Large Group of People Listening to a PresentationDefocused shot of crowd in the lecture hall. Purposely blurred with a lens.

The University of Plymouth continues its commitment to engaging the public with its research. Here you can find some of the ways our researchers have worked to engaged with the public, share specific research findings, and help the public to benefit from the research being done at the University.

 
 
 
 

Awards and recognition

VC Awards – Civic and Public Engagement Winner 2024

Winner: Dr Clare Pettinger , Faculty of Health
Clare is a respected pioneer in using creative methods to engage diverse audiences, including harder-to-reach, ‘less affluent’ community groups. She excels in co-designing inventive, socially innovative research then translating this into visually appealing, accessible and inclusive formats, aligning with the institutional goal of knowledge mobilisation.
Her ongoing action research promotes methodological innovation and advocates for compassionate and authentic community-centric ‘co-production’ approaches to achieve food system justice, emphasising capacity building for socio-cultural transformation. This is deserved recognition for Clare and her work in dietetics, clearly demonstrating her working above and beyond her role, and the significant impact of her innovative work on the Plymouth Fish Finger project.
Dr Clare Pettinger receiving Vice Chancellor's Award from Professor Richard Davies
Dr Pettinger receiving the award from Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Davies

VC Awards – Civic and Public Engagement Winner 2023

Ian Sherriff BEM, Dr Kate Turner and Dr Alison Warren, Dementia Research Team, Faculty of Health
Ian Sherriff, Dr Kate Turner and Dr Alison Warren in collaboration with key stakeholders in the United Kingdom have contributed to guidance to support people living with dementia to travel by air. The research informed recommendations are of importance to airports, airlines and policy makers to enhance the travel experience of people with non-visible disabilities and their travel companions. A working group, the Prime Minister’s Dementia Group for Air Transport, was formed in 2015 and brought together people living with dementia, their carers, dementia ambassadors, passenger experience consultants, cabin crew trainers, hidden disability advocates and others to share best practice and influence the air travel chain experience.
The outputs from the working group and research have informed best practice at key airports in the UK with growing interest further afield.
Ian Sherrif and dementia research team posing with the VC and their VC award
Representatives from the University are presented with their award by broadcaster and author Sandi Toksvig