Public engagement with research
Our academic experts broaden horizons, spark curiosity and improve lives. Attend our events, explore our digital offerings, benefit from our expertise or take part in our research projects.
View contentOur academic experts and students love to share their passion for their subjects and we offer a wide range of public engagement events and opportunities throughout the year, from walks and talks to exhibitions and performances, as well as inviting you to participate in our research (see below).
Arts, Culture and Heritage
The Humanities is one of our particular research and engagement strengths and we are thrilled to be part of this year's Being Human Festival, the UK's largest festival of the Humanities. We will be running a Being Human Café titled Spinning a Yarn: Fabric making, identity, language and storytelling through time. Find out about our Being Human Café 2023 on 11 November in central Winchester.
We are deeply embedded in the fabric of our community and we have a wealth of knowledge about the local and regional history and archaeology as well as the arts and culture sector. Our academics are working with numerous local and regional organisations, and they feature prominently in local annual festivals such as the Hat Fair, BBC History Weekend and Winchester Heritage Open Days; explore our vibrant programme of events for Winchester Heritage Open Days 2023.
Our academics have lent their expertise to many documentaries and popular TV programmes such as The Last Kingdom, and to local tourist attractions 878AD and Medieval Jewish Winchester. Our Archaeology consultancy ARCA is a partner in the Central Winchester Regeneration project, providing specialist research services and public engagement. We are the lead sponsor of the Winchester Books Festival, of which the inaugural 2022 edition featured many of our staff and students.
Health and Wellbeing
We maintain close links with our local and regional health services and contribute our health and wellbeing knowledge and expertise to our communities, such as the HELP Hampshire Stroke Clinic (image below) and the Winchester Health Clinic. Explore our Health and Wellbeing links and engagement.
Education
We work closely with regional partner schools on curriculum development through our University of Winchester Academy Trust and our expertise in e.g. climate education and Special Educational Needs.
Climate Emergency
We are deeply concerned about the climate and biodiversity crisis, and we engaged extensively with COP26. We joined the UK Climate Universities Network and offered a varied programme of events; staff and students also travelled to Glasgow to add their voices to the growing chorus calling for urgent action on climate change. We are currently working with a number of environmentally focussed organisations such as the National Trust, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and Gilbert White's House, the birthplace of ecology.
The University subscribes to the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement's Manifesto for Public Engagement.
Take part in our research!
Social Psychology projects
Helping Communities through Volunteering Study
The Psychology Department's Volunteering Research Hub would like to know more about how and why people across our communities do or do not engage in volunteering, i.e. carrying out unpaid help through clubs, organisations or groups etc.
The VRH aims to capture a range of different views from as many people as possible - you do not need to be a current volunteer to take part in this research. Taking part will help to improve access to opportunities and support for those in our communities who need help the most.
The survey should take around 5-10 minute to complete. Everyone who completes the survey will have the chance to win one of two vouchers from a major supermarket worth £100 each.
Find out more about the Helping Communities through Volunteering study 2023 and take part.
Law projects
Has your child been in broadcast media? Do you post about your children on social media? Find out about our research into media and children's privacy, and get involved.
Criminology projects
If you are a farmer in Devon or Cornwall and you would like to share your experiences with rural organised crime with researchers, you are encouraged to take part in our Rural Crime Survey.
See, hear, read, watch our research
Exhibitions
Online exhibitions
Explore our virtual visual showcase of Research and Public Engagement
Our Exhibition Gallery
Sited within our most recent campus development on Romsey Road, the West Downs Gallery hosts a programme of exhibitions throughout the year. It aims to show creative work of the highest quality to inspire debate and participation between creative professionals, academics, students and the public.
Find out more about our Gallery.
Videos and podcasts
Many of our academics have produced fascinating video and audio material.
Explore the Centre for Religion, Reconciliation and Peace's podcast series Talking Peace, Exploring Conflict.
Dive into the Dark Ages with Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Dr Eric Lacey in the popular Assassin's Creed Valhalla video game series podcasts.
You will find a wealth of video material to explore on our YouTube channel.
Join The Conversation
The University is an active member of The Conversation, an independent source of news and views, sourced from the research community and delivered direct to the public. Over the years, many of our academics have published thought-provoking articles, from the history of animal names to animal welfare, crime fiction to scary movies, sporting highs and sporting lows, and from modern-day Queens to Kings under car parks.
Read all University of Winchester articles in The Conversation
Find out more and get in touch
- For further information or general enquiries, contact the Research & Engagement Officer
- Email us if you would like to be added to our mailing list for public events
- Browse our public events calendar
- Follow our research and engagement news on Twitter
- Explore our impactful research and knowledge exchange
Background image: Biological Anthropologist Dr Heidi Dawson-Hobbis and student Briony Lalor demonstrating skeletal analysis to members of the public in the Forensic Science laboratory.