As part of its Voice of Young Science 2025 Partnership with Sense about Science, the John Innes Foundation supported a bespoke Standing Up for Science workshop at Norwich Research Park in May. The event was designed to inspire and equip early career researchers (ECRs) with the confidence and skills to engage in public conversations about science and evidence.
A collaborative event
The workshop brought together 24 ECRs from seven institutions, including the John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the Quadram Institute, UEA, and universities further afield. Participants heard first-hand experiences — both positive and challenging — from researchers and engagement specialists, including:
- Dr Penny Hundleby (John Innes Centre), on policy engagement
- Dr Sam Rowe (Quadram Institute), on public engagement
- Dr Bushra Schuitemaker (BIOME9), on media engagement
Sessions also featured contributions from journalist Nikki Fox (BBC East of England), communications specialist Rob Davies, and Saskia Hervey (Earlham Institute), who offered practical advice on what journalists and policymakers need from researchers.
Reflections from participants
Participants described the workshop as both inspiring and practical. One attendee shared on LinkedIn:
“I wanted to share a huge thank you to Sense about Science for the truly engaging workshop they delivered today at the Earlham Institute… As an early career researcher, this workshop was a fantastic opportunity not just to learn but also to connect with others passionate about this field. I’m leaving feeling inspired!”
Other reflections from the evaluation included:
“Really great – I’m so glad I came. I’ll now be aiming to talk to policymakers about my research and maybe even get involved with lobbying Parliament to pass more environmental science informed laws to protect our planet and population.”
“Very useful workshop for someone thinking of a career in science communication, public engagement and evidence-based policy advocacy. I’ll now engage with my university communications team.”
These personal testimonies echo the evaluation findings, which showed 70% of participants were more likely to get involved in public conversations about science, and 60% were more likely to challenge misinformation.
Long-term impact
All participants joined the Voice of Young Science network – a global community of more than 6,000 researchers who continue to receive resources, opportunities, and training. The workshop also strengthened connections across Norwich Research Park and contributed to new collaborations, including a partnership between Sense about Science and the Quadram Institute for the 2025 Evidence Week in Parliament.