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High Impact Public Engagement in Cosmology

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Portsmouth

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics

Engaging the Public in Science and Increasing Awareness of Physics and Astronomy

Summary of the impact

Our high profile astronomy research discoveries in areas of public interest have allowed us to substantially increase the engagement of the public with science. Media appearances have led to a philanthropic donation of £200k to promote our science, the most successful public event series ever in Northern Ireland (engaging around 2000 people), a strategic partnership with Ireland's award winning science education centre W5 (reaching 26,000 people), and a 49% increase in applications to physics based degrees from NI students to UK HEIs. In 2008 we set three simple targets to substantially increase the public awareness of science and physics. The first was to increase our presence in the mass media (print, radio, TV, internet) to promote scientific research, and we have regularly reached audiences in excess of 295,000. The second was to increase the numbers of people attending science talks and events. The third was to substantially increase the application rate of school students to study physics and mathematics degrees. Through our outreach and engagement programme we have met, and surpassed, all of these targets. The impact of our research and our public outreach programme is a quantifiable societal change. Substantially more NI school students are now studying physics at third level UK HEIs.

Submitting Institution

Queen's University Belfast

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences

Outreach and research-informed public engagement in astronomy

Summary of the impact

Published and grant-awarded research in astrophysics and solar physics at UCLAN has underpinned a very large number of public lectures throughout the world (e.g. Edinburgh Science Festival, Harvard, NASA, IAC Tenerife, Perimeter Institute Canada, University of Cape Town, Astrofest London, etc.) during the impact reporting period 2008-2013, delivered by Professors Gibson, Kurtz, Ward-Thompson, Walsh and the rest of the staff in UoA9. The most prestigious of these have been delivered to large (typically several hundred to a few thousand people) sell-out audiences. Our staff have appeared on TV and radio to audiences of millions. In addition, public outreach events led by astrophysics and solar physics staff members at UCLAN have further increased the societal impact of our research.

Submitting Institution

University of Central Lancashire

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics

Impact of Galaxy Zoo and the Zooniverse on Public Engagement with Scientific Research

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Portsmouth

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences
Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

Impact of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations research on the European Space Agency Euclid Mission

Summary of the impact

Euclid is a new M-class satellite selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the dark universe, which will exploit fundamental "Baryon Acoustic Oscillations" research originally performed at Portsmouth. The construction of Euclid is underway, overseen by Portsmouth scientists, with several millions of pounds already spent on research and development within UK university laboratories and industry (e2v), already with economic impact. By the time Euclid is launched, 606 million euros will be spent across UK and European industry (Thales, Astrium) providing significant economic impact as well as societal impact.

Submitting Institution

University of Portsmouth

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
Technology: Communications Technologies

Revolutionising schools and public engagement with cosmology, relativity and gravitational-wave astronomy

Summary of the impact

University of Glasgow researchers have played a pivotal role in enhancing awareness and understanding of cosmology, relativity and gravitational-wave astronomy on the national and international stage.

  • The 'Astronomy's New Messengers' public exhibition on gravitational-wave astronomy has been displayed at international events that have attracted a total audience exceeding a million people. A survey conducted at the World Science Festival 2010 indicated that 89% of visitors found the exhibition had increased their interest in science.
  • The University of Glasgow has had a crucial influence on the redesign of the Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher Physics syllabus to include significant content on cosmology, relativity and gravitational astrophysics. In 2012 the revised Higher Physics pass rate was approximately 4% greater than that for the non-revised Higher, demonstrating significant impact in terms of pupil engagement and results.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences

Cosmological Constants

Summary of the impact

This case describes the impact of Professor John D. Barrow's research into the value of the cosmological constant and the constants of physics. The impact occurred through extensive engagement with the public via talks and public lectures, online talks and articles, newspaper and magazine articles, books and radio broadcasts. The engagement led to widespread public interest and increased public discourse in the UK and beyond, the impact being especially strong in Italy. The research has inspired young people, teachers and the general public internationally to follow cosmological developments.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Mathematical Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences

Inspiring public engagement in astronomy

Summary of the impact

The university's Bayfordbury Observatory is a working observatory that engages with the public via six Open Evenings and approximately 50 group visits a year, offering access to a wide range of facilities. Many of the 4,000 visitors annually report that they develop a first or renewed `enthusiasm for astronomy', or become `inspired to learn more' about what they have seen or heard from our researchers; some young people enthuse about `now wanting to be a scientist'. Science teachers taking an RCUK `cutting-edge' CPD astrophysics course also say that they have gained an `increased understanding of the subject', and `increased confidence in its delivery to pupils'.

Submitting Institution

University of Hertfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences

Stimulating public interest in the dark side of the universe

Summary of the impact

Cosmologists at UCL — based in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) — conduct research into dark matter and dark energy through their involvement in a number of space missions and ground-based projects. This research has been shared with the public through a large number of talks, blogs, articles in the media, and television and radio programmes, stimulating significant public interest and discussion. Increased public understanding and interaction with the work was further achieved through a competition to improve mapping of dark matter. The research also influenced the creative practice of two artists, inspiring artworks that have been exhibited internationally and viewed by over 1 million people in total.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences, Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics

UOA09-01: The Zooniverse citizen science projects

Summary of the impact

The Zooniverse citizen science projects, including Galaxy Zoo, have engaged over 856,000 members of the public from 100 countries with astronomy and other areas of research such as nature, health and the humanities. The impacts include increased public awareness and understanding of science and research methods, changes in the attitudes of school children and adults, and benefits to teaching and learning. The Zooniverse engages with large numbers of people through the internet; additional benefits are also delivered through adaptations of the projects for interactive museum exhibits and classroom education. Further impacts include benefits to Cancer Research UK and commercial uptake by Microsoft and the BBC.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences

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