with new audiences from industry to raise awareness of recycled composites. The stand had many visitors throughout the course of the event and generated questions with new audiences. This has led to new contacts with industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.core-community.net/exhume-at-advanced-engineering-show-a-researchers-view/
 
Description CORE - blog about EXHUME outreach activity on EPSRC website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A blog was written summarising the engagement activity of the EXHUME project, supported by CORE. This was featured on the front page of the EPSRC website, and was then featured in the EPSRC's Pioneer magazine.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/blog/kayaktakesflight/
 
Description CORE - creative outreach activity to support the EXHUME project to reach new audiences 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The EXHUME team - supported by CORE - wanted to demonstrate to prospective industrial partners the potential of recycled carbon-fibre materials and how they can be used to create new goods, therefore reducing the amount of carbon-fibre waste being sent to landfill.
The engagement project involved the team taking carbon-fibre waste from the aerospace industry, creating a racing kayak from the recycled fibre (a world-first), participating in the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe race over the Easter Weekend 2016, and working with PR experts to engage with new audiences, including high profile manufacturers. Impacts included: Local, national and international press and media coverage, interest from manufacturers, raised profile for the work of the project, and new industrial partnerships. PR valued at over £40,000 was achieved. The Twitter campaign generated impressions of over 38k.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/blog/kayaktakesflight/
 
Description CORE - international symposium, held at RICS in London. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A symposium to discuss Land Remediation using Phytoremediation techniques. The policy event sparked questions and debate around the issue and resulted in interest from new international partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.core-community.net/international-symposium-using-plants-to-clean-contaminated-land/
 
Description CORE - stand at Resource Show, EXCEL, London 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact CORE project brought together project partners, to hold a stand at the Resource Show 2016. Over 200 people visited the stand. The aim was to raise awareness with visitors of the research being conducted into three areas of resource efficiency and to encourage follow up conversations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description CORE -Blog about CORE on Loughborough University's website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Blog on University website to raise the profile of the CORE project and its engagement work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://blog.lboro.ac.uk/research/communication-culture-citizenship/science-art-rules-of-engagement/
 
Description CORE Mini Science Fair 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We organised a mini science fair, which consisted of ten stands including research projects, sports activities, artists and engineering tasks. The purpose was to give academics, research assistants and PhD students involved with three partner RCUK projects (focusing on resource efficiency) practice in undertaking outreach and public engagement, in this case with a group of 30 Year 10 schoolchildren. The event was organised by the School of Civil and Building Engineering and Loughborough Design School, as part of the CORE (Creative outreach for resource efficiency) project. The children learned about recycling and environmental ideas, such as making mobile phones last longer and how nanoparticles in plants can clean up contaminated land. They also enjoyed an exciting programme of activities including tower building and fitness testing. Presenters included artists from Radar, the university's arts programme, and researchers from Loughborough and other leading universities.

The feedback from academic participants showed clearly that they enjoyed the experience of designing suitable interactions/experiences for the children, and that they had learned about the practicalities of preparing activities to a suitable level and degree of interest. The research assistants reported signficant improvement in their confidence and enthusiasm for public engagement as a result of participating (the website below includes a blog from one of them). The head-teacher provided positive feedback and said he was impressed with the event and the learning that had already come out of it, as the children were able to recall and reflect on what they had learned.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.core-community.net/
 
Description CORE STEM workshops - 2 visits to schools in Leicestershire 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 2 workshops held in local schools. One from theCL4W project was held on the theme of Phytoremediation, the other from CLEVER on recycling of electronic waste and consumer behaviour.
60 pupils took part, (2 classes of 30) in 2 Leicestershire schools. The students were able to see first-hand how scientists from leading Universities are working together to solve real-world problems. Activities included:

The CL4W workshops demonstrated how bio-engineering can be applied to clean contaminated land and recover valuable resources. Students were given the opportunity to explore what is in our soil, and how different scientific methods - including bio-engineering - can be applied to clean contaminants from the land. The hands-on activities included using Lego bricks to show how bacteria can be used to extract metals contaminating the environment, observing how plants like celery take up materials out of the earth, dissecting mushrooms to find out more about the role of fungi in cleaning biomass, and investigating the causes of land contamination in the UK.
The CLEVER workshops included looking at why people keep electronic devices such as mobile phones after they have been replaced by new ones, the hidden value of the components that make up a mobile phone, and also the environmental impact of mining, manufacturing and transporting these valuable resources.
Positive feedback was received from teachers and pupils and toolkits are now being produced for wider dissemination of the materials.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.core-community.net/news/
 
Description Contribution to White paper prepared by Sirris Leuven-Gent Composites Application Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Contribution to White paper prepared by Sirris Leuven-Gent Composites Application Lab about manufacturing a kayak from aerospace composite waste. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.slc-lab.be/news/composites-more-matter-choice-download-our-white-papers-now
 
Description Debate Panelist at RI 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Biochemical Society and Royal Society of Biology ran a debate in collaboration as part of Biology Week entitled 'Synthetic Life: How far could it go? How far should it go?'. The debate was hosted by Dr Adam Rutherford, I was one of four panelists.
The debate is now on You Tube through the Royal Institution's website
https://www.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/158-biologist/features/1405-synthetic-biology-can-we-should-we
http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_580228.asp
https://biochemicalsociety.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/synthetic-biology-defying-definition/
http://www.biochemist.org/bio/03706/0038/037060038.pdf
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbUYiTAMJU
 
Description Debate Panelist at iGEM Giant Jamboree 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Debate Panelist at iGEM Giant Jamboree, the final event held at the end of an international synthetic biology competition that has 2500+ participants. The highlight event was to discuss the gender disparities in iGEM and synthetic biology.
I have since taken part in a diversity advisory committee for the competition which has recommended changes to the competition.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description EPSRC Pioneer Magazine Issue 16 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interviewd for an article in the EPSRC Pioneer magazine. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/pubs/pioneer16/
 
Description EPSRC blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Blog written for EPSRC website. The technology was taken out of the lab to create a kayak made from aerospace waste and competed in the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe. race. The article demonstrated a different approach to demonstrate the impact of research. There was increased interest in my research and led to an uptake of the research by other media channels
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/blog/kayaktakesflight/
 
Description Engineered bacteria transforms toxic toxic metal ions into useful metallic nanoparticulates - The Azonano 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Exhibited at Advanced Engineering Show NEC 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The EXHUME team exhibited their research at the Show in order to showcase the viability of using recycled composite waste. Numerous recycled composite objects were exhibited that had been developed in the EXHUME project; these included recycled fibres and panels together with supporting posters, literature and a video. There was a large amount of interest from industry. Since the show we have followed up several leads and are now planning future research initiatives. The project was funded by CORE (EP/K026429/1) the overarching outreach project for the projects funded by the resource efficiency sandpit.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.core-community.net/news/
 
Description Feature on NCCPE website: Instruments of the afterlife case study 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The public engagement project with Burton Nitta, called 'Instruments of the Afterlife' was written up as a case study, and accepted for feature by the NCCPE. In August 2017, the NCCPE chose it as their 'case study of the month', and as such, it was featured on the front page of their website at the time.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/
 
Description Garden Plants Could Clear Pollution 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Press article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden Plants could clear pollution - News.com.au 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants clean land - The Press and Journal 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants could clear pollution - Special Broadcasting Service 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants could clear pollution - Lancashire Telegraph 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants could clear pollution - PerthNow 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants could clear pollution - The Courier Mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants could clear pollution - The Daily Telegraph (Australia) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants to be used against pollution - The Herald 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Garden plants to clean old factory sites - The Daily Telegraph 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Great Egg Smash 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The principles of Sustainable Manufacturing were explained to many classes of Year 4,5 and 6 students, the general public and members of university staff/students. They were then facilitated to build a sustainable crash structure to protect their driver - an egg - which was dropped inside a specially designed and built tower to see if the structure worked. The workshop was slightly modified for a Christmas lecture in 2015 (>300 people) and an internal team building programme (>50 people).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015,2016,2017
 
Description Industry Focus Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Over 20 companies attended the industrial focus day. The aim was to showcase the EXHUME project and for industry to feedback to guide future research activities. Industrialists from the Netherlands also attended the one day event. Since the day there has been continued engagement with some of the industrialists which have shaped research in the EXHUME project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Invited Presentation at the SGM5- Fifth EPSRC Sustainable Global Manufacturing Network Meeting, Beijing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Presentation by Prof Mativenga on EXHUME research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Invited presentation at Ecobuild 2017 Build Circular Theatre 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited presentation on ethical sourcing for the circular economy, which was delivered to a mixed group of mainly industry and professionals. A number of requests for further information were received on the day.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/agenda/build-circular
 
Description Invited talk at Chinese Academic of Sciences 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A invited talk ~ 15 academics at Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences followed by a visit to Beijing Jinghuan New Energy & Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. and meeting with company senior executives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Invited talk at Hong Kong Polytechnic University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited by Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University to speak 'Resource and Energy Recovery in Integrated Phytoremediation Projects' to a audience of over 60 including postgraduate students and Univeristy staff members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Invited talk at Southeast University, Nanjing, China 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited by School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, (Nanjing, China) to deliver a talk on the 'Fate of elemental contaminants during biomass thermochemical process' to an audience of over 100 postgraduate students and staff members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Joint Northern Fora Contaminated Land Summer Conference, Leeds 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited speaker [Cost paid] to present 'State of Contaminated Land in England' at the Joint Northern Fora Contaminated Land Summer Conference, Leeds.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.yclf.org.uk/download.php?docId=0000000157&inline=true
 
Description Nanoparticles; Plants that can detox waste lands will put poisons to good use - Life Science Weekly 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Nanoparticles; Plants that can detox waste lands will put poisons to good use - Nanotechnology Weekly 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plant plan to end pollution - The Daily Record 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Plants produce nanoparticles from detoxing waste lands - Nanowerk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Plants tackle pollution - The Northern Echo 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plants that can detox waste lands will put poisons to good use - Motley Fool 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plants that can detox waste lands will put poisons to good use - Eurekalert 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plants that can detox waste lands will put poisons to good use - Press trust of India 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plants to detox land, generate nanoparticles 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact News Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Plants will 'suck up' wasteland pollution - Metro 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Plants will clean polluted land - The Eastern Daily Press 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Polluted land to be cleared by plants - The Yorkshire Post 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014
 
Description Polluted land to get a green clean - The Scotsman 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper Article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Research Engagement with local Schools at CORE Event, Loughborough University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The importance of composites and the routes to recycle composites was discussed in a workshop environment with children from local schools in the Loughborough area. Many children did not know the importance and usefulness of fibre reinforced composites. The workshop opened their eyes to composites and the difficulties around their recyclability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Scientists enlist plants in fight against pollution - The Western Daily Press 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Newspaper article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description UK Science and Innovation Network on remediation of contaminated land with heavy metals, Beijing, China (5th Nov, 2014) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact The researcher was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 'Workshop for accelerating Sino-UK collaborative exchange in land remediation- towards sustainable land management for heavy metal pollution control". This provided a excellent opportunity for exchanging ideas on current funded project. The audience include leading Chinese academics working in the area of Heavy metal pollution remediation, therefore it offers good platform for future internationally collaborations.

A discussion with academic from a leading Chinese University (Southeast University, Nanjing, China) regarding the project has led to a potential collaboration to develop the CL4W project in China and take advantage of the REE and other critical metal mining activity in China.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Westminster Energy forum 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact TBC
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014