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The power of physics, from the largest to smallest scale, to capture the imagination is unrivalled. This has been used as a vehicle for engagement and education in a wide-ranging series of public-engagement activities over the period 2008-2013. These activities (over 130 outreach events per year) are closely linked to the full spectrum of the School's research. Here the focus is Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics and Particle Physics and is built around live events, hands-on demonstrations, educational software development, and media work. The activities have engaged young people through schools and family groups, with a broader cross section of the general public also reached. Birmingham's leadership is evidenced through its major role at each of the Royal Society Summer Exhibitions since 2011, the delivery of extensive national and regional activities supported by the IoP and the STFC, its extensive schools' programme and wide media exposure. The activities have communicated the significance of recent discoveries in physics and astronomy, showing how research, including by Birmingham scientists, has led to these.
Over a four-year period, teachers and around 16,000 pupils from all over the UK have benefited from engagement with Sussex physics research. Outcomes include enhanced science teaching in schools, an increased interest of school children in science and scientists' work, and a greater ability of school children to understand and reflect on science, leading to better-informed study choices. The UG physics population across the South East has roughly doubled over the REF period (based on numbers at the SEPnet partners), which is an important contribution to alleviating the problem of a scarcity of STEM graduates.
Dr Malcolm Fairbairn has worked alongside visual artist Carey Young to inspire contemporary artwork that have exhibited internationally and been viewed by ca. 100, 000 people. Fairbairn's research into dark matter and cosmology led to the collaboration and the artwork has engaged audiences in the UK, the USA and France, prompting visitors to contemplate scientific facts and issues they might not otherwise have considered and leading to a greater public awareness of our knowledge of the universe. Fairbairn has also used his research into dark matter to engage the general public and inspire schoolchildren in science. Since 2008 he has given around 35 talks at which the general public and schoolchildren have learned about dark matter and cosmology, directly impacting pupils who, teachers report, have been inspired by their experience and are reporting an increased aspiration to pursue science.
The Royal Holloway Centre for Particle Physics has long recognised the need to engage with audiences beyond academia to explain particle physics research and respond to the very high level of interest and desire for further knowledge that the public have. Through a series of coordinated outreach events and the development of hands-on demonstrations we have been generating cultural impact on a diverse audience (A-level students, school teachers of physics, young professionals, general public interested in science) by raising awareness of particle physics, engaging the public with current research, and informing the debate on its value.
This public outreach programme from Oxford links physics, particle accelerators and music through Einstein who was an enthusiastic violinist. The events have attracted a new audience to engage with science; have increased schoolchildren's interest in science and aspirations for science education; and have supported and inspired science teachers. More than 17,000 people have attended performances across seven countries, including over 8,000 at events for schools; audience satisfaction is very high. Extensive international media coverage has included BBC Radio and Radio New Zealand, television programmes in the US and New Zealand, and many newspaper and magazine articles. The programme has an average of 20 events per year and will continue.
The discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has been one of the biggest science stories in recent years. John Ellis of the KCL Physics Department has significantly enhanced the impact of this scientific breakthrough by engaging the general public around the world with the landmark scientific developments. Based on his original research on the Higgs boson and other aspects of LHC physics, and drawing on work of his colleagues, Ellis has given 76 outreach talks since April 2011 in the UK and in 24 other countries. He has participated in five cultural festivals, given a Youtube presentation with over 500,000 views, made many BBC appearances and given expert analysis and interviews to UK and international print and broadcast media. The reach of the impact is truly global with an audience estimated in the millions.
The switch-on of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the discovery of a Higgs boson have stimulated interest in science and engineering, and in physics in particular, on a scale unprecedented by any other single experiment. Since 2008, UCL researchers have received a marked increase in requests for media appearances and written contributions, public talks and discussions. Many of these requests are directly related to the LHC work. While the evidence is not complete, it seems very likely that this has been a significant factor in the improved level of applications to study physics at levels from GCSE to undergraduate degree. In addition, public engagement with, and understanding of, the process of how science works has benefited.
Galaxy Zoo (GZ) is among the most successful online citizen science project ever undertaken, relying on hundreds of thousands of volunteers to classify galaxy images. Since 2007, GZ has evolved into a "Zooniverse" of over 20 online projects, engaging nearly a million worldwide volunteers (from a range of ages, backgrounds and education) in scientific research. Most GZ volunteers report being motivated by a desire to contribute to real research, while 87% say their experience has changed their behaviour e.g. more museum visits (34%). For under-18s, 70% were encouraged to study a degree and 47% said GZ helped their schoolwork.
Professor Tara Shears is one of the most recognizable faces in particle physics (PP). Her work on the matter-antimatter experiment Large Hadron Collider b (LHCb) has reached a huge audience. As an expert on PP and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), she is a point of contact for the media. She is regularly interviewed in print, and on radio and television, has appeared at Science Festivals, debated and talked at learned institutions and starred in outreach videos. As one of the most influential nationally known particle physicists, she is an excellent female role model for thousands of aspiring young physicists. At a conservative estimate, her broadcast and print work has reached over a million and her personal appearances over four thousand people.
The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) runs a successful programme of community engagements with local schools, science centres and tourist attractions to influence public awareness and understanding of the world-class research we perform. In 2012-13, ICG engaged with 4858 people, including 2412 school children. Through our "Cosmology Masterclass", we have inspired hundreds of A-level students from across the region; 60% said we had increased their interest in university. In 2012-13, staff engaged with 50 different schools across the UK. For the last 3 years, we have interacted with thousands of people running BBC Stargazing Live partner events, receiving almost unanimous praise from the public via our feedback.